DLC’s
8th Annual Town Board Breakfast
Protecting Watersheds: Money Down the Well, or Money Well Spent?
On May 16, 2010, DLC held its 7th Annual Town Board Breakfast.
The breakfast is designed to educate local town board,
planning board and CAC members about environmental,
agricultural and stewardship issues affecting their
communities. Representatives from ten municipalities were in
attendance this year.
The breakfast featured speaker Dave Tobias, Deputy Chief of
the NYC Department of Environmental Protection who is
responsible for the NYCDEP’s Land Acquisition Program. Dave
spoke about how the City’s efforts to keep its water supply
from having to be filtered also apply to local municipalities
in Dutchess County. Filtering of the City’s water could cost
an estimated $10 billion. According to The Millbrook
Independent, “The example of the state’s largest consumer of
water might not seem relevant to the towns and villages of
Dutchess County, but it soon became obvious that the problems
are the same if the scale is not. It is much more expensive to
treat water after it has become polluted than to prevent water
from becoming polluted in the first place. [Dave] suggested
that simple solutions may be better than relying on technology
such as water purification systems that need constant upkeep
and capital expenses. It is simple to protect a forest for
farmland; it is far more complicated and expensive to install
a water treatment plant.”
A delicious breakfast consisting almost entirely of local farm
products was provided. Attendees were able to view a map of
Dutchess County’s watersheds and their nametags featured the
watersheds of their own municipalities. This enabled them to
understand the overlap between different municipalities and
encouraged cooperation in protecting critical areas.
Thanks so much to Dave Tobias and all who attended! Below are
pictures of the event, informative video clips, and a
watershed map of Dutchess County so you can locate your own
watershed. We’ve also provided a list of the local farms whose
products were featured at the breakfast so you can enjoy them
at home and support your local farmer!
Speaker Dave Tobias
DLC Board Chairman Tim Bontecou (right) with
Town of Washington Planning Board Member Paul Schwartz
Speaker Dave
Tobias on using simple solutions to protecting
watersheds.
Speaker Dave
Tobias on whether towns
should concentrate on protecting a primary
water source or explore secondary sources.
Watersheds in Dutchess County
Special thanks to:
Running Battle Farm, Amenia, NY
for donating the fresh eggs
Uphill Farm, Clinton Corners, NY
for donating the sausage
Mead Orchards, Red Hook, NY
for donating the apples
Other
foods served at our breakfast are
available at the following locations:
Barton Orchards, Poughkeepsie, NY
Hahn Farm, Pleasant Valley, NY
Hammond Dairy, Amenia, NY
Harney Tea, Millerton, NY
Hudson Valley Fresh, Pleasant Valley, NY
Migliorelli Farm, Red Hook, NY
Wild Hive Café, Clinton Corners, NY
Winchell Mountain Coffee, Pine Plains, NY
For more
information about NYCDEP’s
Land Acquisition Program and
Watershed Protection Program:
