What is a Watershed?
New York's waters (lakes, rivers and streams) fall within one of 17 major watersheds, or drainage basins. A watershed is an area of land that drains water into a specific waterbody. Watersheds include networks of rivers, streams, and lakes and the land area surrounding them. Watersheds are separated by high elevation geographic features (mountains, hills, ridges).
NYSDEC protects watersheds and drinking water through clean water plans like Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs), 9-Element Plans (9-E plans), Alternative Restoration Plans (ARPs), Action Agendas, and the Drinking Water Source Protection Plan (DWSP2).