REGION — New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) Commissioner Emily Lloyd has announced the 30th annual Water Resources Art and Poetry Contest.

Second through 12-grade students attending public, independent, charter, or parochial schools and/or home-schooled in New York City and in the East and West of Hudson watersheds are invited to create original art and compose poetry that reflects an appreciation for our shared water resources.

Students can submit poems and artwork including paintings, collages, three-dimensional models, photography, animation and videos of dance performances, public service announcements and songs based on five central themes: water, the drinking water system, wastewater treatment, harbor water quality, stewardship and climate change.

Entries will be accepted online until March 4, and a celebration honoring all student participants will take place in May. Teachers, parents and students can visit www.nyc.gov/dep/artandpoetry to view the contest guidelines and resource materials, submit entries online, see past winners and learn more about New York City water.

Entries will be judged based on creativity in interpreting one or more of the contest themes, accuracy of information, originality and skill. An impartial panel of judges will review the entries and select art and poetry winners from each category (grades two to three, four to five, six to seven, eight to nine, and 10 to 12.)

For more information, visit nyc.gov/dep, "like" on Facebook at facebook.com/nycwater, or follow twitter.com/nycwater.