Ulster County Soil & Water Conservation District
5 Park Lane
Highland, NY 12528
(845) 883-7162 X3
Every County in New York State has a Soil and Water Conservation District. The State passed enabling legislation for the creation of our agency after Congress, in 1937, established a federal conservation agency to address the nation's problems caused by the "dust bowl". The legislation empowered local soil and water conservation districts to carry out and promote soil and water conservation programs.
The Ulster County Soil and Water Conservation District was formed by County Resolution in April of 1965. We are governed by a local Board of Directors appointed by the Ulster County Legislature to oversee programs and staff. Ulster's Board consists of representatives from the County Legislature, Farm Bureau, Grange and At-Large.
For over forty years the District has maintained its long standing tradition as an agency of action, responsible for the direct design and implementation of engineering and agronomic practices intended for the improvement of water quality and the preservation of the County's natural resources, in both rural and urban capacity.
Our Staff
Jake Wedemeyer
Executive Director, CCA, CPESC
Christine DeGroodt
Program Assistant
Marisa Flannery
District Technician
Tyler Jaffee District Technician
vacant
Ashokan Basin Project Manager
Bobby Taylor
CSBI Program Coordinator, NYSESCCP
Ian Gedicks
Stream Assessment Coordinator
Mark Tollefson
Watershed Technician
Gabriel Bonse
Watershed Technician
Board Of Directors
Leonard Tantillo
Chairman - Farm Bureau Representative
Sarah Van Nostrand
Secretary/Treasurer and the Grange Representative
James Delaune
Vice-Chairman, Member-At-Large
Robert Davenport
Member-At-Large
Fred Wilklow
Member-At-Large
Kathy Nolan
Legislative Representative
Jason Kovacs
Legislative Representative
USDA NRCS
Oscar Velez-Juarbe
District Conservationist
VACANT
IT Specialist- OCIO
Eleanor Richard
Civil/Agricultural Engineer
Sam Roberts
Natural Resources Specialist
EXTRA NEWS
District Equipment Rental Program
The District has a 6-ton Lime Spreader, a Row Mulcher, and two No-Till Drills to choose from, available for rent to farmers in Ulster County
2025 Soil Health Program
In an effort to increase local adoption of soil health improving practices, as well as improve farm economic viability, the Ulster County Soil & Water Conservation District will implement a soil health program for county farmers this fall. A total of $60,000* will be available for funding cover crops. Due to the limited availability of funds, each farm will be reimbursed up to $6,000.
Marisa Flannery recently joined the UCSWCD team in July 2026. Prior to joining the District, she worked as a Soil Scientist with Prolific Earth Sciences, where she helped farmers and landowners implement and manage conservation programs.
Marisa earned her degree in Environmental Science from Pace University, with a focus on soil science. During her graduate studies, she spent several summers in Costa Rica analyzing the soil microbiomes of medicinal plant species native to the region. Her research explored the ecological and economic roles these plants play within both the local ecosystem and surrounding communities.
As a lifelong Hudson Valley resident, Marisa has a deep appreciation for nature and the local agricultural community. Outside of work, she enjoys tending to her vegetable and native flower gardens, birdwatching, volunteering in the community, and spending time with her friends and cat.
Tyler Jaffee is originally from the Hudson Valley, Tyler is passionate about ecological integrity and resource management, having a background in consulting forestry, wetland restoration, farmwork, and construction. It has inspired him to work with the natural landscape to restore and balance the dynamic of land usage in pursuit of sustainable harmony.
He earned his Bachelor of Technology in Environmental Management at the State University of New York at Cobleskill using best management practices in applied conservation methods.
In his free time Tyler likes to fish, hike, camp, and spend time with friends.
