The Rockland County Legislature and County Executive announced the new Chair and staff dedicated to the Rockland County Task Force on Water Resources Management.

Nicole Laible, MPAP, joins Chair, Hon. Beth Davidson, and Water Conservation Coordinator, Ariana Polanco, to lead the Water Task Force
Earlier this year District 10 Legislator Beth Davidson, Chair of the Environmental Committee, was appointed to serve as Chair of the Task Force on Water Resources Management.

“As Rockland County simultaneously confronts two crises - climate change and a severe housing shortage - we must vigorously pursue conservation and protection measures to ensure residents, businesses, farmers, schools, and hospitals, have access to clean water,” Davidson says. “I look forward to working alongside Nicole Laible, Ariana Polanco, and stakeholders to drive the conservation and sustainability measures necessary to safeguard our water supply for generations to come.”

County Executive Ed Day said, “Water is one of our most vital resources, and ensuring a secure and abundant water supply is crucial for the physical and economic health of Rockland. As stewards of this precious resource, we have to do all we can to protect and conserve it and for that reason I am very excited to welcome our new Coordinator Nicole Laible to the Rockland Task Force on Water Resources Management. Her expertise and leadership of the Task Force will be instrumental in advancing our efforts to protect, conserve, and ensure sustainable water use for generations to come.”

Spearheading this critical work as noted above will be Task Force Coordinator Nicole Laible, MPAP, an experienced project manager and environmental planner who returns to Rockland after serving as a Principal Environmental Planner for the County of Westchester. Ms. Laible’s substantial background in conservation, natural resources management, board oversight, community building, environmental planning, and performance management will serve the County well as the Legislature and Administration pursue ambitious sustainability-centered goals.

Ms. Laible will work alongside Ariana Polanco, MPH, Water Conservation Coordinator, a public health professional with experience in community mobilization, health education, and project management. Ms. Polanco’s work will focus on implementation of the 2020 Water Conservation Plan.

The Task Force on Water Resources Management is working to:

• Recruit and mobilize the Task Force membership

• Set agenda items for a Q2 2025 kickoff meeting

• Manage two active NYS DEC grants: a “Long Term Water Conservation Strategy” grant for $250,000 and a “Ramapo and Mahwah River Watershed Assessment and Management Plan” grant for $100,000

• Establish connections within the source water protection community through active participation in local-regional initiatives and stakeholder groups

• Implement measures outlined in the 2020 Water Conservation Plan

• Research grant opportunities to diversify funding sources for future project planning, design, and implementation

• Formulate a thoughtful work program to galvanize the Task Force and achieve key objectives

Nicole Laible stated, “The tireless dedication of Task Force founders and members established a powerful foundation for future advancements. Driven by my passions in water resources management, I am eager to collaborate with the new Task Force members and the entire Rockland community to initiate the development of our County Water Plan forward.”

The Task Force on Water Resources Management will present to the Environmental Committee of the Legislature at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 10 in the Legislative Chambers, 11 New Hempstead Road in New City. This meeting is open to the public and we encourage those interested in learning more to attend. You can also learn more by visiting the Task Force on Water Resources Management website.