Funding Now Available for River Access and Local Stewardship Planning

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
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Rowers on the Harlem River

Hudson RiverNet

News from the Hudson River Estuary Program

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has announced the availability of competitive Hudson River Estuary Grants provided through two Requests for Applications (RFAs), Local Stewardship Planning and River Access Improvements for People of All Abilities. Funding for these grant opportunities is provided by the New York State Environmental Protection Fund, Hudson River Estuary Program. The deadline for applications is July 12, 2017 at 3 p.m. For more information please visit Grants Program and Funding Opportunities for the Hudson River Estuary on the DEC website.

Local Stewardship Planning

Planners work on a Natural Resources Inventory for Orange County

This funding opportunity is designed to help local organizations and communities improve water quality, conserve natural resources, and increase resiliency to flooding and sea-level rise. Approximately $450,000 is available for Local Stewardship Planning. The minimum award amount is $10,500 and the maximum award amount is $50,000.

Local Stewardship Planning Grants will fund six categories of projects and programs:

  • Adapting land uses and decision making to factor in climate change, flooding, and sea-level rise projections in Hudson River shoreline communities;
  • Making water supply and waste-water infrastructure more resilient to flooding and sea-level rise;
  • Use of green infrastructure practices as a means to reduce combined sewer overflows or sanitary sewer overflows;
  • Watershed planning and management within an entire watershed or sub-watershed;
  • Conservation of natural resources by creating a natural resources inventory, open space inventory/index, or open space plan;
  • Planning for conservation and stewardship of natural scenery and natural vistas.

River Access Improvements for People of All Abilities

An angler uses a 'strong arm' adaptive fishing rod

This RFA is designed to help local organizations and communities execute quality projects which improve accessibility at existing river access sites for boating, fishing, swimming, and/or wildlife-dependent recreation; or to make improvements to educational interpretation of the estuary for people of all abilities on the tidal waters of the Hudson. Approximately $220,000 is available for River Access Improvements for People of All Abilities. The minimum award amount is $10,500 and the maximum award amount is $50,000.

Projects may include construction of physical improvements, purchase of adaptive equipment, or development of accessibility improvement plans, as described in greater detail below. The full scope of an accessibility project should include accessible parking and pathways to the new element, or a reference that these already exist. Wherever possible, incorporating principles of universal design is strongly encouraged. The following two types of projects are eligible:

  1. Hudson River Shoreline Access Retrofits
    Applicants may apply for projects on the shoreline of the tidal waters of the Hudson River estuary, including the tidal portion of its tributaries, to develop, retrofit, repair, or make improvements to existing river access sites to improve access for people of all abilities for boating, fishing, swimming, and/or wildlife-related recreation or educational interpretation of the estuary for people of all abilities on and along the estuary.
  2. Assessing and Planning for Accessibility Improvements
    Applicants may apply for projects that propose ADA designs, plans, assessments and ADA transition planning for existing access sites along the Hudson River estuary. Such plans must specifically lead to improving the use of the site for boating, fishing, swimming, and/or wildlife-related recreation or educational interpretation of the estuary for people of all abilities.

To view and download each RFA, please visit the NYS Grants Gateway and search for 'Hudson River Estuary'. Descriptions of eligible projects, applications, eligibility requirements, and instructions for registering and prequalifying in the Grants Gateway are included in each RFA.