This year's Annual Watershed Conference theme was Drinking Water: Source to Tap. During our Needs Assessment (2022), we heard from watershed groups that their top three concerns are flooding, drinking water, and emerging contaminants like PFAS. The conference included a panel discussion to highlight the diversity of ways that watershed groups are currently working on drinking water protection in their communities. We were glad to recognize the excellent work of: - the Hollowbrook Water Watch, represented by Joseph Scapoli, Watershed Inspector, Peekskill Department of Water and Sewer, which works to protect the City of Peekskill's water supply through a watershed approach; - the Hudson River Drinking Water Intermunicipal Council (Hudson 7), represented by Rebecca Martin, Source Water Protection Coordinator/Consultant, an intermunicipal council representing the seven municipalities that draw drinking water from the Hudson River; - the Saw Kill Watershed Community, represented by Karen Schneller-McDonald, author of Connecting the Drops and Water Resources Specialist, Hickory Creek Consulting, which coordinates a private well water monitoring program in collaboration with the Bard College Community Sciences Lab; and - the Quassaick Creek Watershed Alliance, represented by Jack Caldwell and Bill Fetter, which serves on the Restoration Advisory Board for the clean up of the City of Newburgh's water supply. Photos by Will Haydon, Marist College '25.
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