Tributary Restoration and Resiliency Grants will Help Hudson River, Westchester, New York City, and Long Island Communities Restore Habitat for American Eel and River Herring
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will award $1 million in grant funding that is earmarked for communities in eastern New York to improve water quality, increase flood resiliency, and conserve natural resources. The grants will fund projects in the Hudson River Estuary, Jamaica Bay, Long Island Sound, Peconic Estuary, and South Shore Estuary Reserve watersheds. The deadline for applications is May 4th.
The Tributary Restoration and Resiliency grants are specifically designed to help communities improve habitat for the American eel, river herring, and other species that call these waterways home.
Examples of projects that could receive funding are planning and engineering projects to remove dams; planning and engineering for culvert mitigation; and preliminary exploration for the feasibility of dam removal.
These grants will be administered by the DEC and support communities that wish to remove dams to restore habitat for native species. The money will also help communities that are experiencing adverse impacts brought on by flooding in the tributaries.
Funding for these grants (the Tributary Restoration and Resiliency grants) will be provided by the New York State Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). To be eligible for a Tributary Restoration and Resiliency grant, the proposed project must conserve and restore aquatic habitat for either the American eel or river herring found in the tributary streams of the watersheds that are targeted by the program. Projects that are also designed to promote flood resiliency will be looked upon favorably. However, priority will be given to dam removal projects near tidal waters that could have the most impact on the eel and herring.
The matching requirement for this grant is at least 15% of the requested amount. A match of 30% or more will qualify the applicant for additional points in the scoring.
The Hudson River Estuary Program Grants ($500,000)
The state has earmarked $550,000 for this program. Applicants may apply for planning and engineering projects. A map of identified and prioritized barriers is available on the DEC’s website. The minimum grant award is $10,500; the maximum award is $150,000.
The Division of Marine Resources Marine Habitat Tributary Restoration and Resiliency Grants ($500,000)
The state has also provided $500,000 in funding for this program. Applicants may apply for planning and engineering projects on the Long Island Sound watershed, Peconic Estuary watershed, South Shore Estuary Reserve watershed, and Jamaica Bay. The minimum grant award is $10,500; the maximum grant award is $150,000.
Applications are available online through the New York State Grants Gateway. The Grants Gateway is an online grants management system that streamlines the way these grants are administered. All applicants must be registered to apply including governmental entities and not-for-profit corporations. Not-For-Profit applicants are required to “prequalify” in the Grants Gateway system.
General information about these grants is also available on DEC’s website. Completed grant applications must be submitted online through the Grants Gateway by 3 p.m. on May 4, 2022.
Walden has successfully submitted grant applications for numerous clients. To find out how we can help you apply for grant funding this year, call 516-758-1273 to speak to Walden’s grant team leader.
