Our History

 

SWIM Coalition was borne out of a Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) convened by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in ca. 2004 for the development of a Waterbody/Watershed Plan and the 2006 Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Consent Order.

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The advisory committee, made up of civic groups, community organizations, citywide, regional and national non-profits, and academic institutions, met regularly until mid-2006 when the City met a major milestone in the CSO Consent Order. Many members of the CAC expressed an interest in continuing to come together to advocate for green infrastructure; thus the Stormwater Infrastructure Matters (SWIM) Coalition was officially launched on World Water Day, 2007.

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Since then, SWIM has been instrumental in advancing NYC’s sustainable stormwater and green infrastructure planning and policy. Through our multi-tiered advocacy platform, we have represented our members’ interests with DEP, the Mayor’s Offices of Sustainability and Recovery & Resiliency, City Council, the State Legislature, the State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and others. Several Coalition members currently serve on DEP’s Water Infrastructure Steering Committee. 

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SWIM Coalition operates with a steering committee of practicing professionals, whose members represent various organizations and a wide range of expertise. Daily operations are supported by the SWIM Program Coordinator, graduate fellows from Pratt Institute, and others. Meet our Steering & Staff.

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