New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos and the New York Water Environment Association (NYWEA) today announced the annual “Create a Watershed Superhero” poster contest for middle school students. The Create a Watershed Superhero poster theme challenges middle school students to create their own superhero to inspire environmental stewardship.

“New York is making sustained and historic investments in water quality, helping clean waterways and restore habitats across the state,” Commissioner Seggos said. “To help grow New York’s next generation of environmental stewards, DEC’s annual ‘Create a Watershed Superhero’ poster contest encourages young people to become guardians of their watersheds and reminds all New Yorkers of the everyday actions everyone can take to protect and conserve water.”

“NYWEA is proud to take part in this poster contest with the DEC every year, and even more proud of all of the Watershed Superheroes we now have because of the involvement of the students and teachers who participated in past years,” said Khris Dodson, NYWEA’s executive director.  

Since 2004, the annual poster contest has encouraged thousands of middle school students across New York State to learn about their role in protecting their local watersheds and how to conserve and safeguard water resources, now and for future generations. This is the third year of the superhero poster contest theme. Previous themes include “We All Live in a Watershed,” “Conserve and Protect our Watersheds,” and “The Importance of Wastewater Treatment.” To participate in the 2023-24 school year contest, New York State teachers, schools, and clubs are advised to visit DEC’s website for more information.

Posters will be accepted through Jan. 12, 2024. The 14 winning posters will be featured in DEC and NYWEA’s 2025 Annual Calendar. 

The poster contest helps raise community awareness of the importance of natural resources and the DEC programs that help manage sources of water pollution and improve water quality. Many lakes and rivers are managed through watershed programs that plan and initiate activities to protect and restore water quality. DEC funds projects to conserve water and protect water quality through statewide grant funding opportunities through the Water Quality Improvement Program and upcoming Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act funding.  

Visit the DECInfo Locator to see if an area is covered by a Clean Watershed Plan under the Environmental Monitoring layer category. To learn more about positive actions New Yorkers can take to protect New York’s waters visit DEC’s Keep Water Clean and Water Quality Management pages for more information.  

Photo attached: Last year's top winning poster by Mudanvit Goyal from Mildred E Strang Middle School.