MARGARETVILLE – Eight streamside property owners and two municipalities – the towns of Shandaken and Halcott – have been awarded the first Catskill Watershed Corporation grants for clearing flood debris from stream channels and floodplains.

A total of $212,345 has been awarded as of January 25 from the Stream Corridor Protection Debris Removal Program launched by the corporation in December.  Projects are in West Shokan, Shandaken, Chichester, Lanesville and Halcott, where the town was awarded $37,455 to hire a contractor to clear three sites on Vly Creek.

Applications are under review for 10 more projects.

Removing debris will help protect municipal infrastructure, as well as downstream properties that may be harmed should large trees, tanks, lumber and other debris be dislodged in future high water events.

The total $2.5 million program provides grants to towns, villages and property owners, or Soil and Water Conservation Districts, acting on their behalf. Funds may be used for labor, fuel, equipment, and materials necessary for flood debris removal.