Mission: To inspire and educate New Yorkers of all ages about their city's local water ecology, fostering enjoyment and protection of these vital resources.
About: Through public and school programs at historic reservoirs, parklands, watersheds, bays, rivers, and wetlands, we encourage diverse citizens to advocate for responsible public policy. Our activities emphasize science-based knowledge essential for urban water resilience amid escalating climate change impacts, and we actively engage the community through stewardship programs focused on park cleanups and invasive species removal projects. Since 2009, NYC H2O has provided high-quality educational and stewardship programs centered on NYC's water systems and ecology, reaching over 50,000 people, including engineers, city planners, and professors. Our offerings include bike and walking tours, hikes, paddling, public lectures, and field trips for students, with a special focus on underserved communities. Additionally, our stewardship initiatives, such as park cleanups and invasive species removal, empower New Yorkers to take direct action in preserving their local environments.
Location: New York, NY
Matt Malina
Founder and Executive Director
As Executive Director, he initiated its tour, lecture, field trip and beach cleanup programs. Malina is a native New Yorker who studied engineering at the University of Virginia, graduating with a bachelors and masters in Applied Math. After working as a public school teacher and tutor from 2001 - 2009, Matt founded H2O in 2009. Malina’s keen interest in water partly derives from his past school career as a competitive swimmer and triathlete.
Malina led NYC H2O in its most ambitious project, the protection and preservation of the Ridgewood Reservoir. H2O wrote the successful Historic Register Nomination for the Reservoir, and the site was officially listed on Dec 7, 2017.