named programs · 8 · from sources
What they call their work
Cleanup Supplies
Provides trash bags, gloves, and appreciation items to volunteer groups cleaning litter from streams and rivers in the Watershed.
Community Vitality Study
Commissioned study assessing economic, social, housing, and environmental conditions in Watershed communities to inform long-term planning and program development.
Greater Catskill Region Comprehensive Recreation Plan
Regional planning initiative to improve public access and recreational connectivity across DEC and DEP lands, including trailhead parking and wayfinding signage.
Land Consultation Program
Reimburses towns for costs related to reviewing proposed NYC DEP land and easement purchases, including legal, technical, and public hearing expenses.
Road Signs & Kiosks
Installed interpretive kiosks at reservoirs and road signs honoring displaced communities, educating the public about NYC’s water system and Watershed history.
Tax Consulting Program
Covers consultant and legal fees for municipalities reviewing property taxes on NYC-owned lands in the Watershed, including assessment challenges and litigation support.
Training & Conferences
Offers educational events for municipal officials, planning boards, code enforcers, and community leaders on governance, development, and environmental protection.
Workforce Development Program (WFD)
Competitive grant program funding organizations that provide training, certifications, internships, and support services to build a skilled local workforce in the West of Hudson Watershed.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Watershed Conservation & Stewardship 2 activities
- Administers watershed protection and environmental programsManages environmental protection, water quality, and community support programs across the 1,597-square-mile West-of-Hudson Watershed, which supplies 90% of New York City’s daily drinking water for 9.8 million people. Programs span 41 towns in the Catskill-Delaware Watershed region.
- Supports stormwater management and infrastructure improvementsProvides reimbursement for the design, construction, and maintenance of stormwater pollution prevention plans and best management practices. Funds comprehensive assessments and databases to identify and prioritize public stormwater infrastructure repairs in watershed communities.
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Environmental Conservation Grantmaking 2 activities
- Funds watershed education and workforce development projectsAdministers competitive annual grant programs including Watershed Education Grants and workforce development funding through two yearly cycles, supporting schools, nonprofits, and vocational institutions in the West-of-Hudson Watershed and New York City.
- Manages the Catskill Fund for the FutureAdministers a revolving grant fund initially capitalized with $59.7 million from New York City in 1997, financing businesses and economic development projects in the Watershed region to support long-term sustainability.
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Small Business and Nonprofit Lending 1 activity
- Conducts community and economic development initiativesSupports environmentally responsible businesses through low-interest loans for start-ups, expansions, or relocations. Provides loans to commercial septic system owners with NYC DEP violations and funds job creation and retention in the Catskills Region.
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Community Environmental Monitoring and Research 1 activity
- Conducts research to assess community sustainabilityCommissioned and completed the Community Vitality Study to evaluate the health and long-term sustainability of communities in the West-of-Hudson Watershed.
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Recreational Trail Development and Maintenance 1 activity
- Improves recreational access and infrastructureConstructs and expands trailhead parking lots and kiosks, installs wayfinding signage at recreational destinations, and partners to promote non-motorized boating on four NYC reservoirs to enhance public access and safety.
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Uncategorized 3 activities
- Manages septic system repair, replacement, and maintenance programsOperates the Septic Repair and Replacement Assistance Program, providing up to 100% reimbursement for primary residences and up to 60% for non-primary residences. Also administers the Expanded Septic Repair (ESR) Program for small businesses, nonprofits, and government entities, and offers 50% cost reimbursement for routine septic tank pumping and inspection.
- Operates community wastewater treatment and septic systemsRuns community septic systems and wastewater treatment plants with capacities ranging from 20,000 to 75,000 gallons per day, serving 72 to 125 connections using advanced treatment technologies including sequencing batch reactors, sand filtration, microfiltration, and UV disinfection.
- Provides flood mitigation and planning assistanceOffers grants up to $20,000 for local planning revisions and relocation planning based on Local Flood Analyses. Funds flood debris removal, anchoring of propane and fuel oil tanks, and implementation of flood mitigation projects in designated hazard areas.
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financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$24.85M
Contributions & grants$18.75M75%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$6.10M25%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$21.67M
Program expenses93%
Admin / overhead7%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$2.89M
Grants paid out$156K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$223.54M
Cash$167.63M
Investments$8.36M
Liabilities$206.08M
Net assets$17.47M
Liquid reserves97.5 mo
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue -3.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
paid leadership · 17
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| TIMOTHY E COX ESQ | CORP COUNSEL | 38 | $192K |
| JAMES R MARTIN CPA | FINANCE DIRE | 38 | $185K |
| JASON MERWIN | EXECUTIVE DI | 38 | $173K |
| BARBARA PUGLISI | ECON DEV DIR | 38 | $151K |
| TINA MOLE | PRESIDENT | 20 | $33K |
| RICHARD PARETE | 1ST VICE PRE | 10 | $8K |
| ALICIA TERRY | SECRETARY | 5 | $7K |
| JOHN KOSIER | DIRECTOR | 5 | $7K |
| ARTHUR MERRILL | TREASURER | 10 | $6K |
| JOSEPH CETTA | DIRECTOR | 5 | $6K |
| INNES KASANOF | 2ND VICE PRE | 10 | $6K |
| CHRISTOPHER MATHEWS | 3RD VICE PRE | 5 | $5K |
| ALLEN HINKLEY | DIRECTOR | 5 | $5K |
| JAMES SOFRANKO | DIRECTOR | 5 | $4K |
| JEFFREY SENTERMAN | DIRECTOR | 5 | $4K |
| GEORGE HAYNES JR | DIRECTOR | 5 | $4K |
| THOMAS HOYT | DIRECTOR | 5 | $4K |
board members · 2
- DAVID WARNE — DIRECTOR
- THOMAS SNOW JR — DIRECTOR
relationships · 27
Who they work with
- Catskill Center for Conservation and Development Partner — Collaborated on the Greater Catskill Region Comprehensive Recreation Plan and Catskill Master Plan stewardship projects.
- City of New York Government — Party to the 1997 Watershed Memorandum of Agreement and represented on CWC's Board of Directors.
- Coalition of Watershed Towns Partner — Collaborating party in the 1997 New York City Watershed Memorandum of Agreement.
- Coalition of Watershed Towns Partner — Signatory to the 1997 Watershed Memorandum of Agreement and collaborator in watershed protection efforts.
- Delaware County Chamber of Commerce Partner — Partnered to initiate and promote non-motorized recreational boating on NYC reservoirs.
- Lamont Engineers Partner — Engineering firm coordinating evaluation, design, and construction of wastewater treatment systems for the CWC program.
- Mid-Hudson/Catskills Small Business Development Center Partner — Partner organization providing business counseling and technical support to entrepreneurs in the Watershed region, supported by CWC.
- NYC Catskill-Delaware Watershed Government — Primary geographic and administrative area of operations for water quality and community support programs
- NYC DEP Government — Primary source of block grants subsidizing construction, operation, and maintenance costs of community wastewater projects.
- NYC DEP Government — Requires NYC DEP approval for septic system repairs and replacements; construction must be approved by NYC DEP before reimbursement is issued.
- NYC Department of Environmental Protection Partner — Co-administers the annual Watershed Education Grants program with CWC.
- NYC Department of Environmental Protection Partner — Collaborates with CWC on flood hazard mitigation programs and project implementation.
- NYS Department of Health Government — May require design approval from NYS Department of Health for certain septic system modifications or repairs.
- New York City Government — Implements programs to protect the NYC Watershed's unfiltered water supply through collaboration with regional stakeholders.
- New York City Government — Party to the 1997 New York City Watershed Memorandum of Agreement and collaborator in watershed protection efforts.
- New York City Government — Provided initial $59.7 million capitalization for the Catskill Fund for the Future and enforces watershed regulations affecting the region.
- New York City Department of Environmental Protection Government — Issues notices of failure or violation for septic systems, triggering eligibility for CWC's Commercial Septic Loan program.
- New York City Department of Environmental Protection Government — Jointly reviews, approves, and prioritizes stormwater infrastructure projects and retrofit initiatives within the watershed.
- New York City Department of Environmental Protection Government — Partners with DEP in the review and approval process for workforce development grant applications.
- New York City Department of Environmental Protection Partner — Collaborates on land consultation, tax review, recreation planning, and reservoir boating initiatives.
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Partner — Partners on recreation planning, trailhead development, and wayfinding signage projects.
- State of New York Government — Party to the 1997 New York City Watershed Memorandum of Agreement and collaborator in watershed protection efforts.
- State of New York Government — Party to the 1997 Watershed Memorandum of Agreement and appoints a representative to CWC's Board of Directors.
- The Center for Governmental Research Partner — Commissioned to complete the CWC Community Vitality Study.
- United States Environmental Protection Agency Government — Party to the 1997 New York City Watershed Memorandum of Agreement and regulator under the Filtration Avoidance Determination.
- United States Environmental Protection Agency Government — Party to the 1997 Watershed Memorandum of Agreement.
- county Soil & Water Conservation Districts Partner — Partners with CWC to deliver flood mitigation and resilience programs in the Watershed region.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Barrier-Reduced Workforce Developmentmethodology: barrier_reduction_in_workforce_developmentBy building local capacity through training, expanding access, and removing structural barriers (e.g., childcare, transportation), the organization strengthens regional economic vitality because inclusive workforce development ensures sustainable participation in environmental protection roles.
- Integrated Watershed Managementmethodology: integrated_watershed_managementBy protecting New York City's drinking water quality while simultaneously supporting rural community resilience, the organization ensures long-term ecological and social sustainability because environmental and economic health are interdependent in the watershed region.
- Partnership-Based Stewardship with Incentive Alignmentmethodology: partnership-based_stewardshipBy combining collaborative programming, interagency coordination, and financial incentives (e.g., cost reimbursement), the organization promotes regulatory compliance and voluntary adoption of protective practices because shared responsibility and reduced economic burden increase participation and long-term adherence.
- Preventive Infrastructure Interventionmethodology: preventive_infrastructure_maintenanceBy proactively targeting aging septic systems and funding community-scale wastewater solutions, the organization prevents water quality degradation because early, incentivized maintenance and systemic replacement reduce the risk of failure more effectively than reactive repairs.