The assumption that watershed protection or filtration would be adequate is faulty.

New York officials stress that the city's water has no parasite problem, but they want to keep it that way, mostly through watershed protection.

People interested in protecting rural culture should note that much of the area is undeveloped state land, and watershed protections are a factor.

Increasingly, foresters participate in wildlife conservation planning and watershed protection.

But the plants are not capable of filtering out certain chemicals, like oil, that can only be kept out by watershed protection.

Both have been the focus of water-quality improvement efforts by the state, including invasive aquatic-weed control and watershed protection.

The governor helped create the watershed protections now in place and a stronger law governing wetlands would enhance his already formidable reputation on the environment.

Mature fallows or young forests have other benefits such as wild food gathering, animal habitat, and watershed protection.

Mr. Pataki has concluded that watershed protection cannot proceed without the cooperation of local residents.

He said that over the past 30 years, the county had purchased 24,000 acres and spent $283 million on farm development rights, open space and watershed protection.