Drinking Water Source Protection Program (DWSP2) Funding Newsletter
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation sent this bulletin on 05/22/2023 01:11 PM EDT |
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Photo Credit: Grant Jiang
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Grant Opportunities Now Available! The Drinking Water Source Protection Program (DWSP2) understands how important it is to access and utilize grant funding to implement source water protection actions at the local level. This month’s newsletter highlights the funding opportunities available through the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA). Several of these funding opportunities may be helpful to your community as you work to protect your source of drinking water! The CFA is accepting grant applications now until 4:00 PM on July 28, 2023, for many funding programs. The State’s largest funding opportunity collects multiple grant programs under the umbrella of a single application. 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 applying. Tips on Navigating Grant FundingLearning how to be successful at securing and managing grants is critical in today’s world. Check out NYSDEC Division of Water’s webinar, Navigating Grant Funding: Municipal Success Stories to learn strategies and methods from your peers on accessing grant funding. Each presenter either works directly for a municipality or partners with municipalities to support them in applying and managing grant funds. They provided examples on how grant funding helped solve problems in their community and reduce costs. Consolidated Funding Application Grants Certain programs (e.g., WQIP, Non-Agricultural Non-point Source Planning and MS4 Mapping Grant) offer higher points for communities who are working within the critical and/or source water area of their accepted DWSP2 Plan. 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 directly improve water quality or aquatic habitat, promote flood risk reduction, restoration, and enhanced flood and climate resiliency, or protect a drinking water source. There are eight eligible project types in Round 19 with maximum award amounts ranging from $100,000 to $10,000,000. Learn more about each project type and apply via the links below! Eligible project types:
For full program details and requirements, or to be made aware of webinars on this funding program visit the WQIP Webpage. Land Acquisition for Source Water ProtectionWQIP Land Acquisition for Source Water Protection (PDF) 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 51 projects totaling over $65 million to protect source water across the state.
Upcoming Webinar on Land Acquisition Funding for Source Water Protection Join NYS Department of Environmental Conservation for an information session to learn more about the WQIP Program - Land Acquisition for Source Water Protection (PDF) including an overview of projects that have been awarded in the past.
Wednesday, June 14th at 10:00 AM. Register Now. Success Story: City of Watervliet Land Acquisition Project The City of Watervliet was awarded a $480,000 WQIP Land Acquisition grant to acquire a 58-acre parcel of land adjacent to their drinking water source, the Watervliet Reservoir. Acquiring this parcel will protect the reservoir from potential pollution associated with development or certain land use activities. The land will remain as undeveloped forest, acting as a natural riparian buffer for the City's drinking water source in perpetuity.
Other communities looking to protect their sources of public drinking water can complete a DWSP2 interest form and follow in the footsteps of Watervliet. DWSP2 provides your community an actionable plan to protect your drinking water source(s) which includes a step-by-step process to implement your selected methods using available funding sources, like those provided in this newsletter.
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. Local Waterfront Revitalization Program The Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP) 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 several grant categories. Approximately $16.3 million is available for LWRP grants. For full program details and requirements, review the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program Request for Applicants (PDF). Climate Smart Communities Grant Program The Climate Smart Communities (CSC) grant program provides funding for municipalities to address greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation and climate change adaptation at the local level. A total of $8 million is available through this request for applications (RFA). 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. Wastewater Infrastructure Engineering Planning Grant 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. 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, water efficiency, and environmental innovation. 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. New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee 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. 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 & Market’s Source Water Buffer Program webpage. New Hudson River Estuary Source Water Protection Funding The Hudson River Estuary Program announced Local Stewardship Planning (Round 40) on May 10th. This funding now includes new Source Water Protection Eligible Project Type. Maximum award of $75,000 with a local match of 15% to implement a restoration or source water protection strategy. The deadline for all applications is July 12, 2023, at 3 p.m. Are you looking for other funding sources? Our new tool can help you! NYSDEC’s Funding Finder is designed to simplify the process of finding grant opportunities. The tool enables grant seekers to filter grant opportunities based on criteria (e.g., eligible applicants, project type, project phase, etc.) that meets their specific needs. Another great way to stay up to date is to sign up for newsletters that often include these grant program announcements such as MakingWaves and the DWSP2 Newsletter. Share Your ThoughtsHave 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! Sign UpTo sign-up for the DWSP2 newsletter, visit the DWSP2 webpage. Newsletter ArchiveMissed last month's edition? Visit the DWSP2 Newsletter Archive to stay up to date.
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Watervliet Reservoir Dam Photo Credit: Capital District Regional Planning Council
Buffer planting Photo Credit: New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets
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