SWIM Coalition, in partnership with Pratt Institute, is hosting a virtual symposium over two days in February. The 2022 NYC State of the Waters Symposium provides an opportunity for education, advocacy, and ideation between SWIM, its member organizations, partners, elected officials, Pratt Institute School of Architecture students and faculty, and the general public towards fishable and swimmable water quality that benefits all residents.

We are finalizing details for the event, which will be held virtually on Friday, February 4th and Friday, February 11th, 9:00am-1:30pm EST. Please RSVP to the links below to receive Zoom meeting information for each day.

Day 1 – February 4th: NYC Water 101 – Sewer systems & principal policy frameworks, Green Infrastructure Plan, Stormwater Programs & Policies, and Implementing & Financing Stormwater & Green Infrastructure.

Day 2 – February 11th: Green Infrastructure and Workforce Development, Stormwater Resilience, and Open Discussion.

We look forward to seeing you there, and to a year of progress in water quality advocacy!

New York City is a city of water. With over 500 miles of shoreline ranging from industrial bulkheads, to marinas and boat launches, to parks, promenades, and natural shorelines, New Yorkers are in constant interaction with their water bodies. These interactions extend to management of stormwater, through a vast network of combined and separate sewers and related systems that are often stressed by extreme rain events, climate change, and unregulated and unsustainable development, leading to the pollution and degradation of NY harbor and its water bodies. Over time, local advocacy has formed to respond to these stresses and pursue sustainable stormwater management solutions.

SWIM (Stormwater Infrastructure Matters) is a coalition of 70+ organizations citywide who are dedicated to ensuring swimmable, fishable waters around New York City through natural, sustainable stormwater management practices in our neighborhoods. We advocate for environmentally and fiscally responsible, and equitable/just water management that utilizes stormwater – currently viewed as waste – as a resource. As 37 new New York City Councilmembers and a new mayoral administration take office in January, and as City agencies and officials seek to respond to recent severe rain events, it is critical to discuss systems, policies, plans, programs and projects that promote the health of the city’s waters and its inhabitants.