DEC Issues Permits for 14 New York City Wastewater Treatment Plants

On October 16, 2015 DEC issued revised State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) permits for 14 New York City wastewater treatment plants.  These plants provide treatment of a combined average flow of 1.2 billion gallons of sewage daily, which is about half of the entire state’s sewage treatment capacity.  The permits include discharge limits for the wastewater treatment plants’ discharge, as well as requirements for combined sewer overflows, pollutant minimization, industrial pretreatment, flow management, shoreline surveys, outfall identification and asset management. These permits will have significant water quality benefits, better protection of aquatic life, and improvements to maximize treatment capacity to minimize sewage overflows. 

Blue-Green Algal Bloom Notices

New information about lakes with blue-green algae bloom notices has been posted today, October 30, on the DEC Blue-Green Algal Bloom Notices webpage.

This week, one waterbody was added to the notification list, and blooms were reported in several locations in the state. This information is provided from about 25 waterbodies sampled in the last two to three weeks by DEC monitoring programs, volunteers and public reports.

Because waterbodies may have blue-green algae blooms that have not been reported to DEC, we recommend avoiding contact with floating rafts, scums and discolored water – If you see it, avoid it and report it!

Report a suspected bloom

If you suspect you have seen a blue-green algae bloom, or you, your family, or pet has been in contact with a blue-green algae bloom, please follow the instructions for reporting a bloom to DEC.

Hudson River Estuary Program Grants for Local Stewardship Planning and River Access and River Education

DEC has announced approximately $2,220,000 in competitive Hudson River Estuary Grants is available to implement priorities outlined in the Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda aimed at conserving or improving clean water; fish, wildlife and their habitats; waterway access; the resiliency of communities; and river scenery. This funding is provided by the New York State Environmental Protection Fund through two grant opportunities: Local Stewardship Planning, and River Access and River Education.

The Local Stewardship Planning opportunity is focused on supporting local organizations and communities with projects for planning, feasibility studies, and/or design that build on training and technical assistance to improve local stewardship.  Seven project types are available under this opportunity.

The River Access and River Education opportunity will assist organizations and communities with improving river access and education.  Eight project types are available under this opportunity.  Proposed projects, except for Environmental Justice (EJ) projects, must provide or improve direct access to the tidal waters of the Hudson River Estuary or Upper New York Bay for boating, swimming, fishing, wildlife-related recreation, or to improve estuary-focused education.

How to Apply:

Visit the Hudson River Estuary Program’s website for more details.  All applications must be submitted in the Grants Gateway by 3:00 PM on December 16, 2015.

Request for Water Resources Research Grant Program Applications

Applications are now being accepted from New York State’s higher education community for the New York Water Resources Institute / Hudson River Estuary Program 2016 Water Resources Research Grant Program. Approximately $130,000 is available for research, management, and outreach activities related to water resources in New York. Up to $20,000 is available per project. Projects throughout New York are eligible, but proposals related to the Hudson River Estuary region are particularly encouraged.

Applications are due by Tuesday, December 1 at 5:00 PM. For more information, including how to apply, go to DEC’s Clean Water for the Hudson River Estuary webpage.

Reminder: Application Deadline for Hudson River Estuary Program Grants for Tributary Restoration and Resiliency

Applications for the Hudson River Estuary Tributary Restoration and Resiliency grants must be submitted in the Grants Gateway by 3:00 PM on November 13, 2015.

More about the Tributary Restoration and Resiliency grant program

Approximately $630,000 is available for assistance to communities in the Hudson River estuary watershed to replace or right-size culverts and bridges or remove dams to better cope with flood events, protect water quality, and restore aquatic habitat connectivity for migratory fish and other species of concern in tributary streams of the estuary.  Proposed projects must conserve and restore aquatic habitat connectivity for Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) found in the tributary streams of the Hudson River estuary watershed. Visit the Hudson River Estuary Program’s website for more details.