MakingWaves - News From the Division of Water

In This Issue:

• Reminder: Consolidated Funding Application Open
• Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Funding
• Reminder: CWSRF and DWSRF Webinar
• Harmful Algal Bloom Notifications
• How to Identify a Harmful Algal Bloom
• World Oceans Day

Reminder: Consolidated Funding Application Open

Round XI of the Regional Economic Development Council initiative was launched May 10. The 2021 funding round includes more than $750 million in state economic development resources. Over 30 programs are available through nine state agencies. The Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) will be open until 4:00 PM on July 30, 2021.

DEC's Division of Water has two grant programs available in the CFA:

• Water Quality Improvement Projects (WQIP): WQIP funds implement projects to address documented water quality impairments or protect a drinking water source. Eligible project types include wastewater treatment improvement, non-agricultural nonpoint source abatement and control, land acquisition for source water protection, salt storage, aquatic connectivity restoration, and marine district habitat restoration. For full program details and requirements, including maximum award amounts, required match, and project type descriptions, view DEC's WQIP webpage.
• Non-Agricultural Nonpoint Source Planning and MS4 Mapping Grant (NPG): NPG funds production of planning reports for nonpoint source water quality improvement projects and mapping of Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4). For full program details and requirements, including eligible grant categories, view DEC's NPG webpage.

Other water-related grant opportunities available through the CFA include: 

• Climate Smart Communities Grant Program (DEC)
• Engineering Planning Grant Program (Environmental Facilities Corporation - EFC in conjunction with DEC)
• Green Innovation Grant Program (EFC)

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Funding 

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced it will be offering $9 million in grants for approximately 24 projects to address stormwater runoff. These projects will also support innovative efforts to reduce nutrients from agricultural runoff in the Great Lakes basin. EPA will post a Request for Applications (RFA) to its RFA webpage. Once the RFA is open, applicants will have approximately 60 days to submit their applications on Grants.gov. The funding is made available through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

Reminder: CWSRF and DWSRF Webinar

The NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) and the NYS Department of Health (DOH) are hosting a webinar to present an overview of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) programs and provide an opportunity to answer participant questions. The webinar will be held Wednesday, June 16 at 2:00 p.m. 

The submission deadline for listing new projects and updates to existing projects for the 2022 Intended Use Plan (IUP) is Friday, July 16, 2021. The webinar will address questions related to the project listing and updating process. Attendance is strongly encouraged. Details and registration information is available on EFC's website.  

Harmful Algal Bloom Notifications

DEC’s harmful algal bloom (HABs) notification season has begun. HABs notifications will be updated through the fall using an online reporting and notification system dubbed NYHABS. The system includes an interactive map that shows reports of freshwater HABs, as well as a public reporting system. Instructions on how to use NYHABS are on DEC's HABs notification page.

Know it:  If you see a HAB, please use the reporting form to submit a report to NYHABS.

Avoid it:  Because waterbodies may have HABs that have not been reported to DEC, we recommend avoiding contact with floating mats, scums and discolored water.

Report it: If you, your family, or pet have been in contact with a HAB, please rinse with clean water and report any symptoms to your local health department. 

How to Identify a Harmful Algal Bloom

Harmful algal blooms can look like: 

• white, blue or green spilled paint
• green streaks on the surface of the water
• green dots in the water or green globs on the surface of the water
• pea soup

To learn more about what HABs look like:

• Visit DEC's photo gallery of harmful algal blooms 
• View DEC's Youtube video about tips and tricks for HABS identification (about seven minutes)
• View HealthVermont's Youtube video on how to identify cyanobacteria - the bacteria that make algal blooms harmful (about two minutes).

World Oceans Day

Celebrate World Oceans Day on June 8. The theme for 2021 is "The Ocean: Life and Livelihoods”. Learn more about New York State's ocean and estuary programs on DEC's website.