MakingWaves - News From the Division of Water

In This Issue:

• Protect Our Watersheds Poster Contest
• Land Acquisitions for Source Water Protection
• Conservation Partnership Program Grants Announced
• Availability of Ashokan Reservoir Water Release Proposal for Public Review

Protect Our Watersheds Poster Contest

DEC and the New York State Water Environment Association (NYWEA) are sponsoring a "Protect Our Watersheds" poster contest open to all middle school students. Fourteen winners will have the honor of having their artwork in a 2022 calendar distributed across New York State. The deadline for submitting posters is February 5, 2021. More information is available on DEC's Protect Our Watersheds Poster Contest webpage.

Land Acquisitions for Source Water Protection

Acquisition of Conservation Easement in Pine Plains 

DEC and the Dutchess Land Conservancy (DLC) announced the acquisition of the Jordan Lane Farm Conservation Easement in the town of Pine Plains in Dutchess County. This easement will protect approximately 25 percent of the town's Wellhead Protection Zone in perpetuity. The easement is located within the Wappinger Creek watershed and contains approximately 40 acres of wetlands that play a crucial role in water quality protection. 

Acquisition of Three Parcels of Land in Jefferson County

DEC and The Thousand Islands Land Trust (TILT) announced TILT's acquisition of 527 acres in the town of Alexandria as part of the Crooked Creek Preserve Water Quality Initiative. The acquisition will protect the water quality of the St. Lawrence River, which serves as a drinking water source for many nearby communities. 

Support From DEC's Grant Program

DLC acquired the easement and TILT purchased the land parcels with funding from New York State's Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) program. The WQIP supports projects to improve water quality, reduce the potential for harmful algal blooms (HABs), and protect drinking water across the state. DEC has announced more than $37 million for 37 land acquisition projects to date.

Conservation Partnership Program Grants Announced

DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos announced more than $2.2 million in Conservation Partnership Program grants for 50 not-for-profit land trusts across the state. The funding will support projects that protect water quality and farmland and conserve open space to benefit community health, tourism, and economic development. The Land Trust Alliance administers the Conservation Partnership Program in coordination with DEC. 

The grant awards range from just over $3,000 to $100,000. These Conservation Partnership Program grants along with $2.6 million in private and local funding will increase state lands' resilience to the changing climate and contribute to climate solutions by storing carbon. A detailed breakdown of these grants is available on DEC's website. 

Availability of Ashokan Reservoir Water Release Proposal for Public Review

DEC announced the release of two draft documents related to water releases from New York City's Ashokan Reservoir for public review and comment. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and proposed modification to New York City Department of Environmental Protection's permit for water releases from the Ashokan Reservoir would continue progress reducing turbidity in the reservoir and other connected waterbodies, including Esopus Creek.

DEC is accepting public comments on the DEIS and draft permit modification for 90 days until March 16, 2021. DEC is also hosting a virtual public hearing on these draft documents on February 4, 2021. For information on how to participate in the hearing and to submit comments, please go to DEC's website.