For Immediate Release

Contact: Simon Gruber, 845-534-5622 Maureen Cunningham, 518-469-4748

Hudson River Watershed Alliance Hosts 11th Annual Watershed Conference on Nov. 2: Conference to focus on healthy watersheds, healthy waters.

HYDE PARK, NY - The Hudson River Watershed Alliance in partnership with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Hudson River Estuary Program will hold its annual Watershed Conference on Wednesday, November 2, 2016 from 8:30 am to 4:45 pm at the Henry A. Wallace Center at the FDR Presidential Library and Home in Hyde Park, NY. The theme of the conference is Healthy Watersheds, Healthy Waters: Emerging Perspectives on Sustainable Watershed Management. To register for the conference visit www.hudsonwatershed.org. Registration at the early bird rate through October 23, 2016 is $65 per person; after that, the rate is $75 per person. Space is limited and pre-registration is required.

This year’s conference features two keynote speakers: Dr. Wallace J. Nichols, New York Times best-selling author of Blue Mind: The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What You Do; and Peter Iwanowicz, Executive Director of Environmental Advocates of New York. The conference, with speakers from the scientific, government, education and advocacy sectors, will focus on emerging research findings, case studies, and perspectives on protecting drinking water sources, engaging people to care for water, preparing for the effects of climate change, and addressing environmental and economic justice issues related to water resources.

The conference also will highlight key challenges, policies and opportunities for managing water resources in our communities and regional watersheds. More than 120 people and organizations from throughout the Hudson River watershed are expected to participate in this event, including researchers, grassroots watershed groups, nonprofit organizations, educators and students, and municipal and state officials.

“Let's elevate the idea that water is medicine - that healthy rivers, lakes and oceans are our front line of mental, physical and social well-being - in order to heal ourselves and our precious blue marble planet,” said Dr. Nichols, who will also be available for book signing at the conference.

This year’s conference is supported by the Hudson River Estuary Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in cooperation with the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission, with funding from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). Additional sponsors include the Hudson Valley Regional Council, Hudson Valley Water Works Conference, Barton & Loguidice, The Chazen Companies, E.J. Prescott, Riverkeeper, the Sarah Lawrence College Center for the Urban River at Beczak and the Capital District Regional Planning Commission.

The Hudson River Watershed Alliance supports a collaborative network of watershed information and stewardship in the Hudson River Basin, by working with dozens of watershed groups from the New York Harbor to Lake Tear of the Cloud in the Adirondacks. We sustain this critical alliance by raising the collective voice for watershed interests and supporting a network of information, innovation and learning at events like this Annual Watershed Conference. For more information and to register for this conference on November 2nd, visit our website at www.hudsonwatershed.org.

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