A Seat At The Table

A DEP Commissioner, a Catskillian, and a bunch of lawyers walk into a bar... 

The 1990s were a turning point for the relationship between the Catskills and NYC. The Clean Water Act changed the way the City needed to manage its water supply, so they tried to impose stringent regulations on the watershed. Catskillians were having none of that! As watershed towns got together and organized, a new DEP Commissioner came to town with a very different approach from her predecessors. A pitcher of beer broke the ice, and the rest is history. This episode features two people who were in the "room where it happened": Marilyn Gelber, DEP Commissioner from 1994-1996, and Alan Rosa, former Executive Director of the Catskill Watershed Corporation. 

If you're taking this tour in person, please play this episode at the Catskills Watershed Corporation building in Arkville. The site is paved and is wheelchair accessible. Please visit walkingthewatershed.com/podcasttour/listen.html to download a printed map, transcripts, accessibility info, and other important information.