New project will create climate action plan to ensure NYC water quality
Adapted from the announcement columbia news
Aerial view of the Pepacton Reservoir in Delaware County, New York. The reservoir supplies about 25 percent of New York City’s drinking water.Photo: Josh Dick/Watershed Agriculture Council
Nearly $3 million in federal funding will support Columbia’s projects in partnership with New York City Watershed Agriculture Council.The funds will be used to develop a Climate Action Plan that defines the potential impacts of climate change on the city’s water supply, proposes actions to reduce impacts, and develops adaptation strategies to ensure Hudson Valley agricultural practices continue to support the protection of New York City’s water quality .
New York City’s water system collects and delivers surface water from 2,000 square miles in three northern watersheds.Approved funds will enable Agricultural model comparison and improvement project climate school in columbia Center for Climate System Research Working with the Watershed Agriculture Council to develop a climate action plan to mitigate the impacts of climate change on the city’s water supply. The project will work with farmers and community stakeholders in the North to ensure that agricultural and climate modeling approaches are designed to meet their needs.
“This project presents a great opportunity for the Agricultural Model Comparison and Improvement Project (AgMIP) to apply our best agricultural and climate research and modeling to help farmers respond to the climate crisis,” said Cynthia Rosenzweig, founder of AgMIP. “This presents a great opportunity for the team to work with the Watershed Agriculture Council to support the development of climate-resilient farm and land management practices and advance New York City’s efforts to protect its drinking water resources.”
Funding for the project was approved after Colombia worked with elected officials, specifically Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and Representative Jerrold Nadlerto ensure it is included in the omnibus spending bill passed by Congress and signed into law in December 2022.
“I fought for and won $2.95 million in federal funding for Columbia University’s Center for Climate System Research (CCSR) in the federal budget bill passed by Congress,” Schumer said. “The university’s CCSR is at the forefront of global climate modeling, which is an important tool for New York as we prepare for the impacts of climate change. I am proud to support this project, which helps protect New York City’s water supply from agricultural pollutants and better prepares the city for climate change Prepare for impacts and support the economic viability of agriculture across the state.”
“Investing in New York’s watersheds is critical to maintaining drinking water systems for generations to come,” Nadler said. “I am proud to partner with Columbia University to provide this funding, which will implement a plan to address the challenges posed by the climate crisis while protecting the health of New Yorkers.
at the Center for Climate System Research, Columbia and nasa Scientists collaborate closely to advance climate science and increase societal resilience to climate-related challenges in the United States and around the world.
The Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project (AgMIP) is a major international collaborative effort to strengthen the scientific rigor of global agricultural modeling and improve understanding of Climate Impacts on Food Systems.
The Watershed Agriculture Council was formed to work with farmers to reduce the impact of agriculture on New York City’s water system. The new project will support the Commission in implementing management practices that protect the watershed while supporting northern agriculture and the economic viability of local rural communities.
