Our Mission

To promote the economic viability of agriculture and forestry, the protection of water quality, and the
conservation of working landscapes through strong local leadership and sustainable public-private partnerships.

Our Footprint

0% Farm Participation
0 acres of Managed Forest Land
0 Conservation Easement Acres
0 Pure Catskills Members

The Watershed Agricultural Council works with hundreds of farm and forest landowners in the NYC Watershed. Together, with our program participants, we have an expansive Conservation Footprint in the region. View the map here.

Events

News

January 2024 News

January 2024 News

Check out the January 2024 News from the Watershed Agricultural Council here. Stories include the 2023 Annual Report, Micro Grants available (applications due 2/29/24), Watershed...

2023 Annual Report

2023 Annual Report

“I am proud to report that 2023 proved a banner year for the Watershed Agricultural Council (WAC) as full programming not only resumed but surpassed...

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Events and Tours: Educating in the NYC Watershed a Events and Tours: Educating in the NYC Watershed and Beyond

The Watershed Agricultural Council (WAC) participated in over 80 education/outreach events and tours in the NYC Watershed and beyond in 2023. Highlights include hosting NYC educator field trips and bus tours, tours of the Watershed, and farmer education events. Staff also attended farmers’ markets, the Meredith Dairy Festival, Delaware County Fair, Lumberjack Festival, and the Cauliflower Festival to name a few. WAC staff from all programs represented our initiatives, mission, vision, and values throughout the region this year. Read more here: https://ow.ly/OPQf50QuWuV
East of Hudson: Preserving Working Landscapes in t East of Hudson: Preserving Working Landscapes in the Croton Watershed

The East of Hudson Agricultural Program’s efforts in 2023 exemplify the Watershed Agricultural Council’s core tenets of protecting water quality, preserving working landscapes and providing critical support for watershed farms.

This year, the WAC implemented Best Management Practices  to protect water quality on 25% of participating EOH farms. Implemented structural and management conservation practices include nutrient management plans, pasture plantings, dumpster pads for manure removal, protection of heavy use areas, access roads, structures for water control, agrichemical handling facilities. Read more here: https://ow.ly/8G7e50QuWnN
Conservation Easements: Acquisitions Returns in th Conservation Easements: Acquisitions Returns in the NYC Watershed

The Watershed Agricultural Council’s Easement Program spent 2023 engaging new conservation easement interest. After a three year pause of acquisitions and filling multiple vacant positions, the Easement Team is proud to share that it has now entered into contract on two properties aimed to close in 2024. Read more here: https://ow.ly/LgoM50QuWau
Forestry: Training Loggers in the NYC Watershed T Forestry: Training Loggers in the NYC Watershed

The Watershed Agricultural Council’s (WAC) Forestry Program works in partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Columbia/Greene County and New York Logger Training, Inc., to host the three core courses necessary for regional loggers to earn “Trained Logger Certification” (TLC). The three TLC core courses are—Game of Logging, First Aid/CPR and Silviculture & Ecology. Read more here: https://ow.ly/FvB950QuW1o
Economic Viability: Supporting Agricultural Expans Economic Viability: Supporting Agricultural Expansion in the NYC Watershed

The Watershed Agricultural Council’s  Economic Viability Program is proud to to highlight the development and launch of our new Fruit and Vegetable Expansion Pilot Grant encouraging the implementation of activities that support farmers in the NYC Watershed who are seeking to expand agricultural production of fruits and vegetables. Read this story and more here: https://ow.ly/PILH50QuVUw
Agricultural Program: Positive Momentum While Look Agricultural Program: Positive Momentum While Looking Forward in the NYC Watershed

The Agricultural Program made great strides this year in protecting water quality and supporting the economic viability of farms. Highlights in various program areas including Stuctural BMP Implementation, Agronomic Practices, Nutrient Management, Precision Feed Management, Cover Crops and the Watershed Investigation and Repair Crew are featured in the 2023 Annual Repot here: https://ow.ly/Y2En50QuVMN
2023 proved a banner year for the Watershed Agricu 2023 proved a banner year for the Watershed Agricultural Council as full programming not only resumed but surpassed prior budget and implementation marks. Check out our Annual Report for stories and program reports including Economic Viability, Conservation Easements, Forestry, Agriculture, East of Hudson and Events. 

Read the 2023 Annual Report here: https://ow.ly/a7CO50QuVAk
Breathtakingly beautiful. Winter in the NYC Waters Breathtakingly beautiful. Winter in the NYC Watershed ❄️
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#nycwatershed #catskills #catskillmountains #winterwonderland
This week we honored longtime board member Dave Ca This week we honored longtime board member Dave Cammer as he retires from his role on our Board of Directors. Dave has been with the Watershed Agricultural Council since 1996 and has provided a long-standing, infallible voice to the organization and the farm & forest community he serves. A Schoharie County native and former dairyman, Dave transitioned to hay and commercial maple syrup production more recently. Known for a quick wit and steady demeanor, he has fulfilled multiple roles with WAC; including Vice Chair, Interim Chair, Forestry Program Chair, lead in contract negotiations and member of various other committees. Dave’s unwavering commitment to the economic viability of agriculture and forestry, the protection of water quality, and the conservation of working landscapes through strong local leadership and sustainable public-private partnerships has been greatly appreciated and will truly be missed!

Wayland “Bud” Gladstone (right) presented David Cammer with this plaque on behalf of the Watershed Agricultural Council for his 27 years of service on the board.
We are looking to our like-minded supporters who s We are looking to our like-minded supporters who share our goals of supporting and protecting farm and forest land in our beautiful region. Like you, we recognize our natural resources are central to our quality of life. We need fresh water to drink, clean air to breathe, healthy food to eat and economic prosperity to sustain our lives and communities. Now, more than ever, our local food system and food security are vital. Broken supply chains have taught the world just how precious our farms and local resources are.

The Watershed Agricultural Council, an on-the-ground local organization of committed professionals, uses both science and law through economic and conservation strategies to protect NYC's Watershed for 30 years. Because of this commitment and capacity, the Catskill Mountains provide safe and abundant drinking water to the Northeast's largest metropolitan city. We ensure the delivery of over one billion gallons of fresh drinking water every day to more than nine million NYC residents.

When we protect a farm, we preserve a way of life. For generations, people in the Catskills have appreciated the rural character of the region's undeveloped landscape: beautiful farm and forestland patched together with cool mountain streams.

Join us today as we protect farms, forests and clean water by donating online at: https://ow.ly/jE2x50Qa2Yy

Thank you for supporting the Watershed Agricultural Council's mission of promoting the economic viability of agriculture and forestry, the protection of water quality, and the conservation of working landscapes for generations to come!
“Cattle late fall grazing in our newly fenced in “Cattle late fall grazing in our newly fenced in meadow.

Suzanne and I, plus our family thank the Council for the high tensile fence, spring development, and all other BMP's. Glad to be farming in the NYC Watershed!” — Wayland “Bud” Gladstone
The cold creeping into the Catskills… 🍂 📷 The cold creeping into the Catskills… 🍂

📷 : Ryan Naatz
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