2024 Annual Watershed Conference

The Hudson River Watershed Alliance’s 2024 conference theme was Drinking Water: Source to Tap.

This year’s Annual Watershed Conference shared science, policies, and strategies to protect clean drinking water, considering a watershed approach. Photos from the in-person conference session are available in the Flikr album here.

Our Annual Watershed Conference had two components:

Wednesday, October 16, 1-3 pm: virtual session via Zoom webinar
This session provideed an introduction to drinking water protection, including key context for the in-person session. Representatives from NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and NYS Department of Health provided an overview of drinking water protection. Albany Water Department staff shared how they protect source water, water treatment plant process and challenges, and communicating information about water quality to residents. The webinar was recorded and shared with all registrants.

Webinar session agenda

Tuesday, October 22, 9 am to 3 pm: in-person session at the Henry A. Wallace Center, FDR Presidential Library & Museum in Hyde Park, NY
This session focused on science and strategies to protect drinking water, from source to tap. The day included presentations on groundwater, planning to protect sources of drinking water, emerging contaminants including PFAS, policy opportunities, and a panel discussion with watershed groups that are actively working on drinking water issues in their communities.

In-person session agenda

We also hosted a free pre-conference breakfast webinar on Thursday, October 10 on the health effects of drinking water contaminated with PFAS. Dr. Erin Bell from the University at Albany presented an introduction to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), how people can be exposed, information from studies in Newburgh and Hoosick Falls, and the latest research on health impacts, including what is known and where we still need more studies. A recording of the webinar is available here.

Photos by Will Haydon, Marist College ’25. For more photos, see our Flikr album.

Sponsor the Annual Watershed Conference

Interested in sponsoring the watershed conference? More details are available here. If you’d like to pay for sponsorship by credit card, you can use our online form.

Your sponsorship will fund the conference proceedings and support individuals and groups in need of financial assistance to attend. We anticipate strong participation from watershed communities from throughout the Hudson River watershed. In 2023, our virtual and in-person conference sessions reached about 200 people.

Thank you to our sponsors!

Watershed Sponsor:

River Sponsors:

Biohabitats, Inc.
Anne & Fred Osborn III / The EASTER Foundation
Hudson Valley Regional Council

Creek Sponsors:

Bard College Center for Environmental Studies and Humanities
Gordon & Svenson LLP
Hudson Valley Waterworks Conference
LaBella Associates
Pace University
Restaino Design Landscape Architecture, PC
Rockland County Soil & Water Conservation District
SLR Consulting

Stream Sponsors:

American Dairy Association North East
Delaware Engineering, D.P.C.
Fuss & O’Neill
HDR, Inc.
Insite Engineering, Surveying, & Landscape Architecture, P.C.
MJ Engineering, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Land Surveying, P.C.
Riverkeeper
Strong Outcomes, LLC
Tighe & Bond
Water Action Compliance Assistance & Planning LLC