DEC Announces 20th Annual 'Create a Watershed Superhero' Poster contest for Middle School Students

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar and the New York Water Environment Association (NYWEA) today announced the annual "Create a Watershed Superhero" poster contest for middle school students. The 2025 Create a Watershed Superhero poster theme challenges middle school students to create their own superhero to inspire environmental stewardship.

"DEC is excited to launch the 20^th 'Create a Watershed Superhero' poster contest, which for two decades has helped inspire New York's next generation of environmental stewards," Interim Commissioner Mahar said. "DEC's annual poster contest encourages young people across New York State to become guardians of their watersheds and reminds all New Yorkers of the everyday actions each of us can take to protect and conserve precious water resources."

"This poster contest is one of the things that makes NYWEA members proud of what we do," NYWEA Executive Director Khris Dodson said. "I am even more proud of all of the Watershed Superheroes we now have because of the involvement of the students and teachers who have participated throughout the years."

Since 2004, the annual poster contest has encouraged thousands of middle school students across New York State to learn about their role in protecting local watersheds and how to conserve and safeguard water resources, now and for future generations. This is the fourth year of the superhero poster contest theme. Previous themes include "We All Live in a Watershed," "Conserve and Protect our Watersheds," and "The Importance of Wastewater Treatment."

New York State teachers, schools, and clubs are advised to visit DEC's website for more information about participating in the 2024-25 school year contest. Posters will be accepted through Jan. 3, 2025. The 14 winning posters will be featured in DEC and NYWEA's 2026 Annual Calendar.

The poster contest helps raise awareness of the importance of natural resources and the DEC programs that help manage sources of water pollution and improve water quality. Many lakes and rivers are managed through watershed programs that plan and initiate activities to protect and restore water quality. DEC is one of several New York State agencies funding projects to conserve water and protect water quality through statewide grant funding opportunities.

To see if an area is covered by a Clean Watershed Plan, check out DECInfo Locator under the Environmental Monitoring layer category. To learn more about positive actions New Yorkers can take to protect New York's waters visit DEC's Keep Water Clean and Water Quality Management webpages.