New York's abundant rivers, streams, lakes, and coastal waters are used for recreation, fishing, tourism, agriculture, and manufacturing. Dams and other infrastructure help us manage our waters.
Though plentiful, the water resources of the state are threatened by chemical contaminants and other pollutants from a wide range of sources.
The Division of Water provides various programs that track the quality and quantity of New York's waters, identify and investigate sources of pollution, control these sources, and develop strategies to address water quality threats. DEC also manages floodplains and coastal areas to protect New Yorkers from flooding by reducing flood risk and promoting resiliency in light of our changing climate.
