MakingWaves - Round XI REDC Awards; 2021 HABs Season

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
DEC Delivers - Information to keep you connected and informed from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Share or view as a web page || Update preferences or unsubscribe

MakingWaves - News From the Division of Water

In this Issue:

  • Awards For Round XI of the Regional Economic Development Council Initiative
  • 2021 Harmful Algal Bloom (HABs) Notification Season 

Awards For Round XI of the Regional Economic Development Council Initiative

Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced funding awards for state agency programs that participated in Round XI of the Regional Economic Development Council initiative. They include: 

DEC's Nonpoint Source Planning and MS4 Mapping Grant 

Over $1 million has been awarded for 28 Non-Agricultural Nonpoint Source Planning and MS4 Mapping Grant (NPG) projects to produce planning reports and Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) mapping. The program aims to get nonpoint source projects ready for construction and to apply for implementation funding; and encourages and supports cooperation among regulated MS4s to complete mapping of their stormwater system.

Planning projects funded through NPG include in-waterbody controls for nutrients, green infrastructure, culvert repair and replacement, decentralized wastewater treatment facilities, nature-based shoreline projects, and streambank stabilization.

A full list of awarded NPG projects is available on DEC's NPG webpage.

DEC/EFC Wastewater Infrastructure Engineering Planning Grant

Over $2.5 million has been awarded for 56 Wastewater Infrastructure Engineering Planning Grant (EPG) projects for the initial planning of eligible Clean Water State Revolving Fund water quality projects.

EPG provides funding to municipalities for engineering and/or consultant fees for engineering and planning services to produce an engineering report. A full list of EPG projects is available on the Environmental Facilities Corporation's EPG webpage.

Watch for a future announcement about awards for the Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) grant program. 


2021 Harmful Algal Bloom (HABs) Notification Season 

Algae Bloom on Agawam Lake

HABs notices from 2021 have been summarized and posted to the HABs Archive webpage. During 2021,192 waterbodies statewide were listed on the NY HABs System (NYHABS). Nearly 2,000 HAB reports were collected by DEC and its partners, and of these, over 1,100 met DEC criteria for a HAB. The reports ranged from a single observation to widespread blooms that were persistent throughout the season.

DEC's Citizen Statewide Lake Assessment Program and the Lake Classification and Inventory Program contributed extensively to HABs reporting. In addition, as in previous years, the Department of Health, the Office of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation, SUNY ESF, Stony Brook University, the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, and other agencies and organizations were instrumental in documenting HABs in New York State in 2021.

Historical data through 2020 is available on Open NY (Search the catalog for "Harmful Algal Blooms"). The 2012-2019 HABs Archive Summary document is a comprehensive summary of HAB reports since DEC began the HABs Program. Both sources will be updated with 2021 data over the coming months.

Blooms May Still Occur Any Time of Year

HABs may occur on waterbodies throughout the year, although fewer blooms occur as water and air temperatures decrease. DEC recommends avoiding contact with floating mats, scums and discolored water at any time – Know it, Avoid it, Report it!