Clean water is critical for human health and sustainable communities. Agriculture, natural resources such as forests, water body uses such as fishing and swimming, and many industrial uses require clean water. New York has abundant clean water but our waters are under pressure from more intensive land uses, industrial processes, and sewage and other waste from our activities.

Research on ground and surface water quantity and quality issues and interactions of ground and surface water with human and natural processes above and below the land surface informs educational programming delivered   by Cornell Cooperative Extension to landowners, homeowners, agricultural producers, and local government.

Wellhead protection, on-site wastewater treatment system management, land use management, watershed management, climate change and energy issues, and streamside protection are included in Cornell Cooperative Extension's educational efforts to protect one of our most critical resources.  

Additional Resources

Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda 2010-2014 proposed by NY Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC).  Available for public comment.

New York Watershed Agricultural Council (WAC) - supports the economic viability of agriculture and forestry through the protection of water quality and the promotion of land conservation in the New York City watershed region.

Water Science - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

    Photo: USDA

National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC) - helps people and institutions develop and implement measures to reduce societal vulnerability to drought. The NDMC is based at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

The Water Quality Information Center - access to information on water quality and agricultural issues through the USDA.