Help Protect Otsego County's Streams - Join OCCA's Community Science Volunteer Program

Otsego County Conservation Association is seeking volunteers to join our Culvert Team, no experience required.

Culvert Team assesses the conditions of stream crossings in the Candarago Lake, Otsego Lake, and Butternut Creek watersheds using protocols developed by the North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative (NAACC). The data collected and shared by OCCA will lead to more rapid repair, replacement, and enhancement of problematic culverts in Otsego County. The data also supports stream health improvements, such as habitat connectivity for species of interest, and climate resiliency.

When / How Culvert Teams Work:

Culvert Teams will conduct assessments between Summer and Fall of 2025. Each small team comprises of Lead Observers (training required) and assistants (no training required). Each team will work with OCCA to create a goal and assessment schedule that fits their availability. There are around 1,300 stream crossings that could be assessed, and we are hoping to collect data on as many as we can!