Catskill Watershed Corporation Approves 10 Year Renewal of Public Education Program Aimed to Promote Environmental Awareness and Stewardship

CATSKILL - The Catskill Watershed Corporation (CWC) is excited to announce the expansion of its Public Education Program. The program has received a significant boost with the approval of a 10-year renewal contract by the CWC with NYCDEP, ensuring its continuation. Total contract funding over the 10-year period amounts to $7.5 million. 

The CWC Public Education program is designed to increase awareness and understanding of the vital importance of the New York City watershed region, particularly the West-of-Hudson (WOH) Watershed. The region supplies 90% of New York City’s unfiltered drinking water, and its conservation is crucial for both the local environment and the broader ecological health of the water supply for half the state’s population. The program supports a wide range of educational activities and projects aimed at promoting water conservation, highlighting the unique cultural and biological diversity of the Catskills, and addressing the impacts of climate change. 

The cornerstone of the CWC Public Education program is the annual Watershed Education Grants, available to schools, libraries, museums, vocational institutions, and non-profit organizations in the WOH Watershed and New York City. Grants range from $750 to $10,000 for Student/Teacher projects and up to $5,000 for Public Audience projects. Funded initiatives span teacher training, cultural programming, service learning, climate studies, field trips, and stream and forest exploration, among others. Preference is given to projects that include matching funds or in-kind contributions. 

Applications for the grants are due the first Friday in February each year, with funded projects starting no earlier than September 1st and completed within 12 months. A 13-member Public Education Advisory Group, comprised of educators and teachers from the WOH Watershed and NYC, reviews grant applications, with recommendations approved by the CWC Board of Directors. Special program options include the “Trout in the Classroom” initiative and the performance “City that Drinks the Mountain Sky.” 

The Public Education Program aims to engage school-age students and their teachers, as well as adult and mixed-age audiences, in a shared mission of environmental stewardship. Starting next year, the program has introduced a new eligibility area focusing on the history of the NYC watershed region and the significant sacrifices made by local communities to create and maintain the water supply system. By fostering a deeper understanding of the roles of watershed residents in protecting water quality, and the rich cultural heritage of the Catskills, the program underscores the critical importance of protecting one of the region's most vital natural resources. 

For more information on the Public Education Program and how to apply for grants, please visit the Catskill Watershed Corporation website www.cwconline.org.