Wildlife of the Basha Kill Directions Map of the Basha Kill Basha Kill Area Association

The Basha Kill Wetlands The Basha Kill Wildlife Management Area is located on the Orange County-Sullivan County border just south of Wurtsboro, New York. It consists of over 3,000 acres of wetlands and uplands which were acquired by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) with funds from the 1972 Bond Act. Until about 60 years ago the area was drained annually and used for agriculture, before the importance of freshwater wetlands to clean groundwater was recognized. Wetlands act as a giant, filtering sponge, taking up organic pollutants and breaking them down during photosynthesis by rapidly-growing surface weeds. During periods of heavy rainfall or snow melt, water volume exceeds grounds capacity to absorb it, resulting in flooding and erosion damage. Wetlands soak up and hold the overflow, allowing it to slowly seep into cracks in the bedrock, percolating down into the water table. This process recharges wells and improves groundwater, as well as preventing flooding and damage caused by erosion. As the largest freshwater wetland in southeastern New York, The Basha Kill provides vital services for both human and non-human residents. These wetlands provide a choice habitat and food source for over 30 varieties of fish, almost 200 kinds of birds and innumerable plants, reptiles, mammals and insects. The landscape offers scenic views and an unmatched natural setting for hiking, canoeing, birdwatching and fishing. Above all, it is a place to breathe deeply, to feel the beauty and peace of a unique, unspoiled place in nature. Wildlife abounds in The Basha Kill. Birdlife includes: the bald eagle, wild turkey, red-winged blackbird, woodpecker, hummingbird, great blue heron, red-tailed hawk, owl, grackle, pheasant, and Canadian Goose. Mammals seen to frequent the wetlands include: white tailed deer, opossum, porcupine, rabbit, raccoon, river otter, beaver and skunk. Fishermen find over 30 varieties of fish, including trout, carp, bass, pickerel, eel and sunny. Children are enchanted by the reptile population, including box turtles, bullfrogs, salamanders, snapping turtles and toads. There are some very distinctive creatures found in the Basha Kill, including a prehistoric fish known as a Bowfin. The species is millions of years old and has swim bladders, which function as a sort of lung. This enables the fish to put its head out of the water and gulp air at the waters surface. They have large, cylindrical bodies that range to 21 pounds in the southern US, where they are more common. They are not native to the area, but were originally introduced in an attempt to control weeds. They are rugged predators that eat almost anything that moves. Another unusual visitor to the Kill is the sea lamprey, which migrates from the Atlantic Ocean up the Delaware River and on into the Kill to spawn. Although these fish predators are a danger to many upstate fisheries, they are non-parasitic by the time they get to the Kill and die after spawning. These wetlands are a botanical delight, with such plantlife as cattails, purple loosestrife, wild geranium, water lily, arrowhead, pickerelweed, voilet, cardinal flower, raspberry, dogwood, fern, white pine, white birch and beech. Directions Take Route 17 west to exit 113. Take Route 209 traveling south (in the direction of Port Jervis). When you see the Moose Lodge on your left, make a left onto Haven Road. There are some parking spots here, and you can hike along the Basha Kill in both directions. Or, continue on Haven Road until it intersects with South Road. Make a right turn onto South Road and proceed to the first of four boat launch areas. The Basha Kill Area Association Who we are: We are a group of people working to preserve the unspoiled quality of the beautiful and unique Basha Kill, as well as other nearby areas whose ecological health is interconnected with the Basha Kill. Our mission: Since our founding in 1972, our mission has been to protect the Basha Kill wetlands and surrounding area from ecological degradation, to promote education and respect for the environment in general and to preserve the beauty of the area What we do: We stay alert to possible threats to the Basha Kill watershed and surrounding area such as pollution, vandalism, and unwise development. As the official adopter of the Basha Kill under the DEC's Adopt-A-Natural-Resource program, the Basha Kill Area Association (BKAA) is the local watchdog organization for the wetlands. Members of the BKAA work with representatives from local government and from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to address these problems. We monitor local Town Board and Planning Board meetings in order to stay apprised of potential development problems. The BKAA partners with other environmental groups in an effort to safeguard the region's valuable natural resources. Membership in such organizations enhances our influence in the broader environmental community and consequently enables us to be more effective advocates. We are a hands-on organization: We sponsor an annual cleanup where we roll up our sleeves and spend the morning collecting garbage and litter. We carried out a two year baseline, water quality monitoring project, and continue to monitor the status of the Basha Kill's water quality. Currently, we are sponsoring a volunteer eagle watch program in which we monitor the Basha Kill's nesting pair of bald eagles and collect data about visitor use of the Basha Kill. We promote education about the environment. The BKAA presents information to school children in Sullivan and Orange Counties, as well as to interested groups. The BKAA offers free nature walks at the wetlands led by local experts. We sponsor campers each summer to the DEC Environmental Camp in DeBruce. We produced a video about the history and the importance of the wetlands, which is available for loan. JOIN US! The more members we have, the more educational and recreational services we can offer our community, and the greater the impact we can have on decisions affecting local environmental issues. Membership costs only $10 per year, and includes a monthly newsletter. Simply send a check, with your name, address and phone number to: The Basha Kill Area Association P.O. Box 1121 Wurtsboro, NY 12790 CONTACT INFORMATION: To join, call Lorraine Haring at (845) 888-5381. On the Web, go to: The BKAA has a new website! Visit it at www.thebashakill.org Catskill Hiking Shack at www.catskillhikes.com and click on Local Information Shawangunk Ridge Coalition at www.shawangunkridge.org. BKAA tee-shirts, sweatshirts and hats are available at The Catskill Hiking Shack. All proceeds go to support the Basha Kill. Hats and tees with our logo are $10, and sweatshirts are available for a $20 donation. Check out the new full-color wetlands t-shirt, the price for that is $15, all can be seen and purchased at the Hiking Shack. Basha Kill Area Association, Inc. PO Box 1121, Wurtsboro, NY 12790 President: Paula Medley (845) 754-0743 Want to contact the BKAA? Lorraine Haring 888-5381

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