In March 2019, New York State designated Clarkson University and SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry (ESF) to co-lead a new Center of Excellence (CoE) in Healthy Water Solutions to deliver synergistic problem-solving on the wide-range of water issues impacting the Empire State. Clarkson’s world-class technical and engineering innovation expertise in healthy water systems and ESF’s renowned expertise in monitoring, watershed ecosystem management and solution development uniquely position the CoE to create and leverage partnerships across the public-private sectors.
New York’s water assets are a source of international identity, points of pride for the State and the country, and of strategic importance to the State’s global economic position, now and in the future. New York is rich and uniquely diverse in rivers and streams, lakes and ponds, estuaries, the Erie Canal waterways, and major coastlines along the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean.
Imminent and serious threats to these assets from multiple sources call for integrated and coordinated efforts to preserve and improve the quality and quantity of clean and healthy water resources. Through the new Clarkson – SUNY ESF CoE in Healthy Water Solutions, New York State is creating an international model for protecting the public’s health and State’s ecosystems while serving as an engine for economic growth and vitality. The expertise of these institutions is supported by their physical facilities spanning from the Beacon Institute for Rivers & Estuaries on the Hudson and the St. Lawrence Rivers to Onondaga Lake and the Great Lakes.