MakingWaves - News From the Division of Water

In This Issue:

• Hudson Estuary Trees for Tribs Program
• NYS Department of Transportation Bridge NY Program
• Deadline Approaching for DEC/EFC Engineering Planning Grant and EFC Green Innovation Grant Programs
• Preservation of 182 Acres in Jefferson County Will Protect Drinking Water Sources
• Reminder: Sustain Our Great Lakes Request for Proposals

Hudson Estuary Trees for Tribs Program

DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos has announced that DEC's Hudson Estuary Trees for Tribs Program is accepting applications for spring streamside planting projects. Anyone that owns or manages property near a stream in the Hudson River Estuary watershed (PDF) is eligible to apply for free native trees and shrubs. The application deadline is March 1. Early applications are encouraged, particularly for large sites (more than 60 plants) or when requesting specific plant species.

To download an application, learn more about Hudson Estuary Trees for Tribs, or to watch a video about Trees for Tribs on DEC YouTube, visit DEC's Hudson Estuary Trees for Tribs website.

NYS Department of Transportation Bridge NY Program 

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has announced the availability of $200 million in BRIDGE NY funding for local governments to make their infrastructure more resilient to extreme weather events. The funding will help local governments over the next two years restore and replace bridges and culverts statewide. These infrastructure investments will enhance the quality of life for residents and businesses in every region of the State and provide support for making communities more resilient to the impacts of climate change. Draft applications must be received by April 14, for culvert projects and by May 5 for bridge projects. 

A BridgeNY sponsor training webinar will be held on February 16 at 10 a.m. For more information, visit: https://www.dot.ny.gov/bridgeny

Deadline Approaching for DEC/EFC Engineering Planning Grant and EFC Green Innovation Grant Programs

Applications are being accepted through the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) for the Engineering Planning Grant (EPG) and the Green Innovation Grant Program (GIGP) until 4 p.m. on February 12. 

The EPG funds production of an engineering report for eligible Clean Water State Revolving Fund water quality projects. For full program details and requirements, view the EPG Round 10 Program Overview (PDF) on DEC's website. 

The GIGP provides grants for projects that improve water quality and mitigate the effects of climate change through the implementation of green infrastructure, energy efficiency and/or water efficiency practices. For full program requirements, view EFC's GIGP webpage.

Information about both of these grant programs was presented in a webinar on January 13. You can view a recording of the webinar on the Environmental Facilities Corporation's website. 

Preservation of 182 Acres in Jefferson County Will Protect Drinking Water Sources

DEC and The Thousand Islands Land Trust (TILT) has announced the protection of more than 182 acres of significant watershed lands in the Town of Clayton, Jefferson County, as part of the state's Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) Program. This partnership will help protect the surface water quality of the St. Lawrence River, a source of public drinking water for thousands of people in the region.

TILT has acquired easements and acreage across five parcels that contain natural vegetated shoreline buffers and coastal marsh habitats that will be conserved in perpetuity. DEC awarded TILT a $555,571 WQIP grant to use toward the protection of these parcels and two other easements in progress in the Thousand Islands region. WQIP supports projects to improve water quality, reduce the potential for harmful algal blooms (HABs), and protect drinking water across the state. 

Ramseier parcel - Courtesy of TILT 

Reminder: Sustain Our Great Lakes Request for Proposals

Pre-proposals for the 2021 Sustain Our Great Lakes (SOGL) grants are due February 16. Grant funding will be awarded in these basin-wide categories:

• Restore and Enhance Stream and Riparian Habitat
• Restore and Enhance Coastal Habitats
• Expand Green Stormwater Infrastructure in Great Lakes Communities
• Maintain and Enhance Benefits of Habitat Restoration through Invasive Species Control
• New in 2021: Accelerate Implementation of Conservation Practices and Regenerative Agriculture on Working Lands

Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations, educational institutions, and state, tribal and local governments.