The New York City Watershed Program

1
The New York City Watershed Program

• The NYC Watershed Agreement
• The Watershed Protection and Partnership Council
• June 9, 2009 CLGCS Management Meeting

2
The NYC Watershed

• Delivers 1.3 billion gallons of high quality
  drinking water to more than 9 million New Yorkers
  every day.
• More than a trillion gallons in residence.
• A network of 19 reservoirs as far away as 125
  miles north and west of NYC.
• 2,000 square miles
• 8 Counties
• 70 Towns and Villages

3
The Nations largest surface water supply ...is
not filtered

• 1989 EPA mandates filtration for all surface
  water supplies, pursuant to the Surface Water
  Treatment Rule of the Safe drinking Water Act.
• An exception, or Filtration Avoidance is
  allowed only for those supplies that have an
  approved comprehensive watershed management
  program in place to ensure the maintenance of
  high quality drinking water.
• For these systems, EPA (now NYSDOH in New York)
  may grant a Filtration Avoidance Determination
  (FAD).
• Faced with the staggering costs (50 billion
  capital 5 billion OM), City, State and
  federal entities believed that the high quality
  water in the City's Catskill and Delaware systems
  (not Croton) could meet the stringent
  requirements of a FAD upon the adoption of more
  comprehensive watershed management measures in
  the NYC Watershed.

4
The 1997 New York City
Watershed Memorandum of AgreementRecognizing
the need for a collaborative approach to make a
FAD possible, Watershed stakeholders negotiated
for years to develop a cooperative comprehensive
framework to address NYCs water quality
protection. On January 21, 1997, the New York
City Watershed Memorandum of Agreement was
signed, forming a new and historic partnership
among the many interests to- Protect New York
Citys water supply,- Enhance the economic
vitality of the upstate watershed communities,
and - Implement a variety of watershed
protection programs.The Watershed Agreement
made a FAD possible by creating Partnership
Programs designed to assist the regulated
communities with compliance.
5
Signatories to the Agreement

• Federal, State, City, County,
• Env. Groups
• US EPA
• State of New York
• NYS DEC
• NYS DOH
• NYS DOS
• NYS EFC
• City of New York
• NYC DEP
• Delaware County
• Dutchess County
• Greene County
• Putnam County
• Schoharie County
• Sullivan County
• Ulster County
• Westchester County

• Towns and Villages
• Andes East Fishkill Fallsburgh
• Bovina Pawling Liberty
• Colchester Ashland Neversink
• Delhi Halcott Denning
• Deposit Hunter Hardenburgh
• Fleischmanns Jewett Hurley
• Franklin Lexington Kingston
• Hamden Tannersville Marbletown
• Harpersfield Prattsville Olive
• Hobart Windham Rochester
• Kortright Brewster Shandaken
• Margaretville Carmel Wawarsing
• Masonville Kent Woodstock
• Meredith Patterson Bedford
• Middletown Putnam Valley Cortlandt
• Roxbury Southeast Harrison
• Sidney Broome Lewisboro

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Watershed Agreement Components

• New York City Watershed Rules and
  Regulations
• Land Acquisition
• Partnership Programs
• The Watershed Protection and Partnership Council

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RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE PROTECTION FROM
CONTAMINATION, DEGRADATION AND POLLUTION OF THE
NEW YORK CITY WATER SUPPLY AND ITS SOURCES

• Comprehensive water quality regulations were
  promulgated by NYC, impacting
• Pathogenic Materials
• Hazardous Substances and Hazardous Wastes
• Radioactive Materials
• Petroleum Products
• Human Excreta
• Wastewater Treatment Plants
• Sewerage Systems, Service Connections and
  Discharges to Sewerage Systems
• Subsurface Sewage Treatment Systems
• Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans and
  Impervious Surfaces
• Miscellaneous Point Sources
• Solid Waste
• Agricultural Activities
• Pesticides
• Fertilizers
• Snow Disposal and Storage and Use of Winter
  Highway Maintenance Materials
• Water Quality Standards

8
Land Acquisition Open Space for Water Quality
Protection

• Initial FAD allocated 30 million over five years
• Willing sellers only
• Fair market value
• No Eminent Domain - Solicitation goals only
• NYC pays taxes
• NYC agrees to public use as appropriate
• Municipal and Recreational Use Committee Review
• Current FAD allocates 300 million over 10 years
• Natural Features Criteria and Priority Areas
• Designates Hamlet areas as off limits to
  acquisition

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Partnership Programs

• New Sewage Treatment Infrastructure Facilities
  for Towns, Villages and Hamlets.
• Septic System Rehabilitations , Replacements, and
  Alternate Designs.
• Stormwater Retrofits.
• Sand and Salt Storage Facilities.
• Stream Corridor Protection.
• West of Hudson Economic Development Study.
• Catskill Fund for the Future. (60 million for
  WOH economic development loans and grants)
• Tax Consulting Fund.
• The Watershed Protection and Partnership Council.
  
• Watershed Planning in the Croton System.
• Sewage Diversion Feasibility Studies.
• East of Hudson Water Quality Investment Program.
• Upgrades to Existing WWTPs to Comply with
  Watershed Regulations.
• Future Operation and Maintenance Costs at Public
  WWTPs
• Upgrades to Future Public WWTPs Required by the
  Watershed Regulations.
• Phosphorus Controls in Cannonsville.
• Forestry Management Program.
• Public Education.
• Good Neighbor Payments.

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WPPC STRUCTURE AND DUTIES

• WPPC created to aid in the protection of
  drinking water quality and the economic vitality
  of the Watershed communities. The Council will
  represent a broad-based diverse group of
  interests that share the common goal of
  protecting and enhancing the environmental
  integrity of the Watershed and the social and
  economic vitality of the Watershed communities.
• Full Council 27 members
• Executive Committee 16 members
• Technical Advisory Committee 14 members
• Sporting Advisory Committees (2) 11 members

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WPPC Membership

• EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
• NYS Governor (2 seats)
• NYC Mayor (2 seats)
• Commissioner, New York State Department of
  Environmental Conservation
• Commissioner, New York State department of Health
• Commissioner, New York City Department of
  Environmental Protection
• Commissioner, New York City Department of Health
• Region II Administrator, United States
  Environmental Protection Administration
• WOH members of the CWC (3 seats)
• Westchester County Executive
• Putnam County Executive
• Environmental Parties (1 seat)
• Chair of the Watershed Agricultural Corporation

• Add for FULL COUNCIL
• New York State Secretary of State
• NYC Mayor
• Commissioner of the New York State Department of
  Agriculture Markets
• Commissioner of the New York State Department of
  Economic Development
• President of the New York City Economic
  Development Corporation
• Temporary president of the New York State Senate
• Speaker of the New York State Assembly
• Speaker of the New York City Council
• Westchester County Executive
• Dutchess County Executive
• Environmental Parties (1 seat)

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WPPC Duties

• GENERAL
• Serve as a forum for the exchange of views,
  concerns, ideas, information, and recommendations
  relating to Watershed protection and
  environmentally responsible economic development
• Review and assess efforts undertaken by
  governments and private parties to protect the
  Watershed
• Establish sub-committees as a vehicle for public
  participation
• Coordinate with State, City, and federal agencies
  regarding Watershed protection efforts
• Catch all/ Information central
• SPECIFIC
• Dispute resolution/Binding arbitration
• Adjudicate all written objections of any eligible
  Party, consistent with paragraph 107 (Use of
  Program Funds)
• Perform periodic reviews of
• The implementation of the Watershed Regulations
• The Watershed land acquisition program
• Water quality monitoring programs in the
  Watershed
• All Watershed Protection and Partnership Programs
• The pilot Phosphorus off-set program
• Oversee the creation of the Croton Plan
• Review proposed policy, procedures and guidance
  manuals prepared and/or adopted by the City for
  the administration of the Watershed Regulations
• Require and consider a technical report from the
  Technical Advisory Committee prior to making a
  recommendation regarding the adequacy of programs
  to protect water quality

13
Current areas of effort, challenges, potential
visibility-raising events, whats on the horizon

• Formation of East of Hudson Regional Stormwater
  Entity for MS4 Compliance
• We have successfully concluded the signing of
  three IMAs forming three cooperative, shared
  service, regional MS4 stormwater compliance
  entities. 
• DOS WQPIGS grants to all three county groups
  (Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess) are funding
  critical initial MS4 stormwater retrofit planning
  and implementation activities for the three
  groups. 
• Established WPPC working groups are used as the
  local government interface for DEC on this
  regional initiative. 
• Chairing workgroup to draft Program Rules for
  disbursement of DEP funds to Watershed Towns for
  Regional entity formation and Stormwater retrofit
  costs (FAD deliverable).
• WPPC will remain as the organizational/administrat
  ive entity for this regional initiave.

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Current areas of effort, challenges, potential
visibility-raising events, whats on the horizon,
continued

• The Annual Watershed Science and Technical
  Conference
•  
• A State deliverable
• 2008 conference attracted almost 300 participants
  
• The NYC Watershed is home to nearly 1 million
  inhabitants. This living watershed poses
  unique challenges to the scientists, engineers,
  managers, legislators, residents and stakeholders
  working and living within it.
• The conference brings scientists and technical
  experts together from across the nation, along
  with watershed stakeholders and the public, to
  technically inform, present research findings,
  share technical data, exchange ideas, and present
  leading edge information regarding the protection
  of the NYC system.
• Unique opportunity to interface with scientists
  working in similar arenas across the nation,
  providing an opportunity to transfer technology
  and increase coordination among the array of
  entities working with watershed protection
  science.
• Submitted abstracts are reviewed by the WPPC
  Technical Program Committee for technical merit,
  interdisciplinary utility, as well as temporal
  and substantive relevance.

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Current areas of effort, challenges, potential
visibility-raising events, whats on the horizon,
continued

• 2009 Conference - Hotel Thayer, West Point, NY
  Sept. 14th and 15th
• Current and next conference steps
• Workplan Development
• Call for Abstracts posted on DOS and NYWEA
  websites, and with academic and technical
  organizations.
• WPPC TAC reviews abstracts received selects 36
  for presentation
• WPPC Chairs Technical Program Committee - PDHs
  assigned
• Develop technical Program - NYC DEP Climate
  Change theme (Last year emerging
  contaminants)
• Print Compendium of Abstracts, Conference
  Brochure, On-site Program
• Organize Speakers and Presenters
• Partner with NYWEA for administration
• Conference Et Ceteras

16
Current areas of effort, challenges, potential
visibility-raising events, whats on the horizon,
continued

• Dispute Resolution
• Three active Disputes
• Putnam County/NYCDEP regarding the use of East of
  Hudson Water Quality Funds for Conservation
  Easement acquisition
• Town of Patterson/Putnam County regarding the use
  of East of Hudson Water Quality Funds for SSDS
  (septic) repair
• West of Hudson Towns/NYC DEP regarding land
  acquisition in Hamlets
• NYC Land Acquisition is subject of multi-agency
  task force WPPC chair

17
Current areas of effort, challenges, potential
visibility-raising events, whats on the horizon,
continued

• Heightened MS4 Requirements
• MS4 Additional Minimum Measures in EOH Croton
  Watershed
• Currently on committee to draft Westchester
  County and local statutes mandating septic
  inspections and maintenance per MS4 requirements
• Model ordinance for watershed municipal use DOS
  Local Gov expertise
• Assist with pubic outreach/information sequence
• Coordinate with Putnam and Dutchess County
  elected officials and Health Departments

18
Current areas of effort, challenges, potential
visibility-raising events, whats on the horizon,
continued

• DOS Planning Implementation Grants
• State deliverable
• NYC Watershed ONLY
• Formerly Master Planning Zoning Incentive Award
• Aids in the development of community development
  tools and local laws to enhance watershed
  communities while protecting water quality

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DOS Planning Implementation Grants

• Development of new or amended local land use
  regulations or other environmental controls for
  water quality protection in the NYC Watershed
• Preparation or updating of a municipal Master
  Plan or Comprehensive Plan considering land use
  influences resulting from the New York City
  Watershed MOA and the need to enhance water
  quality protection in the Watershed
• Development of a Stormwater Management Program
  (SWMP) that includes some or all of the six
  minimum control measures required for MS4 Phase
  II compliance
• Development of a regional approach or capital
  improvement program/ management plan to address
  stormwater management
• Implementation of water quality enhancement
  projects and community land use laws, programs
  and tools.

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DOS Planning Implementation Grants

• So far
• 8 Annual Rounds complete
• 3.2 million for 179 projects
• Next steps
• Manage 34 open contracts to completion
• Execute new MOU with DEC for future
  sub-allocations
• Annual review of RFA to maximize responsiveness
  to community needs

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Contact

• William C. Harding
• Executive Director
• Watershed Council
• New York State Department of State
• 2 John Walsh Boulevard - Suite 206
• Peekskill, New York  10566
• Phone [phone]
• Fax     [phone]
• william.harding_at_dos.state.ny.us