Geologist Brian Pahucki discusses how the Drowned Lands in Pine Island were drained and became the Black Dirt Region. (
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John Ruszkiewicz, president of the Drowned Lands Historical Society in Pine Island, leads he society's discussion of "How the Drowned Lands were drained and became the Black Dirt Region."
The Drowned Lands Historical Society presented a panel discussion, “How the Drowned Lands were drained and became the Black Dirt Region," on Sunday, Feb. 23, at the Pine Island Firehouse before a crowd of more than 70 people.
The panelists were William Grohoski, Black Dirt Historian; Kevin Sumner from the Orange County Soil and Water Conservation; Jerry Zimmerman of the Pine island Chamber of Commerce; and Brian Pahucki, a geologist for Orange County.
The discussion included:
The history of how the famous Black Dirt was formed;
The earliest draining efforts by the Colonists;
Flooding – at various historical times;
Straightening the channel;
FDR and the Civilian Conservation Corps CC and efforts made by the camps in the Walkill project; and
The current phases of flood control -from 1938 until present.
The event was hosted by club President John Ruszkiewicz and emceed by club member Tracey Pietrzak.