The Great Swamp -- covering over 4,000 acres -- is one of the largest freshwater wetlands in New York State.

Situated in New York's eastern Putnam and Dutchess Counties, the Great Swamp and its 63,000-acre watershed stretch 20 miles through the towns of Southeast, Patterson, Pawling and Dover.

Located less than 70 miles from New York City, this vast and fragile wetland provides numerous benefits to residents of the Harlem Valley, including drinking water, flood control, recreation, open space, and wildlife habitat.

The Great Swamp spans two watersheds, divided at Pawling into a north and south flow. To the north, water travels through the Swamp River and into the Ten Mile River, the Housantonic River, and eventually the Long Island Sound. Meandering south it is the East Branch Croton River flowing into the East Branch to the East Branch Reservoir of New York City's Croton Reservoir System, making the Great Swamp the important headwaters of New York City's drinking water supply.

The Great Swamp
Watershed Program

An Alliance for People and the Environment

The Great Swamp Watershed Program is a partnership effort led by the Lower Hudson Chapter of the Nature Conservancy. Because the Great Swamp stretches over two counties, four municipalities, and is 90% privately owned, protecting this important wetland requires the participant of many people. Thus, TNC works with a diverse set of interests from state, federal, county, and local levels -- both public and private -- to devise strategies for protecting the Great Swamp while still encouraging economic growth.

A Valuable Swamp

The Great Swamp provides numerous benefits to people and the environment:

Improved water quality: The Great Swamp filters out sediments and pollution to maintain a clean, dependable source of drinking water for people in Dutchess, Putnam and Westchester Counties; it also supplies water to New York City's Croton Reservoir System.

Habitat for plants and animals: A wide variety of flora and fauna, including nine rare species, are known to make the Great Swamp their home.

Recreation: The Great Swamp provides an outdoor playground for canoeing, fishing, hunting, bird-watching, cross-country skiiing, and hiking.

Reduced flooding: The Great Swamp acts as a giant sponge to absorb rainwater and reduce otherwise destructive flooding.

Open space and scenic views: The Great Swamp is a beautiful natural area that enhances quality of life for people in Putnam and Dutchess Counties.

A Wetland Under Threat

Although guarded by local, state and federal regulations, the Great Swamp continues to be threatened by:

Pollutants and sediments: Stormwater runoff carries harmful substances into the Great Swamp from roads, construction sites, salt piles, farms, waste water and septic systems, mines, and other sources.

Invasive species: Quick growing non-native plants such as purple loosestrife and phragmites choke out other species, reducing biodiversity and destroying fragile habitat.

Encroachment and loss of public access: By building in the wetland or adjacent areas, the ecological and hydrological functions of the Great Swamp are threatened and the recreation value is reduced.

As population and development increases in the region, the potential for destructive pollution and other threats also increases.

Friends of the Great Swamp (FrOGS)

Friends of the Great Swamp is a community group comprised of concerned citizens, public agencies, and local businesses and organizations. Since 1990, it has been an active voice for protection of the functions, values and integrity of the Great Swamp. FrOGS is organized into three committees -- scenic and research, education and tourism, and steering -- all of which work together to collect and share information, promote education programs, encourage wise land-use decisions, and assist in watershed protection planning.

The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy's mission is to preserve plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. The Conservancy specifically focuses on protection of habitat for rare or endangered species at the state and global levels. To date, TNC and its members have been responsible for protecting more than 9 million acres in North America, and have assisted partner organizations to preserve millions of additional acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, the Pacific, and Asia.

The Lower Hudson Chapter of the Nature Conservancy, located in Mt. Kisco, owns and manages over 4,500 acres of sanctuary land and conservation easements in five counties, and assists landowners and municipalities in making site-appropriate land-use decisions in ecologically sensitive areas. In planning for conservation activities, TNC looks at the economic needs of communities, and believes that the protection of natural resources can only be successful if local communities are involved.

Check back here often for updates and events.
Food for Thought by Edie, 1/96
The Nature Conservancy
Tour of Croton's Great Swamp by Tina, 8/14/97
NY Times & the Great Swamp 9/7/97

For information on the Great Swamp, the FrOGS, or the Nature Conservancy, send E-mail to Dan Siemann
or to Edie Keasbey
This page courtesy of the Friends of Jerome Park Reservoir

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