DEC Announces $500,000 in Grants Available for Mohawk River Watershed Projects

Applications for Proposals to Preserve and Protect the Mohawk River Watershed Due January 21, 2020

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced that $500,000 is now available for municipalities, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, school districts, colleges and universities, and not-for-profit organizations to implement the goals and objectives of the Mohawk River Basin Action Agenda (PDF). These grants will help local partners fund projects designed to preserve and protect the Mohawk River watershed.

"The $500,000 announced today will support projects that complement New York State's ongoing efforts to protect the Mohawk River watershed's ecosystem, make it more resilient to the challenges ahead, and continue its role as an economic driver for the region," Commissioner Seggos said. "DEC will continue to work with local partners to help build on the progress being made to restore water quality and habitat throughout the Mohawk River Basin."

Examples of eligible proposals include projects that:
• promote flood hazard risk reduction and enhanced flood resiliency;
• improve stewardship and stakeholder engagement within the Mohawk River watershed through education outreach and collaboration; and
• seek to conserve, protect or enhance fish, wildlife and associated aquatic and riparian habitats within the Mohawk River watershed.

Located wholly within the boundaries of New York State, the Mohawk River is the largest tributary to the Hudson River and encompasses 14 counties and 172 municipalities. DEC's Mohawk River Basin Program and the Mohawk River Basin Action Agenda were developed to bring together various local, state, and federal agencies and other interested organizations that share a passion for the conservation and preservation of the Mohawk River, its watershed, and communities. DEC's Mohawk River Basin Program coordinates watershed-wide activities, bringing together stakeholders and creating partnerships with established and emerging programs and organizations throughout the watershed, providing a framework for watershed-wide collaboration to conserve, preserve and restore the environmental quality of the Mohawk River and its watershed. To view the Mohawk River Basin Action Agenda visit DEC's Mohawk River Watershed webpage.

The funding for this grant opportunity is provided by the state's Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) and administered under DEC's Mohawk River Watershed Grants Program. Grant awards ranging from $15,000 to $100,000 are available, and all projects must have defined measurable outcomes or deliverables that can be completed within two years of contract approval and located within the geographic boundaries of the Mohawk River watershed. This is the fifth round of grants that DEC's Mohawk River Basin Program. Grant applications must be submitted online through the Grants Gateway no later than 3 p.m. on Tuesday, January 21, 2020.

Round Five of the Mohawk River Watershed Grant Request for Applications (RFA) is available online through the New York State Grants Gateway. The Grants Gateway is an online grants management system that streamlines the way grants are administered by New York State. All grant applicants, including governmental entities and not-for-profit organizations, must be registered in the Grants Gateway to be eligible to apply for any state grant opportunity. Not-for-profit applicants are required to "prequalify" in the Grants Gateway system. Registration and prequalification forms are available online at the NYS Grants Gateway website.

For more information on the Mohawk River Basin Action Agenda, past grant awards, and funding opportunities through the Mohawk River Basin Program, visit DEC's website.

http://www.dec.ny.gov/press/press.html