ARKVILLE - About 100 people attended the Catskill Water Discovery Center’s summer fundraiser Aug. 22, raising money to support the center’s annual operations, including the East Branch Nature Preserve and museum gallery.
The event, called “Wild Sip & Stroll,” featured a half-mile loop through the preserve, including a section along the East Branch of the Delaware River.
The preserve takes on a different character in summer, with dense vegetation and native plants filling the landscape. The absence of browsing deer has allowed vegetation to flourish, organizers said, creating a secluded trail through the preserve.
The landscape includes three mature butternut trees planted in the last century, grapevines winding through the trees, and serviceberry and honeysuckle near the trail entrance.
Nine refreshment stations were placed along the route, with food and drinks inspired by plants and other ingredients associated with the preserve and surrounding region. Offerings included sumac, honey, maple syrup, grape, elderberry, apple, ramp and rhubarb, along with locally produced beverages.
The event was intended as both a fundraiser and an opportunity to introduce visitors to the preserve and its natural history.
The East Branch Nature Preserve is open from dawn to dusk seven days a week. Fishing is permitted during the appropriate season.
The trailhead is behind the Catskill Watershed Corp. building at 699 County Route 38. Parking is available at the Water Discovery Center entrance on the north side of the building.
The museum gallery is open on selected weekends throughout the year. Hours and additional information are available at catskillwaterdiscoverycenter.org
The Catskill Water Discovery Center is an educational organization focused on the history and operation of New York City’s water supply system and its relationship to the Catskill-Delaware watershed.
The center’s exhibits explore the development of the water system, the sacrifices made by watershed communities during its construction, the cultural history of the region and the natural resources that supply drinking water to millions of people.
Its mission also emphasizes the relationship between a working watershed, recreation and the protection of the Catskills’ water resources.
For more information visit https://waterdiscoverycenter.org
