Drinking Water Source Protection Program (DWSP2) - May Newsletter

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
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Drinking Water Source Protection Program - May Newsletter

This issue's topics:

  • Grant Opportunities Now Available!
    • Consolidated Funding Application Grants 
      • Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) Program
      • Non-Agricultural Nonpoint Source Planning and MS4 Mapping Grant Program
      • Local Waterfront Revitalization Program
      • Climate Smart Communities Grant Program
      • Engineering Planning Grant Program
      • Green Innovation Grant Program
  • New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee
    • Source Water Buffer Program
  • Other Grant Programs

Grant Opportunities Now Available!

Great news, there is an incredible amount of funding available now! This newsletter explores the funding opportunities currently available for your community to protect their source of drinking water!

The Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) is now accepting grant applications until 4:00 PM on July 29, 2022, for many funding programsThe State’s largest funding opportunity collects multiple grant programs under the umbrella of a single application. 

The following grant programs, available through the CFA, offer funding that may provide just what you need to protect your source of drinking water. The grants are available for municipalities, not-for-profits, or other qualified groups to improve water quality and the environment. 
 
As a friendly reminder, please review the grant announcement and all associated materials thoroughly before submitting an application.
 

Consolidated Funding Application Grants

This year certain programs (e.g. WQIP Land Acquisition, Non-Agricultural Non-point Source Planning and MS4 Mapping Grant) are now offering higher points for communities who are working within the critical and/or source water area of their accepted DWSP2 Plan. Take a look at the project type scoring rubric to see if an accepted DWSP2 plan could get your community more points!


Water Quality Improvement Project Program

The Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) grant program funds projects to address documented water quality impairments or protect a drinking water source. There are six eligible project types this Round ranging from a maximum award of $250,000 to $10,000,000. Click the project type below to learn more and apply!
 
Eligible project types include:
For full program details and requirements, including project type descriptions, view DEC's WQIP webpage.
LEARN MORE »

Land Acquisition for Source Water Protection

WQIP Land Acquisition for Source Water Protection focuses on acquiring and protecting lands that are critical to safeguard a source of drinking water. The grant provides money to purchase parcels and/or conservation easements, including associated transactional costs, for land that is near an active public drinking water supply. To date, WQIP Land Acquisition for Source Water Protection grants have funded 47 projects totaling over $60 million to protect source water across the state. 
  • Maximum grant amount: $5,000,000
  • Required local match: 25% of requested grant amount
  • Advance payment: Awardees may request advance payment of transactional and purchase costs
  • Eligible project costs include: buying land or development rights; transactional costs such as surveys, appraisals, transfer taxes, and title reports; and riparian buffer or wetland restoration costs

To learn more about this project type, join NYS Department of Environmental Conservation during our information session on Tuesday, May 31st at 1:00 PM

REGISTER NOW »

           Save the Date for WQIP Land Acquisition Information Session on May 31st at 1:00 PM


 Non-Agricultural Nonpoint Source Planning and MS4 Mapping Grant Program

The Non-Agricultural Nonpoint Source Planning and MS4 Mapping Grant (NPG) funds 
planning reports for nonpoint source water quality improvement projects and mapping of Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s). The program aims to prepare nonpoint source projects for construction and application for implementation funding, and to encourage and support cooperation among regulated MS4s to complete mapping of their stormwater system.
 
For full program details and requirements, including project type descriptions, view DEC's Non-Agricultural Nonpoint Source webpage
LEARN MORE »

Local Waterfront Revitalization Program

The Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP), at its core, provides for more accessible, sustainable and resilient waterfront communities. LWRP funds municipalities to advance the preparation or implementation of strategies for community and waterfront revitalization through a number of grant categories. Approximately $16.3 million is available for LWRP grants. 
For full program details and requirements, review the 2022-2023 Local Waterfront Revitalization Program Request for Applicants. 
LEARN MORE »

Climate Smart Communities Grant Program

The Climate Smart Communities (CSC) Grant program was established to provide grants to cities, towns, villages, and counties of the State of New York and boroughs of New York City for eligible climate change mitigation, adaptation, and planning and assessment projects. Funds are available for two broad project categories, implementation and certification. Implementation projects have a maximum award of $2 million and Certification projects have a maximum award of $200,000 and both have a required match of 50% of total eligible project costs. Eligible applicants are municipalities.
 
For information on what projects qualify as Implementation or Certification, visit DEC’s Climate Smart Communities Grant Program webpage
LEARN MORE »

Engineering Planning Grant Program

The New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC), in conjunction with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), is offering grants to municipalities to help pay for the initial planning of eligible Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) water quality projects. Up to $3 million has been made available for this round of the Wastewater Infrastructure Engineering Planning Grant (EPG) program. There is a maximum award of $100,000 for projects with a required match of 20% of the requested grant amount. Eligible applicants are municipalities that meet certain median household income criteria.
 
For full program details and requirements, view EFC’s Engineering Planning Grant Program webpage
LEARN MORE »

Green Innovation Grant Program

The Green Innovation Grant Program (GIGP) supports projects across New York State that utilize unique stormwater infrastructure design and create cutting-edge green technologies to mitigate the effects of climate change through the implementation of one or more of the following green practices: Green Stormwater Infrastructure, Energy Efficiency, and Water Efficiency. The GIGP will provide up to $15 million in grant on a competitive basis to projects. Eligible applicants are Municipalities, Private Entities, State Agencies, and Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
 
For full program details and requirements, view EFC’s Green Innovation Grant Program webpage. 
LEARN MORE »

Don't Forget!

The Drinking Water Source Protection Program (DWSP2) Framework includes information on over 20 funding sources that can be utilized to aid with the implementation of your DWSP2 plan. 

New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee Funding

Source Water Buffer Program

The goal of the Source Water Buffer Program is to protect public drinking water and to enhance water quality protection. The Program funds the purchase of conservation easements and the implementation of buffer systems, which filter surface runoff or shallow groundwater to protect the water quality of New York State's aquifers, watersheds, reservoirs, lakes, rivers, and streams. Two awards have been made, but over $4 million is available for conservation projects with a required match of 25% of total eligible costs. Eligible applicants are Soil and Water Conservation Districts. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and are funded on a first come, first-served basis.  
 
For more information and requirements, visit Ag & Markets Source Water Buffer Program webpage.
LEARN MORE »

Other Grant Programs 

Where can I find open grant programs?

The DWSP2 Framework includes several funding sources to aid with source water protection efforts. Below is a list of the funding sources included in the Framework that are currently accepting applications:
In addition to the Framework, the webpages below are a great resource for you and your community to find available grant programs to protect your drinking water. We encourage you to periodically check these webpages and take advantage of any available funding. 
Another great way to stay up to date is to sign up for newsletters that often include these grant announcements such as MakingWaves and the DWSP2 Newsletter 

Share Your Thoughts

Have you begun this process? Or, do you have a program or are aware of a program relevant to source water? Send in any helpful hints or information at source.water@dec.ny.gov and we may highlight them!


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To sign-up for the DWSP2 newsletter, visit the DWSP2 webpage or click here


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