Hudson River Watershed Alliance

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.

On Tuesday, we gathered at the FDR Presidential Library and Museum for our Annual Watershed Conference. This year's theme focused on Drinking Water: Source to Tap. The program included presentations on groundwater, emerging contaminants including PFAS, planning to protect sources of drinking water, policy opportunities, and a panel discussion with watershed groups that are actively working on drinking water issues in their communities. A huge thanks to all of our speakers, sponsors, participants, and everyone who helped make this conference a success! Photos by Will Haydon, Marist College '25. More photos to come! #AnnualWatershedConference #HudsonRiverWatershedAlliance #DrinkingWater #HudsonValley #HudsonRiverWatershed #CleanWater

What a great homecoming to go back to the Hudson River Watershed Alliance annual conference, presenting for my current organization Environmental Policy Innovation Center. Love to see their leader Emily Vail, board members, watershed peeps, and advances in protecting this great watershed. Of course I found all the Bethlehem folks in the room George S. Kansas, P.E. David VanLuven Larissa Read and grateful to spend time with the best of the best of the Hudson Valley Rebecca Martin💙 #cleanwater #safewater #HudsonRiver #HudsonWatershed #wateridreamabout

The Annual Watershed Conference is tomorrow! Join us at the FDR Presidential Library & Museum in Hyde Park, NY from 9 am to 3 pm. Check out the full agenda and register at our website: https://lnkd.in/eu45mdz9 This year’s Annual Watershed Conference will share science and strategies to protect clean drinking water, considering a watershed approach. The day will include presentations on groundwater, emerging contaminants including PFAS, planning to protect sources of drinking water, policy opportunities, and a panel discussion with watershed groups that are actively working on drinking water issues in their communities. Photos from the watershed groups that will be featured in our panel discussion: (1) Quassaick Creek Watershed Alliance/Newburgh Clean Water Project, (2) Hudson River Drinking Water Intermunicipal Council (Hudson 7), (3) Saw Kill Watershed Community, and (4) Hollowbrook Water Watch (photo by Mike Matteo/Peekskill Herald). #AnnualWatershedConference #DrinkingWater #SourceWater #SourceWaterProtection #HudsonValley #CleanWater #HudsonRiverWatershed #HudsonRiverWatershedAlliance

Last Thursday's breakfast webinar focused on the health effects of drinking water contaminated with PFAS chemicals. A huge thanks to Dr. Erin Bell, Dean of the College of Integrated Health Sciences at the University at Albany, for sharing such complex and important information in an accessible way. Dr. Bell presented an introduction to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), how people can be exposed, information from studies in Newburgh and Hoosick Falls, and the latest research on health impacts, including what is known and where we still need more studies. The webinar recording is available on the Hudson River Watershed Alliance's YouTube Channel: https://lnkd.in/eANFtJcR Our focus on drinking water continues with our Annual Watershed Conference. The conference kicks off with a virtual session tomorrow - Wednesday, October 16, from 1-3 pm. Registration and more information: https://lnkd.in/eu45mdz9 The webinar session will provide an introduction to drinking water protection, including key context for the in-person session. Representatives from NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and NYS Department of Health will provide an overview of drinking water protection. Albany Water Department staff will share how they protect source water, water treatment plant process and challenges, and communicating information about water quality to residents. The conference continues with an in-person session on Tuesday, October 22 at the FDR Presidential Library & Museum in Hyde Park, NY. This session will focus on science and strategies to protect drinking water, from source to tap. More info and registration: https://lnkd.in/eu45mdz9

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are a group of chemicals used to make fluoropolymer coatings and products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease, and water. Some PFAS do not break down easily and persist for a long time in the environment, especially in water. Their toxicity and persistence in the environment means they are a potential danger to public health and the environment. Several water supplies in the Hudson River watershed have detected PFAS in drinking water, with Newburgh and Hoosick Falls particularly hard hit by PFAS contamination. On Thursday, October 10, Dr. Erin Bell from the University at Albany will share her research to understand the health effects of exposure to PFAS through drinking water, along with cumulative health burdens. Join us at this free webinar: https://lnkd.in/e7u74FYG The webinar will also be recorded and shared. Dr. Erin Bell is the co-Principal Investigator with the New York State Department of Health of a cohort study to examine the long-term health effects associated with consuming drinking water contaminated with PFAS. Given the strong correlation between excess exposure to environmental contaminants, poverty and racial inequalities, her research and community service have more recently expanded into exploring the health outcomes related to these disparities. These conversations will continue at our Annual Watershed Conference, which includes a virtual session on Wednesday, October 16 and an-in person session on Tuesday, October 22 in Hyde Park. The October 22 session will feature a breakout room focused on PFAS, with presentations by Rob Hayes from Environmental Advocates NY on state and federal PFAS policies and Jennifer Rawlison from Newburgh Clean Water Project on local and national-scale advocacy work. More information and registration is available on our website: https://lnkd.in/eu45mdz9 PFAS background: NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Photos in slides 1 and 2: the Newburgh Clinic Team, courtesy of the Multi-Site PFAS Health Study Photo in slide 3: Jennifer Rawlison, Newburgh Clean Water Project, presenting at the 2023 Annual Watershed Conference.

It's Source Water Protection Week! Protecting our lakes, rivers, and groundwater that provide drinking water is critical to ensuring that we have clean water at our taps. This year, our Annual Watershed Conference theme is Drinking Water: Source to Tap. The conference will share science, policies, and strategies to protect clean drinking water, considering a watershed approach. More information and registration is on our website here: https://lnkd.in/eu45mdz9 The conference starts with a webinar session on Wednesday, October 16 from 1-3 pm. Representatives from NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and NYS Department of Health will provide an overview of drinking water protection. Albany Water Department staff will share how they protect source water, water treatment plant process and challenges, and communicating information about water quality to residents. The webinar will be recorded and provided to all registrants. The conference will continue with an in-person session on Tuesday, October 22 at the FDR Presidential Library & Museum in Hyde Park, NY, with science and strategies to protect drinking water. Photo: Aerial photo of Alcove Reservoir, which provides drinking water to the City of Albany. Photo by Hudson Mohawk Land Conservancy, with aerial support provided by Light Hawk.

New opportunity for municipalities! In 2025, a cohort of municipalities participating in the Hudson Valley Flood Resilience Network will have the opportunity to assess and refine local laws and policies to improve flood resilience. This cohort of municipalities will participate in a Land Use Leadership Alliance (LULA) training with the Pace University Land Use Law Center to work through the Resilience Implementation and Strategic Enhancements (RISE) Local Assessment Tool together, thanks to funding support from the Hudson River Estuary Program. Join us on Tuesday, October 8 from 1-12 for a lunch & learn meeting to learn more about the RISE Local Assessment Tool. Tiffany Zezula and Jessica Bacher from Pace University’s Land Use Law Center will share how local land use policies provide an important set of tools for municipalities to improve flood resilience. Julie Noble, Sustainability Coordinator from the City of Kingston, will share her experience working through the RISE tool with the Land Use Law Center and incorporating recommendations into their Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan (LWRP). The Hudson Valley Flood Resilience Network connects local governments who are committed to taking actionable steps to manage flood risk. The virtual meeting and cohort training opportunity are for FRN Members and Partners. To register, join the Flood Resilience Network. https://lnkd.in/eGBT348m Photo: Rondout Creek flooding in the City of Kingston, December 2023

Just added! Join us on Thursday, October 10 from 8:30-9:30 am for a breakfast webinar with Dr. Erin Bell, University at Albany, on Health Effects Associated with Drinking Water Contaminated with PFAS. Register here: https://lnkd.in/e7u74FYG Dr. Erin Bell is the Dean of the College of Integrated Health Sciences at the University at Albany. Currently, she is the co-Principal Investigator with the New York State Department of Health of a cohort study to recruit and enroll participants into a prospective cohort of adults and children to examine the long-term health effects associated with consumption of drinking water contaminated with per and poly alkyl substances (PFAS). Given the strong correlation between excess exposure to environmental contaminants, poverty and racial inequalities, her research and community service have more recently expanded into exploring the health outcomes related to these disparities. Dr. Bell will share her work to understand the health effects of exposure to PFAS through drinking water, along with cumulative health burdens. This free webinar is part of a series of programs on drinking water organized by the Hudson River Watershed Alliance this fall. The conversations will continue at our Annual Watershed Conference, which includes a virtual session on Wednesday, October 16 and an-in person session on Tuesday, October 22. More information and registration is available on our website: https://lnkd.in/eu45mdz9 Photo: the Newburgh Clinic Team, courtesy of the Multi-Site PFAS Health Study

Thank you so much to everyone who helped celebrate our office opening! What a warm welcome from our Kingston and watershed community. This is Hudson River Watershed Alliance's very first office, in our 14-year history of uniting and empowering communities to protect our shared waters. With our own dedicated workspace, we're so looking forward to continuing the collaborations and conversations that make this work possible. We had a wonderful gathering, and so appreciated all the well-wishes from those who weren't able to join. Photos by Gloria Waslyn