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

News

March 2023 Enews

March 2023 Enews

Check out the March 2023 News from the Watershed Agricultural Council. Join us as we welcome our new Agricultural Program Manager, Connor Young. Since early...

January 2023 Enews

January 2023 Enews

Happy New Year! Check out our January 2023 Enews and read our 2022 Annual Report, learn about available micro grants, read about Columbia’s Climate Change...

Follow Us on Instagram Follow us on Instagram

National Agriculture Day was warm and sunny in the National Agriculture Day was warm and sunny in the NYC Watershed. Farmers got a glimpse of spring as last week’s snow continued to melt. Here at WAC we are thankful for our farmers and look forward to another year of partnership and collaboration. Happy Spring! 
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#nationalagricultureday #nationalagday #nationalagweek #nycwatershed #nofarmersnofood #catskillsmountains #farms #agriculture
It’s a snow day in the Catskills! All offices of It’s a snow day in the Catskills! All offices of the Watershed Agricultural Council will be closed today, all meetings are cancelled. 

To celebrate (hopefully) the last big storm of the season we are going to have TWO photo contests. Winners will receive a @purecatskills contigo insulated travel mug. 

Contest rules: Share a photo in Facebook post comments by 6pm tonight, March 14, 2023.

1-The MOST amount of snow with NYC Watershed region location (honor system- no drifts please!). 📏
2-Best fun in the snow picture! ❄️

Good luck, and stay safe friends!
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! 🐮🥛
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 💙
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. 🌅
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#nycwatershed #sunset #catskills #catskillmountains #winter
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…❄️ Red sky in morning…❄️
The calm before the storm 🦅 ❄️ | 📷: Ryan The calm before the storm 🦅 ❄️ | 📷: Ryan Naatz
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#nycwatershed #baldeagle #eagles #catskills #catskillmountains
Sunset in ‘shed 🦌🌄 . . . #nycwatershed #ca Sunset in ‘shed 🦌🌄
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#nycwatershed #catskills #catskillmountains #deer #sunset
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) 💧🌲🐮
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#givingtuesday #farmland #cleanwater #nycwatershed #conservation

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