New York (State). Dept. of Environmental Conservation. Division of Water.

Interstate basin commissions were formed to formulate policies and programs for development of watershed resources; to promote the orderly and integrated development and conservation of water resources; to prevent, abate, and control water pollution; and to regulate the disposal of wastes in interstate river drainage basins. A drainage basin is the entire tract of land drained by a river and its tributaries, commonly called a watershed. When drainage basins extend beyond state boundaries control of water pollution becomes a matter of interstate cooperation and planning. These commissions were established through either federal or state law to regulate the disposal of wastes and maintain or improve the quality of water resources found in the basins.

From the guide to the Interstate basin commission administration files, 1948-1975, 1957-1975, (New York State Archives)

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