Environment

A number of water-related issues face Putnam County residents and businesses, including drinking water quality, non-point source pollution, over-use and mis-use of fertilizers, landscaping practices and loss of water-protective ecosystems due to population growth. About one-third of Putnam County is water, much of it in the New York City Watershed, operated by the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (NYC DEP)

The Great Swamp, a wetlands ecosystem that provides habitat, food and shelter to a wide variety of birds, amphibians, fish, insects and plants, is one of the most effective purifiers of underground aquifers. Putnam County is home to a number of protected species, including the Indiana Brown Bat and a small population of Blandings turtles. Invasive plants like the Common Reed, Mile-A-Minute Vine and Black Swallowwort can endanger these and other animals and change the ecosystems they depend on. Native plants, on the other hand, are hardy, low-maintenance solutions that help protect the environment and give you a beautiful garden. Our professional educators can link you to fact sheets, websites and research-based information about the natural resources in the county and the region, native plants and animals, invasive species and control methods, as well as university research in these areas.

Last updated February 10, 2023