35 Watershed Education grants awarded

MARGARETVILLE, N.Y., May 5, 2004 - Thirty-five grants totaling $145,782 were approved by the Catskill Watershed Corporation (CWC) Board of Directors April 26.

The grants, ranging from $750 to $19,000, will go to schools and non-profit organizations in New York City and its West-of-Hudson Watershed. They are intended to increase awareness, understanding and appreciation of clean water, the City’s vast water delivery system, and the upstate Watershed which supplies 90 percent of the water consumed by nine million people.

A 13-member Public Education Advisory Group (PEAG) evaluated 45 proposals in this eighth round of funding.

The current grants, which must also be approved by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), will fund projects planned by the following schools and institutions:

Upstate (West-of-Hudson Watershed)
South Kortright Central School (two projects), Delaware Academy & Central School, Hunter-Tannersville Central School, Jefferson Central School, Roxbury Central School, Roxbury Arts Group, Andes Central School, Andes Society for History and Culture, Gilboa-Conesville Central School, Ellenville Central School, Phoenicia Elementary School, Stamford Central School, Otsego-Northern Catskills BOCES, Woodstock Elementary School and Ashokan Field Campus of SUNY New Paltz.

New York City
High School for Law & Public Service, Friends of PS 166, High School for Environmental Studies and Friends of the High School for Environmental Studies, PS 109, Museum of the City of New York, George Wingate High School, South Street Seaport,New York Restoration Project, School Community Council of PS3, IS 223, Central Park Conservancy, City Parks Foundation, PS 107 (two projects), PS 116, and PS 363.

The Council on the Environment of New York City was awarded a grant involving schools both in the watershed and in New York City, and Trout Unlimited will receive funds to assist several schools participating in the Trout in the Classroom Program.

For more information on past Watershed Education Grants and related programs, consult the Catskill-NYC Watershed Educators Network web site, www.WatershEducators.org

To learn more about the CWC and its environmental protection, economic development and education programs, go to www.cwconline.org,