Important COVID-19 Updates

Our Mission

To promote the economic viability of agriculture and forestry, the protection of water quality, and the
conservation of working landscapes through strong local leadership and sustainable public-private partnerships.

Our Footprint

0% Farm Participation

0 acres of Managed Forest Land

0 Conservation Easement Acres

0 Pure Catskills Members

The Watershed Agricultural Council works with hundreds of farm and forest landowners in the NYC Watershed. Together, with our program participants, we have an expansive Conservation Footprint in the region. View the map here.

Events

Upcoming Events

Fri 07

Forest Ecology & Silviculture

April 7 @ 8:00 am - 3:00 pm

Watershed Agricultural Council Walton NY United States
Fri 28

Game of Logging: Level 1

April 28 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Fri 19

Chainsaw Maintenance

May 19 @ 8:00 am - 3:00 pm

East Meredth, NY East Meredith NY United States
Fri 02

Adult First Aid & CPR

June 2 @ 8:00 am - 2:00 pm

Delaware County Emergency Services Building Delhi NY United States
Fri 25

Hands-on BMP Installation

August 25 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

News

04.012023January 4, 2023

2022 Annual Report

2022 Annual Report

By Heather MagnanIn News

The Watershed Agricultural Council not only recognizes change, we embrace it. This year, long-standing efforts in Agriculture, Forestry, Economic Viability and Conservation Easements proved resilient...

04.012023January 4, 2023

Agriculture: Precision Feed Management Program Expands

Agriculture: Precision Feed Management Program Expands

By Heather MagnanIn News

Beef cattle production in the NYC Watershed is a major agricultural enterprise which makes up 57% of the farms enrolled in the Watershed Agricultural Program,...

04.012023January 4, 2023

Conservation Easements: Farm Transitions – A Cause for Celebration

Conservation Easements: Farm Transitions – A Cause for Celebration

By Heather MagnanIn News

2022 was a time of transition for the Easement Program with the addition of new staff, some familiar faces accepting new roles, and the Easement...

Follow Us on Instagram

Agriculture in the East of Hudson (EOH) Watershed is under pressure from rising land values, urban expansion, development, increased regulation, and ...

Jan 17

Agriculture in the East of Hudson (EOH) Watershed

Agriculture in the East of Hudson (EOH) Watershed is under pressure from rising land values, urban expansion, development, increased regulation, and the loss of essential agricultural infrastructure. The Watershed Agricultural Council’s EOH Program is the primary source of support for farms, playing a critical role providing technical assistance, implementing Best Management Practices and creating a network to support agricultural operations in Dutchess, Putnam, Westchester and Fairfield Counties. In the past year, the WAC welcomed three new farms into the EOH Program; Castle Hill Farm, Salinger’s Orchard and Bluestone Stables.

Read more at the link in bio.

Forestry is historically a male-dominated field, but in recent years there has been a surge of interest among female landowners to take a more active ...

Jan 15

Forestry is historically a male-dominated field, b

Forestry is historically a male-dominated field, but in recent years there has been a surge of interest among female landowners to take a more active role in the management of their woods. In response to this interest, groups are popping up all over the country that bring women together to share forest experiences and learn about their woods.

In the fall of 2019, the Watershed Agricultural Council’s Forestry Program partnered with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene Counties and the Columbia Land Conservancy to create Women Owning Woods—Catskills | Hudson Valley.

Read more at the link in bio.

This year the Economic Viability Program is thrilled to highlight our newly launched Farms and Forests in Transition Reimbursement Program. The goal ...

Jan 13

This year the Economic Viability Program is thrill

This year the Economic Viability Program is thrilled to highlight our newly launched Farms and Forests in Transition Reimbursement Program. The goal of this initiative is to support farm operations seeking professional services in transition, estate planning or succession planning.

Read more at the link in bio.

Happy #nationalmilkday and thank you to all the awesome dairy farmers caring for their cows every day, rain or shine! New York’s Dairy Farmers are ...

Jan 11

Happy #nationalmilkday and thank you to all the aw

Happy #nationalmilkday and thank you to all the awesome dairy farmers caring for their cows every day, rain or shine! New York’s Dairy Farmers are such an important part of our state economy and critical businesses that support the infrastructure and way of life in the region.

Grab some local milk today and celebrate! 🐮🥛

2022 was a time of transition for the Easement Program with the addition of new staff, some familiar faces accepting new roles, and the Easement ...

Jan 11

2022 was a time of transition for the Easement Pro

2022 was a time of transition for the Easement Program with the addition of new staff, some familiar faces accepting new roles, and the Easement Committee welcoming new members. Our program has seen an unprecedented amount of second and third generation landowners establishing themselves as new stewards of the land this year. Staff are motivated by the successes of our new landowners, as eased lands staying in production is a critical component of the Watershed Agricultural Council’s mission to keep agriculture and forestry economically viable in the NYC Watershed. This year we wish to highlight two young farm families—both share the commonality of purchasing former dairy operations protected by WAC conservation easements, and are continuing the farming legacy.

Read this story and more at the link in bio.

Agriculture: Precision Feed Management Program Expands

Beef cattle production in the NYC Watershed is a major agricultural enterprise which ...

Jan 9

Agriculture: Precision Feed Management Program Exp

Agriculture: Precision Feed Management Program Expands

Beef cattle production in the NYC Watershed is a major agricultural enterprise which makes up 57% of the farms enrolled in the Watershed Agricultural Program, is a third of the total animal units, and takes many forms. Compared to typical beef herds in the rest of the US, the herds in the NYC Watershed are relatively small. The size of the NYC Watershed beef industry is steadily increasing as many farmers slowly shift from dairy production to beef production. As a result, there is a significant opportunity to manage the nutrient mass balances on these farms to protect water quality in the NYC water supply system.

Read this story and more of the 2022 Annual Report at the link in bio.

Wishing you health and happiness in the New Year 💙

Jan 1

Wishing you health and happiness in the New Year 💙

There’s nothing like enjoying a beautiful (and warm!) NYC Watershed sunset, after a long bitterly cold week. 🌅
.
.
.
...

Dec 30

There’s nothing like enjoying a beautiful (and w

There’s nothing like enjoying a beautiful (and warm!) NYC Watershed sunset, after a long bitterly cold week. 🌅
.
.
.
#nycwatershed #sunset #catskills #catskillmountains #winter

The votes are in! The photo comment with the most likes was Burkley Cole’s photo of her dogs Red & Kip in Bloomville. Second place goes to ...

Dec 18

The votes are in! The photo comment with the most

The votes are in! The photo comment with the most likes was Burkley Cole’s photo of her dogs Red & Kip in Bloomville. Second place goes to Platner Brook Farm’s working dogs and their sheep in Delhi. Congratulations and great photos, we’ll message you for your prizes! 🐾❄️ 🐑

Well, it’s officially winter in the NYC Watershed!To celebrate, comment on Facebook with your best photo from the storm! Pets, landscapes, ...

Dec 16

Well, it’s officially winter in the NYC Watershe

Well, it’s officially winter in the NYC Watershed!To celebrate, comment on Facebook with your best photo from the storm! Pets, landscapes, livestock, kids… the photo with the most likes by Saturday at 7pm, will receive some @purecatskills Swag mailed to them! Share and don’t forget to tell your friends to vote for your photo!

(All WAC offices are closed today, December 16th.)

Red sky in morning…❄️

Dec 16

Red sky in morning…❄️

Red sky in morning…❄️

Winter has arrived in the NYC Watershed ❄️🌲🐴🌕
. . .
📷 Credits:
1- Serena Orleski
2 & 3- Heather Magnan
4-...

Dec 13

Winter has arrived in the NYC Watershed ❄️🌲

Winter has arrived in the NYC Watershed ❄️🌲🐴🌕
. . .
📷 Credits:
1- Serena Orleski
2 & 3- Heather Magnan
4- Elaine Poulin

The calm before the storm 🦅 ❄️ | 📷: Ryan Naatz
.
.
.
#nycwatershed #baldeagle #eagles #catskills #catskillmountains

Dec 11

The calm before the storm 🦅 ❄️ | 📷: Ryan

The calm before the storm 🦅 ❄️ | 📷: Ryan Naatz
.
.
.
#nycwatershed #baldeagle #eagles #catskills #catskillmountains

Sunset in ‘shed 🦌🌄
.
.
.
#nycwatershed #catskills #catskillmountains #deer #sunset

Dec 6

Sunset in ‘shed 🦌🌄 . . . #nycwatershed #ca

Sunset in ‘shed 🦌🌄
.
.
.
#nycwatershed #catskills #catskillmountains #deer #sunset

JOIN US FOR GIVING TUESDAY

We are looking to our like-minded supporters who share our goals of supporting and protecting farm and forest land...

Nov 29

JOIN US FOR GIVING TUESDAY We are looking to our

JOIN US FOR GIVING TUESDAY

We are looking to our like-minded supporters who share our goals of supporting and protecting farm and forest land in our beautiful region. Like you, we recognize our natural resources are central to our quality of life. We need fresh water to drink, clean air to breathe, healthy food to eat and economic prosperity to sustain our lives and communities. Now, more than ever, our local food system and food security are vital. Broken supply chains have taught the world just how precious our farms and local resources are.

Thank you for supporting the Watershed Agricultural Council’s mission of promoting the economic viability of agriculture and forestry, the protection of water quality, and the conservation of working landscapes for generations to come!

Join us as we protect farms, forests and clean water by donating online at: nycwatershed.org/donate (link in bio) 💧🌲🐮
.
.
.
#givingtuesday #farmland #cleanwater #nycwatershed #conservation

Today and every day, we are thankful for the farmers that put the food on our table. Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃

Nov 24

Today and every day, we are thankful for the farme

Today and every day, we are thankful for the farmers that put the food on our table. Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃

It’s a frosty morning in the NYC Watershed. Here’s to milder weather after a frigid weekend! ❄️🌥

Nov 21

It’s a frosty morning in the NYC Watershed. Here

It’s a frosty morning in the NYC Watershed. Here’s to milder weather after a frigid weekend! ❄️🌥

Congratulations to Larry Hulle, Ag Program Manager. Larry is retiring from WAC after 12 years! We wish him the best and many years of happy hunting.

Nov 8

Congratulations to Larry Hulle, Ag Program Manager

Congratulations to Larry Hulle, Ag Program Manager. Larry is retiring from WAC after 12 years! We wish him the best and many years of happy hunting.

Did you catch the moon last night? It was a Beaver Moon that just happenes to be a total lunar eclipse! During a lunar eclipse, the Moon, Sun, and ...

Nov 8

Did you catch the moon last night? It was a Beaver

Did you catch the moon last night? It was a Beaver Moon that just happenes to be a total lunar eclipse! During a lunar eclipse, the Moon, Sun, and Earth are lined up (Earth in the middle), causing our planet’s shadow to fall on the Moon. This gives the full Moon a reddish hue. Photos taken in East Meredith, NY. 📷: Ryan Naatz 🌖🌓🌑

Happy Halloween from you friends at the Watershed Agricultural Council! 🎃👻💀🐮

Oct 31

Happy Halloween from you friends at the Watershed

Happy Halloween from you friends at the Watershed Agricultural Council! 🎃👻💀🐮

Join Our Mailing List