The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the New York Water Environment Association (NYWEA) have announced the theme for their 21st annual water conservation poster contest for middle school students. The 2026 contest will focus on “Water Connects Us All,” encouraging students to explore their role in local watersheds and learn about actions they can take to protect water resources.
“DEC is excited to launch the 21st water conservation poster contest which, for two decades, helps inspire New York’s next generation of environmental stewards,” Commissioner Amanda Lefton said. “The poster contest theme ‘Water Connects Us All,’ encourages young people across New York State to become guardians of their watersheds and helps remind all New Yorkers of the daily actions each of us can take to protect and conserve our precious, connected water resources.”
NYWEA Executive Director Khris Dodson added, “This poster contest is one of the things that makes NYWEA members proud of what we do. I am even more proud of all of the watershed champions we now have because of the involvement of the students and teachers who have participated throughout the years.”
Since its start in 2004, this annual contest has aimed to teach middle school students about protecting local watersheds and conserving water. Past themes have included topics such as creating a watershed superhero, understanding that everyone lives in a watershed, conserving and protecting watersheds, and highlighting wastewater treatment.
Teachers, schools, and clubs interested in participating can find more information on DEC’s website. Poster entries will be accepted until January 2, 2026. Fourteen winning posters will be selected for inclusion in the DEC and NYWEA’s 2027 Annual Calendar.
The contest also supports awareness about natural resources and DEC programs designed to reduce water pollution and improve water quality. The DEC funds projects statewide to protect and restore water quality through various grant opportunities.
Residents can check if their area is covered by a Clean Water Plan using the DECInfo Locator or by visiting DEC’s Clean Water Plan page online. Additional information on how individuals can help keep water clean is available on DEC’s Keep Water Clean and Water Quality Management webpages.
Winning submissions from 2025 are available on DEC’s website.
