For Release: Monday, July 30, 2007
State Health, Environmental Commissioners Applaud Agreement to Protect NYC Water Supply
Strengthens Protections for Reservoirs and Surrounding Lands
New York State's environmental and health commissioners Monday hailed the 10-year extension agreed to by federal, state and New York City officials to protect the Catskill/Delaware Watershed.
The agreement, known as the Filtration Avoidance Determination, continues and expands a number of core programs critical to water quality protection. These include community and wastewater management, septic repair and replacement, land acquisition, forest easements and riparian and buffer programs. These protections are needed to ensure that water quality will not degrade - and that a filtration plant will not be necessary.
"As the agency that ultimately will assume primary responsibility for regulatory oversight of this water supply, the New York State Health Department is committed to ensuring that New Yorkers have the safest and purest drinking water possible," said Richard F. Daines, M.D., New York State Commissioner of Health. "We will continue to work closely with New York City, the EPA, and the State Department of Environmental Conservation to safeguard this resource that is so vital to public health."
"Today is a great day for the state, the environment, the upstate watershed communities and the nine million New Yorkers who rely on this drinking water supply," New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete Grannis said. "The extension strengthens protections for the reservoirs and surrounding lands. It also demonstrates tremendous fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers. By protecting the watershed at its source, we avoid spending the estimated $8 billion to $10 billion to build a filtration plant and the $400 million in annual maintenance and operation costs."
Commissioner Grannis and Commissioner Daines acknowledged the important role played by local governments and citizens that live and work in the upstate watershed region. Working together with upstate communities, various levels of government have demonstrated that they can enhance the local economy while protecting environmental resources and the drinking water supply for millions of New Yorkers. The Commissioners thanked the people of the Catskills, and their elected representatives for their past cooperation in protecting this vital resource.
The New York City watershed is the largest unfiltered drinking water supply in the nation. Although the watershed comprises just 5 percent of the land area of New York State, it supplies drinking water to half its population. It's therefore critically important that the watershed continue to be protected for future generations.
New York State is an active participant in the management of water quality and land resources within the watershed. New York State owns 210,000 acres in the west-of-Hudson portion of the watershed and a majority of this forested land has been managed for passive recreational uses for many decades. These lands are enjoyed by residents and visitors to the Catskill Park for hunting, fishing, trapping, camping, hiking, skiing, canoeing, mountain biking and snow-shoeing without harming New York City's drinking water supply.
The agreement expands programs for land acquisition, forest easements and buffers, Grannis said. Agriculture and stream programs will be continued, as well wastewater treatment plant upgrades.
While many New York City water supply reservoirs and lands are open to the public for low-impact recreational activities when compatible with water supply protection, access and use of those lands are often inconsistent with adjoining state land.
"New York State is a committed steward of the watershed," Grannis said. "As we move forward, we need to collaborate to create new, streamlined recreational access policies for hunters, anglers, hikers and other outdoors enthusiasts. We look forward to working with the City and other stakeholders to bring uniformity to land use in the watershed, which will serve to enhance the region's economy, the city's water quality, and the state's environment."
