A Brief History of the Watershed Assistance Program
Since 1989, communities within the New York City Watershed have found themselves facing an increasingly complex series of rules, regulations and program initiatives focused on protecting New York City’s water supply. The NYC water supply is unfiltered, with the City having a Filtration Avoidance Determination (FAD) which is issued on five year cycles by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The FAD relies on a complex assemblage of watershed rules and regulations, as well as voluntary watershed protection programs, to help NYC maintain the current high quality in its reservoir system.
In 2002, at the request of the Greene County Mountaintop Supervisors and Mayors Association (MSMA), the Greene County Legislature provided funding to the Greene County Soil & Water Conservation District (GCSWCD) to develop a program that that would assist municipalities as well as watershed residents with issues related to the NYC watershed. The Watershed Assistance Program (WAP) was established as a program within the GCSWCD, with the MSMA and Greene County Legislature acting as program advisors. The WAP places a high priority on integration of all watershed programs, and takes a very proactive approach to watershed management.
What Does the WAP Do?
The Watershed Assistance Program (WAP) provides a wide range of services including education and outreach, watershed planning, and water quality or stewardship project design and implementation. The WAP serves a key role in the facilitation of local, state, and federal programs, and works in partnership with municipal leaders, residents, agencies, and organizations. Watershed stakeholders that require assistance with issues related to the NYC watershed rules and regulations, or natural resource problems, should contact the WAP to determine what types of help may be available.
WAP Programs and Projects
- Mountaintop Supervisors and Mayors Association
- Mountaintop Community Resource Strategy
- Hunter Corridor Regional Planning Study
- Mountaintop Better Site Design Roundtable
- Schoharie Turbidity Reduction Strategy
- Building in the NYC Watershed
- Mountaintop Economic Development
- Municipal Tools for Watershed and Water Resource Protection
- Mountaintop Low Impact Development Resources
Listen to a recording of Michelle Yost, WAP Coordinator, discussing the WAP and Schoharie Watershed Summit on the Watershed Agricultural Council's WIOX Watershed Wednesday show