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Watersheds supply drinking water, provide recreation and sustain life.
SOURCE: EPA
Tour the City of Newburgh's Watershed!










Our watershed, the land through which our drinking water flows to arrive at our tap, is part of the beautiful landscape of the Hudson Valley. It is known as the Quassaick Creek Watershed. Unfortunately, over many decades, this land has been over developed and steadily polluted with PFAS and other toxic chemicals to an extent that threatens its ecological functioning and use as a drinking water source. Temporarily, our drinking water source fluctuates between the Catskill Aqueduct, (part of NYC's water supply), and Brown's Pond, our back-up reservoir. Brown's Pond is actually part of the Moodna Creek watershed, which is overseen by the Moodna Creek Watershed Intermunicipal Council.
Our main reservoir—Washington Lake—and the streams that feed it are entirely out of our city limits and legal jurisdiction.
We are advocating for laws that protect ours, and ALL drinking water sources, from being degraded by Home Rule real estate development decisions. We also advocate for a well-protected and fully restored watershed that will provide our community once again with access to clean drinking water, greater health, recreation areas, and long-term economic viability.
The Quassaick Creek watershed is an important tributary of the Hudson River. According to the Quassaick Creek Watershed Alliance:
A coalition of local and regional nonprofit organizations have been on the forefront of watershed protection and restoration for the City of Newburgh. Quassaick Creek Watershed Alliance (QCWA), Riverkeeper, Scenic Hudson,and Clearwater have been particularly staunch advocates, alerting city and state officials about potential threats, educating the public, and now—as the crisis is unfolding—helping to mitigate and plan for a better future. Newburgh Clean Water Project is proud to join their efforts. Get to know the City of Newburgh's watershed! It's our gateway to clean water, community health and the city's economic vitality. Join us on Facebook to find out about tours, hands-on restoration projects, and other community events.
In light of the PFAS contamination of the City of Newburgh's drinking water, Riverkeeper, (NY's clean water advocate), published a case study in 2016, calling for the comprehensive protection of our source water.
Peter Smith of the Quassaick Creek Watershed Alliance has created a planning primer for the Quassaick Creek Corridor outlining development opportunities and challenges: