N.Y. Public Lands Law Section 28
Transfer of state lands or watershed conservation easements to the city of New York for water supply protection purposes

The commissioner of general services may, with the concurrence of the mayor of the city of New York, transfer and convey to the city of New York, in consideration of one dollar to be paid to the state of New York and upon such other terms and conditions as agreed upon by such commissioner and the mayor of the city of New York, parcels of land or watershed conservation easements owned by the state and located within the counties of Dutchess, Putnam, or Westchester and within the watershed of the water supply of the city of New York, whether or not such parcels or watershed conservation easements are unappropriated state lands, for the purpose of protecting the water supply of the city of New York. The city of New York may, with the prior agreement of the commissioner of the department of health, transfer and convey any such parcels for the sole purpose of purchasing lands in areas of higher priority for water supply protection purposes, provided that the city of New York shall either (1) transfer and convey to the state of New York, in consideration of one dollar paid to the city of New York, any such parcels provided that the city of New York continues to pay real property taxes on any such parcels and upon such other terms and conditions as agreed upon by the commissioner of general services and the mayor of the city of New York; or

(2)

sell any such parcels to an entity other than the state of New York and provide to the state of New York monies equal to the original purchase price paid by the state of New York for such parcels. For purposes of this section, the term “watershed conservation easement” shall have the same meaning as defined in Real Property Tax Law § 583 (Definitions)section five hundred eighty-three of the real property tax law.

Source: Section 28 — Transfer of state lands or watershed conservation easements to the city of New York for water supply protection purposes, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/PBL/28 (updated Sep. 22, 2014; accessed Oct. 18, 2025).

2
State-owned real property inventory and management program 2–A
Certain transfers of jurisdiction over state-owned lands and declarations of abandonment by the commissioner of general services 2–B
Transfers of certain funds 3
Powers and duties 4
Vesting of crown lands in the people of the state 5
Letters patent, form and contents 6
Determination of claims based on alleged failure of title 7
Partition of lands held by the state in joint tenancy or tenancy in common 8
Trespasses upon state lands 9
Penalty for trespasses 10
Power to investigate before grant 11
Power to confirm defective grant 12
Certain patents and grants ratified 12–A
Certain patents ratified and confirmed 13
Grants to heirs, devisees or successors in interest 14
Time of performing conditions of grant 15
Prohibitions as to grants in Lake George 15–A
Filling in the state owned bed of Lake George prohibited 16
Reservation of Esopus island 17
Payment of incumbrances on public lands 17–A
Abandonment of claims under defective tax sales 18
Expenses chargeable to special funds 19
Taxes and assessments for local improvements on state lands 19–A
State aid 19–B
State aid 20
Grants of lands in Onondaga salt springs reservation designated on certain map 21
Conveyance of strips of abandoned canal lands and Onondaga salt springs reservation land 22
Management of sand and gravel resources 23
Disposition of moneys received from sale of certain state lands and sand and gravel thereon 24
Sale or exchange of certain detached parcels of forest preserve lands 25
Sale or exchange of real property owned by the state and devoted to the use of the organized militia 26
Refunds when sales cannot be completed 27
Acquisition of real property by purchase or appropriation 28
Transfer of state lands or watershed conservation easements to the city of New York for water supply protection purposes 29
Watershed conservation easements and watershed agricultural easements
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Verified:
Oct. 18, 2025

Last modified:
Sep. 22, 2014

§ 28. Transfer of state lands or watershed conservation easements to the city of N.Y. for water supply protection purposes's source at nysenate​.gov

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