Protecting New York City's Drinking Water Sources
		Michael A. Principe, Ph.D., William N. Stasiuk, P.E., Ph.D., Ira A. Stern, M.S.
		Session: Wednesday April 19 @ 8:45 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.	Author Info

ABSTRACT

The New York City Water Supply System delivers a daily average of 1.5 billion gallons to over 9 million consumers in New York City and surrounding communities. Nineteen reservoirs, three controlled lakes and hundreds of miles of aqueducts comprise the three separate and integrated systems which stretch over a 2000 square mile watershed from the Catskill Mountains down to Westchester County.

New York City received a Filtration Avoidance determination from the USEPA which included complex and protracted negotiations between the City, upstate communities, State agencies and environmentalists. It resulted in a voluminous Memorandum of Understanding, that includes new Watershed Rules and Regulations, a Land Acquisition Program, numerous Water Quality Partnership Programs and an enhanced water quality monitoring effort.

In this paper we present an overview of the City's surface water system and the watershed protection program.

Introduction

New York City supplies 1.35 billion gallons of water per day (bgd) to approximately 9 million consumers. All but 30 million gallons per day (mgd) is surface water from 19 reservoirs which capture runoff from three upstate watersheds (Fig 1).Water from these sources is conveyed to the City by three aqueducts which lead to two distribution reservoirs, which feed three rock tunnels several hundred feet below the City. Water is then distributed through a network of risers and 6,000 miles of distribution mains.

The quality of the water supplied by the system is generally excellent and the system remains unfiltered. The quality of water in the smallest system, the Croton, suffers from high levels of naturally occurring organic matter and excessive phosphorous inputs. As a result, the City has entered into a consent order which requires water from this system to be filtered by 2007. Because of the high quality of its two principal sources, the Catskill and Delaware, New York City has been granted a waiver from the filtration requirements of the federal Surface Water Treatment Rule (1) for those sources. In support of that waiver and to assure high quality source water for years to come, the City has undertaken a comprehensive watershed protection program to reduce existing sources of contamination and minimize impacts from future development.

The New York City Water System

New York City's water supply system, managed by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) consists of the Croton, Catskill and Delaware watershed systems and a ground-water supply, the Jamaica Wells, in the Borough of Queens.

Croton System

The Croton system was constructed in the mid 1800s, but only a small portion of that system is still in use. The present system, constructed between 1885 and 1911, normally provides 10-12% of the daily supply but can provide up to 25% during drought conditions. System storage is 94.5 bg in 12 reservoirs and three controlled lakes. Its watershed covers 375 square miles. Up to 90 mgd can be transferred from the Croton System to the Delaware System via two hydraulic pumping stations, which are only activated during drought conditions. In addition, 100 mgd can be transferred from the Catskill System to Croton Aqueduct, if there are quality problems in New Croton Reservoir. Water from the Croton System is conveyed through the new Croton Aqueduct (capacity 290mgd) to Jerome Park, a distribution reservoir. It is chlorinated and fluoridated.

Water quality from the Croton system is generally acceptable. However, due to high levels of naturally occurring organic matter, Croton water does not meet new EPA standards for disinfection byproducts. In addition, some 140,000 people reside permanently in the watershed ( /sq mi). Due to point and non-point sources of pollution, high levels of phosphorous occur in the Croton system. Consequently, the terminal reservoir ( New Croton Reservoir) experiences hypolymnetic anoxia in the late Summer and Fall which results in solubilization of iron and manganese and violations of the color standard. Croton water is scheduled to be filtered by 2007 as a result of an EPA Consent Order.

Catskill System

The Catskill System was put into service in 1917 and completed in 1927. It consists of Schoharie Reservoir which diverts water through the 18 mile Shandaken Tunnel to Esopus Creek which feeds Ashokan Reservoir. These reservoirs have a storage capacity of 140.5 bg and have a watershed area of 571 square miles. The 74 mile Catskill Aqueduct has a capacity of 580 mgd and conveys water from Ashokan Reservoir to Kensico, a balancing reservoir, where it is intermingled with water from the Delaware system. From there it is sent to Hillview, a distribution reservoir, from which it can be distributed through City Tunnels 1,2 and 3. Tunnel 3 was placed partially into service in 1998.

The Catskill System normally supplies about 40% of the daily demand. The population density in the Catskill watershed is lower than Croton by a factor of 6 and water quality is generally excellent. During flood conditions, Catskill runoff can contain high amounts of clay particles, which cause the water in Schoharie and Ashokan to become turbid. When this occurs, alum is added to the Catskill Aqueduct and the turbidity is precipitated at the head end of Kensico Reservoir. Catskill and Delaware (Cat/Del) waters are of excellent chemical and microbiological quality. Treatment includes chlorination and fluoridation. Additionally as the Cat/Del waters are poorly buffered, sodium hydroxide is added for pH control and orthophosphate added for corrosion control. Because of their high quality, the Cat/Del systems have received an EPA filtration avoidance determination through the year 2002.

Delaware System

The Delaware System is New York City's newest and largest source of supply. Begun in the late 1930s the system includes four source reservoirs with a storage capacity of 320.4 bg. Three of these are in the Delaware River Basin: Cannonsville, Pepacton and Neversink . Water from these reservoirs is fed through separate rock tunnels to Rondout Reservoir which is within the Hudson River drainage basin. The Delaware Aqueduct begins at Rondout (capacity, 900 mgd) and connects to West Branch reservoir (also a part of the Croton system), Kensico and Hillview. Operators can bypass West Branch, Kensico and/or Hillview if necessary. Additionally water can be pumped into the Delaware Aqueduct in drought emergencies from the Hudson River at Chelsea, and from the Croton watershed by the hydraulic pumping stations at Croton Falls Reservoir and Cross River Reservoir. From Rondout to the Staten Island terminus of Tunnel Number 2, the Delaware Aqueduct is more than 100 miles long.

Water from the Delaware System supplies approximately 50% of the daily demand. The population density of its watershed is less than that of the Catskill watershed. While the geology underlying the Delaware watershed does not contain the clay deposits which impact the Catskill System, quality problems occur in the western-most Delaware reservoir, Cannonsville, in large part due the high number of dairy farms in its basin.

Operations

The system has a safe yield, based on the drought of record in the mid-1960s, of 1290 mgd. As this is slightly less than the 1330 mgd demand on the surface supply, NYC must shepherd its resources to avoid shortfalls in supply. Because there is little runoff in the summer months, the operating goal is to have the system at capacity on June, 1. Given the large number of reservoirs, and hydraulic limitations of the Catskill and Croton Aqueducts successful hydraulic balancing often depends on the quality conditions in the various reservoirs. Significant difficulties can be posed when Croton is experiencing color problems, Catskill is experiencing turbidity problems or there are algae blooms in the Delaware system, usually Cannonsville. In the past New York City dealt with these problems with chemical additions to the aqueducts or in the case of New Croton Reservoir, to the water as it entered the reservoir over the Muscoot Weir. Environmental concerns related to fish mortality and or impact on zooplankton have rendered this form of treatment acceptable only in emergency situations. Previous use in a prophylactic manner is no longer acceptable.

WATERSHED PROTECTION PROGRAM

Filtration Avoidance

Following the promulgation, in 1989, of the federal Surface Water Treatment Rule (SWTR), New York City determined that it could continue to meet the requirements of the SWTR without filtering its Cat/Del supplies. The City was able to demonstrate that (1) the source water met the turbidity and fecal coliform standards of the SWTR, (2) there were no source related violations of the Coliform Rule and (3) there were no waterborne disease outbreaks in the City. The last requirement of the SWTR was a demonstration of ownership or control over activities in the watershed. This presented a challenge as, at that time, only 27% of the lands in the Cat/Del watersheds was in public ownership ( New York State owns 20% within the Catskill Preserve and New York City, 7%).

Water Quality

New York City carries out an extensive water quality monitoring program within its Delaware System. Samples are collected and tests are conducted at sites located at aqueducts, reservoirs, streams, and watershed wastewater treatment plants. Staff from DEP's State-certified laboratory located in Grahamsville, New York, collects 12,000 samples from 100 sites and performs more than 100,000 analyses each year.

Modifications to DEP's Delaware District water quality monitoring program began in the early 1980's, based on the recognition that a comprehensive water quality program was integral to the City's efforts to protect the source of its drinking water. The expanded program, is based on the principle that water quality assessments of lakes and reservoirs are best approached from a watershed or regional perspective. The Department expanded its data collection to include reservoirs and tributaries. Beginning in 1983, DEP's Grahamsville Laboratory upgraded its analytical instrumentation, and increased its staff (both laboratory and field operations) from 4 to 21. The additional staff includes representatives of scientific disciplines such as limnology and hydrology to complement the existing staff of microbiologists and chemists. In addition, DEP has developed a watershed geographic information system to aid in water quality modeling, land acquisition, environmental planning and impact analysis, enforcement, and natural resource and land use inventories.

The city's current monitoring program addresses three needs: operational and process control, regulatory compliance, and specialized research. The program's fundamental goals are to develop a database through which water quality trends can be identified, to help manage the system to supply the best possible water, and to identify water quality conditions of concern to focus watershed management efforts. The basic infrastructure underlying the city's monitoring program within the three Delaware River upland watersheds consists of a series of strategically placed meteorological and stream gauging stations . A total of 12 meteorological stations have been established in the Neversink (3), Pepacton (4), and Cannonsville (5) watersheds. Twenty U.S. Geological Survey stream gauging stations have been located at sites selected through a process which considered paired upper-lower sites in the same watershed, land use, multi variate cluster analysis, knowledge of the watershed, and specific data needs, e.g., tunnel release flows. Streamflow in ungauged basins will be estimated by indexing them with gauged basins that have similar characteristics. The Department currently collects and analyzes samples from 35 ungauged locations.

Since 1984, DEP has continually improved its limnological monitoring program. Cannonsville (6 sites), Neversink (4 sites), and Pepacton (6 sites) Reservoirs are each surveyed twice a month from late March to early December. Samples are collected along the main axis of the reservoir, and from area near intake structures, dams, or major tributary influents.

In 1992, the city amended its water quality surveillance program to include monitoring for Giardia spp., Cryptosporidium spp., and enteric viruses. An array of sample locations were selected throughout the city water supply watersheds, including 17 sites in the Delaware /Neversink watershed basins. Sample sites include: effluents from WWTP's, stream points above and below WWTP's, and streams that drain subbasins that typify the following land uses: agricultural, undeveloped, and urban/suburban.

Findings of the source water monitoring program have served as the scientific basis for many city watershed protection programs, including the recent revision of the city's regulations governing watershed control. Enhanced monitoring has allowed for the assessment of each reservoir's trophic state and its susceptibility to eutrophication. Monitoring has also enabled DEP to identify phosphorus as the primary nutrient driving the eutrophication process .The water quality and morphometic characteristics of each Delaware District reservoir are listed in Tables 3 and 4 respectively. Cannonsville Reservoir is currently classified as eutrophic with a trophic state index (TSI) of 57, whereas Neversink and Pepacton Reservoirs are classified as mesotrophic with TSI's of 44 and 48 respectively. As such, Neversink and Pepacton Reservoirs exhibit lower chlorophyll @ (Chl@) concentrations, lower total phosphorus (TP) concentrations, and higher Secchi disc (ZSD) transparency values than Cannonsville Reservoir.

Table 3 Water quality characteristics of Delaware District Reservoirs (1986-1996) .  

Notes: All values, except Chl a & TSI, are averages of data collected throughout the whole lake (every site, every depth) between April and December. Mean Chl a concentration was calculated for the growing season (May-Oct) and photic zone only. TSI is based on Chl a. TSI values greater than 50 indicate eutrophy.  

Because the waters contained in Neversink and Pepacton Reservoirs are generally of a higher quality than those contained within Cannonsville Reservoir (Table 3), a greater percentage of their volume is diverted to the city for water supply purposes (Table 4). Accordingly, a larger percentage of Cannonsville Reservoir water is used for flow augmentation to the Delaware River.

  Table 4  Morphometric characteristics of Delaware District Reservoirs.
 

Notes: Average residence time and percent delivery is calculated over the period 1988-1997.  

The eutrophic nature of Cannonsville Reservoir can be attributed to its large drainage basin area to reservoir surface area ratio, the high percentage of agricultural land use within its drainage basin, and the presence of four municipal wastewater treatment plants, lacking sand filtration, which discharge into the West Branch of the Delaware River. The city has embarked on a number of watershed protection initiatives aimed at improving Cannonsville Reservoir water quality, they include: (1) upgrading all wastewater discharges within the basin to tertiary treatment; (2) working with local farmers as part of the Watershed Agricultural Program, to reduce the discharge of nutrients and pathogens from agricultural lands; and (3) the acquisition of sensitive lands within the watershed to both abate existing pollution and prevent future degradation of water quality.

The Division of Drinking Water Quality Control (DWQC) has implemented a number of research programs in support of the city's watershed protection program. A two dimensional hydrothermal water quality model has been developed for Cannonsville Reservoir, and is in development for Neversink and Pepacton Reservoirs. These reservoir models are being coupled with a terrestrial loading model (the Generalized Watershed Loading Function (GWLF) model). These models will allow for an accurate assessment of the effectiveness of various watershed management practices. In particular, the total maximum daily load (TMDL) determinations for both point and nonpoint phosphorus discharges within each reservoir subbasin can be thoroughly evaluated and planned. Sub-watershed water quality/quantity models are also being utilized on a micro-scale level as part of the Watershed Agricultural Program.  

Cooperative studies between the City and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation concerning the assessment of agricultural best management practices from a pre- and post installation perspective, and with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) concerning and evaluation of the water quality impacts associated with various forestry management practices within the Neversink Watershed, are ongoing.  

*acknowlegement: Andrew Bader, Supervisor of Limnology, DWQC, for providing Delaware District water quality information  

Land Use Planning  

The NYC Watershed Agreement not only creates a blueprint for protecting the watershed over the next ten to fifteen years, but establishes a land use pattern that could have lasting effects on the future of the City's water supply. City investments in purchasing sensitive lands, environmental infrastructure in established villages and hamlets, economic development to bolster a healthy rural economy and working landscape, and various planning studies establish a clear direction for the watershed region.

The Watershed Agreement provides for contracts with various parties to administer over $400 million in "Partnership Programs" and the City itself will implement a $260 million program for "Land Acquisition". This serious commitment by New York City will correct existing water quality problems, prevent development in important areas, promote pollution prevention, and create and strengthen organizations and local governments in their ability to manage growth and protect water quality.

The partnership programs included in the Agreement mirror the landscape and economy of the watershed as well as reflect the City regulations that apply to each area. In the more developed East of Hudson counties of Westchester and Putnam, the presence of regulations governing "phosphorous restricted" and "coliform restricted" reservoir basins focuses early attention on wastewater issues. West of the Hudson River, the Catskill Region is blessed with a spectacular landscape - 90% of which is forested and agricultural. The watershed includes the 300,000 acre "forever wild" Catskill Forest Preserve as well as hundreds of villages and hamlets that have suffered from economic deterioration over the last few decades. As a result, the Catskill Watershed Corporation and the Watershed Agricultural Council - two locally based non-profit organizations - have emerged to balance economic opportunity with taking care of known water quality problems.

Watershed wide, two programs have been established to mitigate the impact of the most significant aspects of the City's new Rules and Regulations. New standards for sewage treatment plants that include stringent phosphorous limits and micro filtration (or its equivalent) will result in the City fully funding the upgrade of all the STP's in the watershed to meet the requirements. The establishment of buffer zones along watercourses that regulate the creation of impervious surfaces and require Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans in certain situations have led to a program for the City to pay for the costs of compliance with the City's rules.

EAST OF HUDSON

Each County has initiated a sewage diversion study and have also begun a "Croton Planning" process. Putnam County has elected to participate in a pilot phosphorous offset program to ascertain whether pollution trading would be a mutually effective tool to balance growth and environmental protection. Each County has executed a contract with the City to manage an East of Hudson Water Quality Investment Program (footnote 1 - Westchester $38 million; Putnam $30 million) which provides for the financial resources to implement projects that result from the various studies and pilot programs that are currently underway. Described below are the East of Hudson partnership programs and studies included in the Watershed Agreement.

Sewage Diversion Feasibility Study

Both Westchester County and Putnam County is conducting a formal evaluation of the feasibility of diverting current WWTP discharges within the watershed to WWTPs that discharge into surface waters outside the watershed. The study will assess future growth prescribed under local master plans, identify areas that would benefit from sewering to correct water quality problems, determine current wastewater flows, and analyze the feasibility of a variety of techniques and routes for diverting effluent from the watershed. The implementation of any diversion projects would be financed by the East of Hudson Water Quality Funds held by each County.

Croton Planning (Croton and Cat/Del, counties and towns, streams and reservoirs)

In order to participate in the Pilot Phosphorous Offset Program, each town in the Croton watershed must participate in the preparation and implementation of a Comprehensive Croton System Water Quality Protection Plan ("Croton Plan"). Croton planning encompasses four objectives: (1) the identification of water quality problems; (2) recommendations to correct water quality problems; (3) a projection of future growth and an identification of community character; and (4) local and regional mechanisms to provide for the maintenance and enhancement of Croton water quality into the future. The Croton Plan will be developed in each County in conjunction with the City and in coordination with each other.

EOH Water Quality Investment Program

Each County may expend its respective fund on a variety of eligible projects designed to improve and protect water quality. These projects can include sewage diversion, septic system repair and replacement, sewerage collection systems, stormwater best management practices, improved sand and salt storage facilities, stream restoration, and any other measures recommended by the Croton Plan. This fund may not be utilized in excess of 10% until the diversion study is complete. 

WEST OF HUDSON

The Catskill Region is comprised of two major drainage basins - the Hudson and Delaware. Rural in nature, the region is dominated by mountain peaks comprising the Catskill Park, thousands of streams and other watercourses, forested and agricultural land and an economy that depends predominantly upon tourism and working lands . The general mechanisms for watershed protection in this area as outlined in the Watershed Agreement include investments to aggressively address water quality problems and in economic development programs designed to enhance an economy that depends upon a rural landscape. The Agreement provides for a long list of programs that will be implemented by New York City DEP, the Watershed Agricultural Council, and the Catskill Watershed Corporation.

The importance of establishing programs that focus on mutual benefits to both the water consumers and the residents and businesses in the Catskill Region watershed cannot be understated. The longtime animosity felt by watershed communities towards the City following the condemnation of land for the construction of the reservoirs can only attempt to be quelled by providing opportunity and fairness in the implementation of water quality protection programs. The objectives achieved by protecting water resources must also include meeting the needs and desires of the landowners who steward this resource. For this reason, the majority of the programs are being implemented at the local level. Following the success of the Watershed Agricultural Council which has devised a nationally recognized program for addressing pollution emanating from farms, the Watershed Agreement has established a new regional organization called the Catskill Watershed Corporation (CWC) to deal with economic development and environmental infrastructure. Governed by a 15 member Board of Directors comprised of town and county representatives, the City and State, the CWC draws upon the "peer to peer" approach of WAC and combines it with a municipal network that is well equipped to implement the following programs.

Catskill Watershed Corporation Programs

Septic System Rehabilitation & Replacement Program 

To rehabilitate septic systems serving single or two family residences in the West of Hudson Watershed that are failing or reasonably likely to fail in the near future, and to replace or upgrade substandard systems that do not meet current State and local standards. The initial program in the first year will concentrate on identifying and repairing failing septic systems that have received a Notice of Failure or Violation from NYCDEP. The CWC has recently initiated a program to inspect and pump-out septic systems within the 60 day travel time priority area to determine whether rehabilitation or replacement is appropriate. The presence of a financial assistance program has brought many failing systems to the attention of DEP and has resulted in their replacement in the last two years.

Alternate Design Septics

To allow for the design, construction and installation of alternate design septic systems in West of Hudson, where required solely to comply with the requirements of the Watershed Regulations on subsurface sewage treatment systems.

Stormwater Retrofit Program

To design, construct, and provide for maintenance of stormwater best management practices to address existing stormwater runoff in concentrated areas of impervious surfaces. Priority will be given to communities to correct or reduce existing erosion and/or pollutant loading. The first awards have been made to priority projects and will be implemented over the course of this year.

Sand & Salt Storage Facilities

To improve the storage of sand, salt and other road de-icing materials to better protect water quality and to assist local governments in complying with the Watershed Regulations. The CWC has developed a program to design and construct 40 new facilities - many of which have now been completed.

Economic Development - Catskill Fund for the Future

The Watershed Agreement calls for two related projects funded by DEP in the area of economic development. The first is to provide $500,000 to undertake a study of community and economic development goals and opportunities for the West-of-Hudson watershed to achieve local economic, social and environmental goals which are consistent with the City's water quality objectives. It is anticipated that this study will guide economic development programs and investments in the region well into the future. The Watershed Agreement also calls for the creation of The Catskill Fund for the Future - a regional economic development fund - to be used for grants and loans to support responsible, environmentally sound economic development projects throughout the watershed and in communities that border the watershed (to facilitate job growth located outside the watershed for residents in the watershed).

Public Education

A $1 million grant fund for Public Education will promote increased public awareness of the human and natural history of the watershed and the development of the City's water supply system, including the role of communities in stewarding the watershed and the importance and means of protecting water quality. An additional $1 million is available to establish and maintain historically accurate, fair and balanced exhibits on the City's water supply and the Watershed at a regional Catskill museum.

New York City DEP Implements Additional Programs

New Sewage Treatment Infrastructure Program 

To construct and install WWTPs or community septic systems together with related sewerage collection systems, or to create and fund septic districts, in villages and hamlets in West of Hudson where the Villages or appropriate Towns are Parties and that are experiencing water quality problems due to failing septic systems in close proximity to streams and other water courses or where such failures are likely to occur in the future. Twenty-two (22) potentially participating communities have been identified in the MOA. The first seven communities on the list have recently completed a study of wastewater flows, potential service areas, investigation of the feasibility of subsurface discharge, and for conceptual plans and are now entering the design phase. 

Sewer Extensions (WOH STP's)

To construct extensions to sewerage collection systems serving the five City-owned wastewater treatment plants in the West of Hudson Watershed. These plants have all recently been completely replaced and, as a result, will be able to accommodate additional flows. Replacement of sewer systems in these communities has also begun to alleviate inflow and infiltration problems which will enable longstanding moratoria forbidding additional hookups to be lifted. Areas that will be considered for such extensions shall be limited to locations where sewering is necessary to alleviate existing water quality problems and to reduce reliance on failing or soon-to-be failing septic systems.

Stream Protection 

DEP's Stream Management Program works throughout the 1600 square mile watershed in the Catskill Mountains. This program integrates the goals of flood hazard mitigation, stormwater management, protection of drinking water supply and quality, and enhancement of fisheries habitat and riparian ecosystem function, using a watershed scale assessment of fluvial geomorphology and associated hydrology and hydraulics. Through a series of watershed assessment, planning and management activities, the Stream Management Program is encouraging and developing a broad-based consensus for stream stewardship in the watershed. The Watershed Agreement calls for a program of Stream Corridor Protection which will result in the development of subbasin-level Stream Corridor Management Plans (SCMP's), which utilize "natural channel stability" concepts and restoration demonstration projects on priority streams. 

Land Acquisition

The City's Land Acquisition Program seeks to purchase property whose preservation in a natural state will help protect water quality from future degradation. While acquiring any undeveloped land in the watershed will have some beneficial impact on preserving water quality, DEP is seeking to maximize the effectiveness of voluntary acquisitions by targeting parcels whose location and landscape features make them relatively more important for protecting water quality. 

The preservation of undeveloped areas through acquisition can protect water quality by (1) preserving those lands that serve as natural filters, capable of abating pollutants created elsewhere, and (2) preventing completely the future generation of pollution associated with development activities on lands where it would more likely enter the water supply.   

To ensure that the City purchases only what it needs and what is important for protecting water quality, only land that meets any one of the following land features criteria may be acquired: lands within 300 feet of a stream, within 1000 feet of a reservoir, containing wetlands, floodplains, and slopes greater than 15%. Since the Catskill-Delaware system includes over 2,500 miles of streams, and vast areas that meet the other categories, Priority Areas have been defined to focus acquisition efforts on the most critical areas within the watershed. The Priority Areas were developed through careful consideration of the role of various basins and sub-basins in the water supply system, travel time to distribution, the location of intakes, and water quality data.  

Only vacant parcels (i.e., free of habitable structures) will be considered for acquisition, which will be accomplished by both fee simple purchases and conservation easements. Conservation easements may also be acquired on working landscapes, such as farms, and in villages and hamlets. During the first three months after the signing of the Agreement, certain villages and hamlets were able to exempt the purchase of land in fee by the City to protect key parcels important for future economic development. The City has joined forces with Delaware County on a FEMA-sponsored Flood Buyout Program to purchase properties damaged by the 1996 flood. By getting homes and septic systems out of the floodplain, water quality will improve in the event of major flooding. We have also contracted with the Watershed Agricultural Council to purchase conservation easements on farms that are participating in the Whole Farm Planning program.  

The City pays real property taxes on purchased properties and offers fair market value based on appraisers in contract with the City. The program is conducted strictly on a willing seller/willing buyer basis and condemnation is not part of the program. Recreational use such as fishing, hiking and hunting will be allowed on properties so long as water quality and public safety are not compromised. A community review process is being followed that enables local, regional, state, and federal partners to review the City's recommendations and provide feedback. This process also acts as a check to ensure that the properties acquired adhere to the natural features criteria mentioned above.  

To date the City has more than 22,000 acres of land either acquired or under purchase contract. We have met the solicitation schedule outlined inthe MOA are meeting with landowners on a daily basis. The response to solicitations around the Ashokan and Rondout Reservoirs in the Catskills and West Branch and Boyd's Corners reservoirs east of the Hudson River has exceeded expectations and it is felt that the program will be very successful. A number of large highly developable properties have been secured.  

Watershed Agricultural Council, Inc.  

Watershed Agricultural Program (WOH land cover)  

The Watershed Agricultural Program is a comprehensive effort to develop and implement pollution prevention plans on 85% of the commercial farms in the City's watersheds. The program is a voluntary partnership between the City and farmers in the watershed to manage nonpoint sources of agricultural pollution, with particular emphasis on waterborne pathogens, nutrients, and sediment. In addition, the program incorporates the economic and business concerns of each farm into the development of its Whole Farm Plan in order to fully establish the principles and goals of pollution prevention into the farm operation. Fully funded by the City, the Watershed Agricultural Program is administered by the not-for-profit Watershed Agricultural Council, whose board consists of farmers, agri-business representatives and the DEP Commissioner. Local, State, and Federal agricultural assistance agencies, as well as Cornell University and USGS, provide planning, technical, educational, engineering, scientific and administrative support for the program under sub-contractual agreements with the Council.  

In addition to its core agricultural pollution prevention programs, the City and Watershed Agricultural Council have also embarked on efforts in forest land management, agricultural and forestry, economic development, education and outreach, and agricultural conservation easements. These programs aim to strengthen the overall goal of securing long term watershed protection by sustaining the natural resource based landscape and economy of the region, based on water quality goals.  

CONCLUSION

The Watershed Agreement provides the financial resources and framework for comprehensively protecting the City's sprawling watershed well into the future. It creates relationships between the City and local municipalities and counties, the State of New York, and non profit organizations that will hopefully become the foundation of institutional relationships that the City's water supply can rely upon. The programs called for are designed to attack existing point and non-point sources of pollution and provide regulations, infrastructure, education, and behavioral change that will survive the ten year term of the Agreement. The responsibility of protecting the watershed sits squarely on everyone's shoulders and it is in this way that the burden will be carried effectively. 
 

Author and Copyright Information

Copyright 2000 By Author

MICHAEL A. PRINCIPE, Ph.D.
Director, Division of Drinking Water Quality Control
Bureau of Water Supply, Quality and Protection,
New York City Department of Environmental Protection,
465 Columbus Avenue,
Valhalla, New York 10595-1336

Michael A. Principe has worked for the New York City Department of Environmental Protection for eighteen years. He currently holds the position of Director of the Division of Drinking Water Quality Control (DWQC), where he oversees all the Department's drinking water quality programs. Prior to Dr. Principe's appointment to Director of DWQC in 1988, he served first as Staff Limnologist from 1981-1983, then later as Chief Limnologist for the Department from 1983-1988. He received his Bachelor's of Science in Natural Resources from Cornell University in 1973, his Master's of Science in Environmental Science specializing in water resources from the SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry in Syracuse, N.Y. in 1981, and his Ph.D. in Biology from the CUNY Graduate School and University Center, N.Y. in 1991. Dr. Principe has also served as a New York State certified water treatment plant operator, laboratory director and aquatic pesticide applicator. He is a member of the Amer. Water Works Assoc., the Amer. Water Resources Assoc., the North Amer. Lake Mgmt. Soc., and the American Soc. Of Limnology & Oceanography.

Email: principe@water.dep.nyc.ny.us

WILLIAM N. STASIUK, P.E., Ph.D., N.Y.C. D.E.P.
71 Smith Avenue, Kingston, NY 12401

Since 1996, Bill Stasiuk has been Deputy Commissioner of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection and Director of DEP's Bureau of Water Supply, Quality and Protection. From 1966 - 1996, he was employed by the New York State Departments of Health and Environmental Conservation in a variety of environmental protection and emergency response programs most recently as Director of DOH's Center for Environmental Health. His Bachelor's and Master's Degrees are from Manhattan College and he received his Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering in 1974 from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He is a registered Professional Engineer in New York State. Dr. Stasiuk is also an Adjunct Associate Professor in the School of Public Health at the State University at Albany.

IRA A. STERN, M.S., N.Y.C. D.E.P.,
71 Smith Avenue, Kingston, NY 12401

Ira Stern is Director of the Division of Watershed Lands & Community Planning for the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). He coordinates the DEP's voluntary watershed protection programs including land acquisition and management, agricultural and forestry programs, stream management and community planning.

Mr. Stern's background includes experience in government, the private sector and in directing non-profit land conservation organizations. He holds a Master's degree in City and Regional Planning from Pratt Institute and a Bachelor's degree in History from Hobart College. He grew up in New York City and lives in a watershed town.

E-mail: ias@catgis.dep.nyc.ny.us