New Catskill Watershed Corporation website on line

MARGARETVILLE, NY, May 27, 2005 - Want to find out how your home, business or school can benefit from programs administered by the Catskill Watershed Corporation?

The answers may be found on the newly refurbished CWC website, www.cwconline.org.

The CWC is a non-profit corporation based in Margaretville that runs environmental protection, economic development and education programs in the New York City Catskill-Delaware Watershed.

The corporation’s website has a completely new look and navigation system created by web designer Aaron Bennett of Oliverea. The site was unveiled at the CWC’s May 24 Board of Directors meeting.

"We’ve streamlined and simplified the text, added new, dynamic photographs, and made it easier for visitors to get where they want to go on the site," commented Communications Director Diane Galusha.

"A Quick Find feature has been added to help people locate applications, staff emails, board minutes and other information from the home page. A site search function is also available, and we’ve added a page of Frequently Asked Questions with answers to ‘How do I locate my septic system?,’ ‘Who is eligible for a loan through the CWC?,’ and other queries often heard by CWC staff."

The web site includes explanations of CWC programs including replacement and maintenance of residential septic systems, funding for stormwater controls, development of Community Wastewater Management systems, and distribution of loans to businesses and education grants to schools and non-profit organizations.

Visitors to the CWC website can also find:

• profiles of the corporation’s 15 board and 17 staff members;
• current and past newsletters and press releases
• schedules of meetings and special events
• maps of the Watershed and the NYC water system
• links to Watershed partner agencies, environmental and economic organizations and agencies, educational institutions, planning department and municipal agencies, chambers of commerce, tourism promotion offices and community websites.
• Descriptions of special projects like Catskills Local Government Day and the Watershed Commemorative Project. The latter page includes directions to outdoor exhibits at the six reservoirs in the West-of-Hudson Watershed;
• A brief history of the Watershed and NYC water system and a summary of the 1997 NYC Watershed Memorandum of Agreement that created the CWC.

Personal inquiries are always welcome at the CWC office, 905 Main Street, Margaretville. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For more information on CWC programs and activities, go to www.cwconline.org.