The Division of Water has posted new announcements on its webpage.

This Week's Updates:

• WQIP Updates
• Water Withdrawal Guidance
• Harmful Algal Bloom Notifications

Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) Webpage Updates

Frequently Asked Questions

A frequently asked questions webpage on Round 14 of the WQIP grant program has been posted. This page will be updated as additional questions are received.

Land Acquisition Projects for Source Water Protection

Frequently asked questions (PDF, 234 KB) regarding the Land Acquisition Projects for the WQIP Source Water Protection category have been posted on DEC’s WQIP webpage. The FAQs will be updated as more questions are received.

The presentation slides (PDF, 977 KB) from DEC’s May 30 meeting to discuss Land Acquisition Projects for the Source Water Protection category have also been posted.

Great Lakes Nature Based Shoreline Projects

A fact sheet (PDF, 93 KB) on WQIP funding available for Great Lakes nature based shoreline projects has also been posted. These grants are for shoreline stabilization projects located along the open shorelines and embayments of Lake Erie, Lake Ontario (including the Niagara River), the St. Lawrence River and the Finger Lakes. Nature-based projects that repair damage from the recent floods are also eligible.

Final Water Withdrawal Guidance Posted

DEC has released guidance for incorporating flow-related water conditions when issuing water withdrawal permits. The guidance document, Technical and Operational Guidance Series (TOGS) 1.3.12 (PDF, 1 MB), outlines procedures that should be followed to ensure a proposed water withdrawal will not cause any significant adverse impacts to the quantity or quality of the waterbody and the aquatic life that live in the waterbody. TOGS 1.3.12 was developed cooperatively by DEC’s Divisions of Water and Fish and Wildlife.

Harmful Algal Bloom Notifications

New waterbodies with harmful algal blooms have been added today, June 9, to DEC’s Harmful Algal Blooms Notifications webpage.

This week, 7 waterbodies were added to the notification list. There are currently 15 waterbodies with blooms on the list.

Avoid and Report Suspected Blooms

Because waterbodies may have harmful algal blooms that have not been reported to DEC, we recommend avoiding contact with floating mats, scum and discolored water.

If you suspect you have seen a harmful algal bloom, or you, your family, or pet has been in contact with a harmful algal bloom, please follow the instructions for reporting a bloom to DEC. If you see it, avoid it and report it!