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What is the Kensico Reservoir?
If you’re one of the nine million residents of New York City or
dozens of communities in Westchester, Putnam, Orange or Ulster Counties,
the Kensico Reservoir is a vital part of your drinking water supply
system.
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Located in Westchester County, the Kensico Reservoir is the final stop
for 90% of New York City’s drinking water supply before it enters
the water tunnels that carry it to consumers’ taps. Normally,
all of the water from the City’s Catskill and Delaware watersheds
— located in parts of Ulster, Delaware, Greene, Schoharie and
Sullivan Counties west of the Hudson River –– flows into
the Kensico Reservoir.
Protecting the high quality of the Kensico Reservoir along with the
rest of the New York City water supply system, which includes 19 reservoirs,
three controlled lakes and hundreds of miles of aqueducts, is the responsibility
of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Because
27 Westchester communities draw their water supplies from the Kensico
Reservoir — directly or indirectly — protecting the quality
of Kensico is also important for the residents and businesses of these
towns, villages and hamlets.
What is KEEP?
KEEP is the Kensico Environmental Enhancement Program, a commitee formed
to protect the Kensico Reservoir. Its mission is to educate the communities
in the Kensico watershed about the importance of protecting water quality.
By educating the people who live and work in the 13-square-mile watershed
about how their daily activities affect water quality, KEEP works to
protect the watershed and reservoir from pollution.
Who is KEEP?
Funded by New York City, KEEP is a joint effort of DEP, county and local
governmental organizations, and residents from the towns surrounding
the Reservoir to enhance the Kensico’s water quality and protect
the watershed from pollution. The group has an Executive Board composed
of community leaders and designated representatives of local governments
in the Kensico watershed. KEEP develops public outreach and educational
programs on watershed protection in the five towns in the watershed:
New Castle, North Castle, Mount Pleasant, Harrison; and Greenwich, Connecticut.
What does KEEP do?
Examples of KEEP activities include:
- develop and publish materials informing the public about ways to
prevent watershed pollution;
- designed and installed kiosks on the history and function of the
Kensico Reservoir in the Kensico Dam Plaza;
- supports a community-based volunteer stream monitoring project;
- with DEP, co-sponsors an annual Art & Poetry Contest for watershed
middle school students to encourage classroom discussion of water
conservation and water quality protection isssues;
- leads nature walks and organizes other activities in the watershed
to highlight the importance of the Kensico as a natural resource;
- offers presentations about issues related to Kensico Watershed
protection at regular meetings.
How can I get involved in KEEP?
If you’re interested in attending KEEP meetings, participating
in events, have ideas for new activities or would like to be added to
KEEP’s mailing list, please contact us at:
KEEP
New York City DEP
Suite 350
465 Columbus Avenue
Valhalla, NY 10595-1336
914-742-2086 fax–– 914-773-4530
Additional Information
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