Members of the Rockland Conservation & Service Corps have spent the summer working on environmental and conservation projects across Rockland County, including trail improvements, stream inspections and efforts aimed at protecting local waterways.

At Harriman State Park, Corps members worked alongside the Palisades Interstate Park Commission’s trail crew to maintain and improve trails. Their work included rerouting and resurfacing trails, constructing steps and implementing erosion-control measures.

Corps members also worked on trails at South Mountain, where the County Parks crew used a technique known as sidehilling to carve flat hiking paths into sloped terrain. The method helps create more comfortable trails while reducing erosion, water pooling and the formation of unofficial paths.

Another team partnered with the Rockland County Drainage Agency to inspect streams, brooks and creeks throughout the county. Members looked for blockages, pollution and other conditions that could affect local waterways and drainage systems.

The inspections also support flood mitigation efforts by identifying problems that can interfere with water flow and potentially contribute to flooding.

Additional inspections were conducted in Wesley Hills and New Hempstead, where Corps members examined stormwater outfalls for illicit discharges, signs of pollution and infrastructure damage.

The projects provided Corps members with hands-on experience in environmental stewardship while assisting county and regional agencies with maintaining trails, monitoring waterways and protecting local natural resources.