CURRENT EVENTS
Exhibit of NYC DEP Arts and Poetry Contest Winners
Student “Water Champions” on Display at Catskill Water Discovery Center
Artwork and poetry created by students in New York City and areas of the Catskill Mountains that comprise the NYC Watershed is now on display at the Catskill Water Discovery Center, 669 Route 38 in Arkville, NY through September. The Center is open from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.
The work represents the winning entries from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) 35th annual Water Resources Art and Poetry Contest. This year, more than 1,300 second through twelfth grade students representing 90 schools in New York City and the East and West of Hudson Watersheds participated. “Students submitted entries that beautifully depict an understanding of and appreciation for New York’s shared water resources and the importance of water conservation and protection,” says DEP Director of Education Robin Sanchez.
DEP selected 100 contest winners, naming them Water Champions for their outstanding work, and celebrated their achievements in the presence of family and teachers during a virtual event on April 30. The art and poetry in this display include the winning entries that depict the following contest themes: Water, A Precious Resource; New York City’s Water Supply System; and Climate Change and Stewardship.
For more information about DEP's Art and Poetry Contest, visit www.nyc.gov/dep/education. DEP manages New York City’s water supply, providing approximately 1 billion gallons of high-quality drinking water each day to more than 9 million residents, including 8.3 million in New York City. The water is delivered from the Croton, Catskill, and Delaware Watersheds that extend more than 125 miles from the city and comprise 19 reservoirs and three controlled lakes. Thanks to strong community partnerships and significant investments in watershed protection programs, the Catskill and Delaware watersheds remain the largest unfiltered supply of drinking water in the United States today. To learn more, visit www.nyc.gov/dep
The Catskill Water Discovery Center opened its doors on June 5, 2021 with a permanent exhibit “Of Rivers and Reservoirs: The NYC Water Story,” depicting the history of the New York City Water Supply System; the natural features of the Catskill Mountains that produce an exceptionally pure source of fresh water; the natural contours and engineering marvel that constitute a water supply system to one of the largest cities in the world; and the people whose lives have been dramatically impacted by this system.
This is the first of what will be many collaborations with agencies, organizations, and businesses in the region and New York City.