Sprawling development is destroying our watershed communities and our critical drinking water supply. Sprawl’s greatest threat to water quality is the attendant increase in impervious surfaces, primarily pavement.

To protect water quality and watershed communities, Riverkeeper actively participates in the environmental review process when developments are proposed in the watershed. We work hard to stop the most egregious projects from being built and to ensure that the environmental impacts of those that are built are minimized by advocating for reduced project size and use of progressive building technologies and practices.

To influence project design, Riverkeeper actively participates in the review process required by the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). SEQRA requires that the potential environmental impacts of government actions, such as approving a development project, are thoroughly considered and given a "hard look" by the reviewing agency or board. The SEQRA process allows for public participation, so that government agencies can make a fully informed decision.