MakingWaves - Poster Contest; Funding for Infrastructure Projects; Chesapeake Bay Grants Awards; Storm Resiliency in Suffolk County

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation sent this bulletin on 11/05/2021 11:49 AM EDT
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MakingWaves - News From the Division of Water

In This Issue:

  • Reminder: “Create a Watershed Super Hero” Poster Contest
  • Reminder: Funding Available for Water Infrastructure Upgrades
  • 2021 NFWF Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund Small Watershed Grant Awards
  • $408.8 Million Storm Resiliency Sewer Expansion in Suffolk County

Reminder: “Create a Watershed Super Hero” Poster Contest

DEC and the New York Water Environment Association (NYWEA) are accepting posters for the 2021-2022 annual Create a Watershed Super Hero Poster Contest for middle school students. View the Poster Contest Announcement (PDF) for contest details. The deadline for submitting posters is January 7, 2022. The 14 winning posters will be featured in DEC and NYWEA’s 2023 annual calendar. Direct questions regarding the poster contest to Cassandra Davis by calling (518) 402-8086 or emailing cassandra.davis@dec.ny.gov.

Reminder: Funding Available for Water Infrastructure Upgrades

$400 million is available for critical drinking water and wastewater infrastructure upgrades through the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act (WIIA) and the Intermunicipal Water Infrastructure Grant Program (IMG). Applications are due by Monday, November 22. 

Information and application documents are available on the Environmental Facilities Corporation's website, If you have questions, e-mail NYSWaterGrants@efc.ny.gov or call 518-402-6924.

2021 NFWF Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund Small Watershed Grant Awards

Four New York projects received a 2021 Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund Small Watershed Grant. Tioga County Soil and Water Conservation District received three grants totaling $1,050,000, and Trout Unlimited received a grant of $140,566. 

This grant program is sponsored by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Chesapeake Bay Program. The Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund is dedicated to protecting and restoring the bay by helping local communities clean up and restore their polluted rivers and streams. The fund also advances cost-effective and creative solutions with financial and technical assistance to local communities, farmers, and private landowners. 

View the NFWF 2021 Small Watersheds Grants Program Overview (PDF) for details about the funded projects. 

$408.8 Million Storm Resiliency Sewer Expansion in Suffolk County

Governor Kathy Hochul has announced the start of construction of the $408.8 million Suffolk County Coastal Resiliency Initiative, which includes wastewater conveyance and treatment upgrades, along with sewer system connections for more than 4,000 homes in the Town of Babylon, with connections for an additional 1,700 homes in Mastic-Shirley set to begin later this year.

This project leverages federal and state resources with local funding to prevent nitrogen and other contaminants from polluting Long Island's coastal waters. Other environmental benefits  include improving water quality, restoring ecosystems, and bolstering natural coastal barriers to protect communities from future flooding and severe storms fueled by climate change.