Amount Requested: $588,000
The requested funds are for the implementation of an interagency, locally-led partnership between New York City and the watershed community to plan, design and construct conservation practices on farms to mitigate potential sources of pollution to the unfiltered water supply of New York City. Since 1992, as part of its Long Term Watershed Protection Program, New York City and numerous federal, state and local partners have been engaged in a cooperative conservation effort with farmers and landowners in its 2,000 square mile water supply watershed.  This Watershed Agricultural Program is founded on mutual interests and benefits that include: the assurance of high quality source water and filtration avoidance; regulatory relief for farmers and technical and financial support to meet high environmental standards while remaining economically viable; and a working model of the kind of comprehensive federal-local-landowner partnership for protecting natural resources and agricultural viability, based on the “watershed approach,” that is envisioned in the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s current strategic plan.