New York is one of the states which hold highest population in United States. The New York City has a capacity of more than nine million residents. The state has limit numbers of watersheds. Sources of drinking water in New York are unevenly distributed. There are series of reservoirs located many miles away from the city. These are found in cats kill and Delaware in the up state New York.
The percentage of watershed is less than ten which is own by the city covering a region of 1,900 square miles. In most area which forms the water systems, there are dairy farms which have been established. Generally, the New York state has one of the few sources of natural and unfiltered water in the U.S. It has abundant reserve forest as well as adequate carbon level with excellent conditions for natural filtration. These natural filtering abilities of the ecosystems, wetlands and water ways are being threatened by development, runoff from agricultural lands and impervious surfaces. Pollutions from waste waters from treatment plants are also a threat. Hence the country is going to be faced with great problems if these potential threats are left uncontrolled. (Nickens, 1998)
Watersheds are therefore areas of great economic enhancement in New York State. There are several economic benefits which can be realised through proper management of watershed. Watersheds have been in the fore front in the creation of job opportunities in New York. Many people have been employed in the management of water springs and water sources. They have also created job opportunities in the sectors which provide ecosystem services and watershed protectors. There are many people who are employed in many institutions to provide knowledge and other skills to those who have passion of joining the sector of water.
In order to provide water to the residents in the different parts of the country, people have been deployed in the distribution department to ensure that there is proper supplier of the water. (Barton, 2000)
Watersheds have been beneficial in the generation of money the New York. This has been achieved through the collection of tax for the service being provided to its residents. In financial terms, farming, ranching, and logging provide substantially more income to the region than do recreational activities and tourism. Agribusiness yields $50 million in annual net benefits, and 2000 jobs, while tourism yields $4 million annually and only 550 jobs.
In other economic terms, where the external costs and benefits are taken into account, preservation of the river and its recreational opportunities equal the financial benefits of agriculture and forestry. The recreational value which people enjoy, beyond what they actually pay for tourism, is estimated at $70 million annually. The value of preservation of the watersheds also yields $8 million annually in economic benefits. The total economic benefit of maintaining the watersheds as a pollution-free recreation site is about $30 million per year. (New York City 2001)
Another economic benefit which is in clued in the New York state from the biodiversity for aquatic animals. The watershed form favourable places for the habitants of water. Marine animal are exploited to provide food for community residing by the water sources. This cut down the costs of purchasing food stuffs from other states. They act as a step in stabilization of the economic of the state. In addition, the surpluses of the harvest from the watershed are used for export.
These enable the country to enough foreign exchange. A part from the foreign exchange they get from the exports, they also gain addition foreign money through tourism who visit their state. Some of the watersheds act as tourist site while others are for recreational purposes. (Appleton, 2002):
Reference
Appleton, A. (2002): How New York City Used an Ecosystems Services Strategy Carried Out Through an Urban-Rural Partnership to Preserve the Pristine Quality of its Drinking Water and Save Billions of Dollars.
Barton, T. (2000): Watersheds, Natural Capital, and Water.
New York City 2001. New York City’s 2001 Watershed Summary, Assessment and Long-term Plan: New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Supply.
Nickens, E. (1998): A watershed paradox – New York City’s water quality efforts.