On September 16, 1998, the Oneida County Board of Legislators and Oneida County Executive approved a merger of the Oneida County Environmental Management Council (EMC) and the Oneida County Water Quality Coordinating Committee (OC WQCC) into one, formally recognized advisory council. The new council is now known as the Oneida County Environmental Management and Water Quality Council (EM&WQC).
   The council continues to provide a focus for environmental and water resource activity in Oneida County while also serving as a forum for the coordination of various environmental and water resource programs of local, regional, state, and federal agencies and organizations. Additionally, the council assists in the effort to alleviate current environmental and water resource problems within Oneida County and ensures that environmental and water resource concerns are considered as part of related future projects, programs, and policy development.
   One of the strengths of the merged council is the establishment of a unified and legislatively recognized body that is able to jointly consider, discuss, and recommend environmentally and water related policy to county and local governments. Such recommendations will be provided by the new council relative to their given authority as provided for within: past and present Oneida County Board of Legislators' resolutions; the NYS Environmental Conservation Law 47-0105; County Law 5-220a; and the NYS Nonpoint Source Management Program.
   The Environmental Management and Water Quality Council currently serves Oneida County as the County Water Management Agency, the County Water Quality Coordinating Committee, and the County Environmental Management Council.

   Within New York State, each individual county may choose to form a central, coordinating group to address a variety of water resource issues that impact that county. In a few counties, Water Management Authorities have been formed through local legislation. In most counties, however, Water Quality Coordinating committees have been used in place of the more formal water management authorities.
   The Herkimer County Water Quality Coordinating Committee was formed as an ad-hoc advisory board to integrate water resource activities and set priorities within Herkimer County.
   The primary functions of the Water Quality Committee are:

1. to identify priority non-point water quality issues and watersheds in which to concentrate activities,
2. to coordinate activities in an effort to form new and expanded partnerships, to share information, and to develop a consensus on what non-point issues need to be addressed within the county,
3. to establish an interagency work plan to control and abate the priority non-point issues and watersheds, and
4. to advise the necessary individuals, agencies, boards, and governments of the committee's findings.

   The Water Quality Committee presently includes representatives from the public, and federal, state, and local agencies.

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Updated October 13, 2003