Hudson River Watershed Alliance’s 2022-2023 monthly breakfast lecture series focused on grant funding and technical assistance programs available to implement watershed projects. Each month featured presentations on a specific opportunity, along with a local implementation case study. Our 2022-2023 webinar series has concluded, but the Breakfast Lecture Series will return in the fall.
To find out about upcoming webinars directly, along with Hudson River Watershed Alliance’s other programs, sign up for our monthly Watershed Digest newsletter here. You can view recordings of past lectures on our YouTube channel here.
Technical Assistance Breakfast Lecture Recordings
Water Quality Improvement Program (WQIP)
June 8, 2023 | Recording
Protecting public drinking water supplies is a high priority for New York State, and one method communities can utilize is land acquisition. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) Program funds land acquisition for the protection of drinking water supplies.
In our June Breakfast Lecture, Kristin Martinez, Environmental Program Specialist, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation discussed the importance of source water protection, how land acquisition can aid with protecting public drinking water supplies, and the Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) Program, a state funding program that can help with land acquisition and associated costs.
Bob Davis, Executive Director of the Winnakee Land Trust presented on the organization’s acquisition of land surrounding the Saw Kill Creek to protect the drinking source water for Bard College. The Saw Kill Water Quality Protection Project also provides public access to the acquired land through a network of trails which are planned to connect to the Village of Red Hook and Bard College.
Learn more about the Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP):
– Learn more about WQIP
– Consolidated Funding Application
– MakingWaves e-newsletterfor program announcements
– View the WQIP Land Acquisition Toolkit
– Join the DWSP2 Newsletter for program Announcements
– Contact the WQIP Land Acquisition Team: WQIPsourcewater@dec.ny.gov
Learn more about the Winnakee Land Trust:
– Winnakee Land Trust website
– Forever Forests, Winnakee Land Trust
– Land for Clean Water, Winnakee Land Trust
– Saw Kill Trails, Winnakee Land Trust
This program is supported by funding from the Hudson River Estuary Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, with support from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund, in cooperation with NEIWPCC.
Drinking Water Source Protection Program (DWSP2)
May 11, 2023 | Recording
The May Breakfast Lecture focused on the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Drinking Water Source Protection Program (DWSP2) a locally led, state-supported program that empowers municipalities to take action to improve and protect their public water sources and surrounding environment. The program offers free technical assistance to develop and implement community-specific drinking water source protection plans. DWSP2 is designed to build off previous work, help align priorities, and fill gaps within a municipality’s current and future source water protection efforts.
Drinking Source Water Protection Program Resources (DWSP2):
– Drinking Source Water Protection Program Webpage
– Drinking Source Water Protection Program Newsletter
– Drinking Source Water Protection Program Interest Form
– Drinking Source Water Protection Program Application Form
Drinking Source Water Protection :
– New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Funding Finder
– New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Water Quality Improvement Program
– Join MakingWaves Newsletter for Program Announcements
– Join the Drinking Source Water Protection Program Newsletter for Program Announcements
– Join Hudson RiverNet Newsletter for Program Announcements
– Drinking Source Water Protection Interest Form
For more information about the program, contact: source.water@dec.ny.gov.
This program is supported by funding from the Hudson River Estuary Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, with support from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund, in cooperation with NEIWPCC.
Culvert Projects & Funding Sources
May 11, 2023 | Recording
Improper structures that carry roads over streams pose hazards and liabilities to both our transportation network and the ecological network of our area resulting in flooding, habitat fragmentation, erosion, and disruption of critical services and systems. Culvert rightsizing programs, which support planning and implementation efforts, are critical to improving stream connectivity and flood resilience across the Hudson River Watershed.
Our April month’s breakfast webinar explored the planning and implementation of culvert improvement projects, as well as funding opportunities. Ben Ganon, Ulster County Department of the Environment, shared projects to assess, plan, and design culvert replacements, including a new geospatial website to share their findings. Corbin Gosier, NYSDEC, escribed DEC’s Aquatic Connectivity Program including funding opportunities for culvert replacements through the Water Quality Improvement Program.
This program is supported by funding from the Hudson River Estuary Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, with support from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund, in cooperation with NEIWPCC.
Hudson Valley Greenway Grants Program
March 9, 2023 | Recording
Elizabeth Campochiaro, Trails and Community Outreach Director for the Hudson River Valley Greenway presented on the Hudson River Valley Greenway Grant program which provides funding to eligible communities to further a regional planning strategy consistent with the five Greenway criteria: regional planning, natural and cultural resource protection, economic development, public access, and heritage and environmental education. Elizabeth provided an overview of the program and information for potential applicants. Access Elizabeth’s presentation slides.
Robert Leslie, Director of Planning for the Town of Bethlehem, shared how the municipality used Greenway Grant funding to update their municipal comprehensive plan including incorporating suggestions for protecting local ecosystems, waterways, and wetlands. Bethlehem undertook their planning efforts over two years in partnership between community members, business leaders, and town staff with support from professional consultants, which was supported by a Hudson River Valley Greenway Grant.
Resources shared during the presentation:
– Hudson River Valley Greenway Grants and Funding Page
– Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area (NHA) Sponsorship Information
– Hudson River Valley Greenway and NHA Grants Platform Link
– Hudson River Greenway Water Trail Website
This program is supported by funding from the Hudson River Estuary Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, with support from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund, in cooperation with NEIWPCC.
Hudson Estuary Trees for Tributaries Program
February 9, 2023 | Recording
Beth Roessler from NYS Department of Environmental Conservation presented on the Hudson Estuary Trees for Tribs Program. This program provides free trees and shrubs and guidance for streamside planting projects. Plants are available for both public and privately-owned lands. Beth described the program’s history and provide recommendations for potential applicants.
Chet Kerr, Chair of the Greater Irvington Land Trust, and Sue Galloway of Dobbs Ferry share their experience working with the Hudson Estuary Trees for Tribs program to revegetate an area along the Saw Mill River in a newly formed park in the Village of Dobbs Ferry. They describe goals for planting this area and the collaboration between community volunteers and the Village of Dobbs Ferry, Groundwork Hudson Valley, and the Greater Irvington Land Trust to plan, prepare, plant and care for the new seedlings.
Resources shared during the presentation:
– DEC Urban and Community Forestry: Information, Technical Assistance and Grants
– General planting guidance: https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/lands_forests_pdf/tftplantmaint.pdf
– 2022 Climate Smart Communities Grant Program Request for Applications
– Climate Smart Communities program and actions
– Cayuga Creek Stream and Floodplain Restoration Project
This program is supported by funding from the Hudson River Estuary Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, with support from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund, in cooperation with NEIWPCC.
Dam Removal Case Studies
December 8, 2022 | Recording
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) Hudson River Estuary Program provides grant funding to dam owners that are interested in removing their dam. Dam removal is a river restoration strategy that can reconnect stream habitat, improve water quality, and reduce flooding hazards. This can be an expensive and complex process that involves close collaboration with NYS DEC regulatory staff.
Megan Lung from the NYS DEC Hudson River Estuary Program provided an overview of funding opportunities for dam removal. This list of potential funding for dam removal projects was compiled by the DEC’s Dam Removal Working Group. The Funding Finder, a new tool developed by NYSDEC in conjunction with the Long Island Sound Study, also enables grant seekers to filter grant opportunities based on criteria that meets their specific needs.
Michael Fraatz, Biologist from NYS DEC Bureau of Ecosystem Health, discussed the 2021 removal of a historic dam within the Moodna Creek in the Village of Washingtonville, NY. He reviewed the work plan between the applicant and agency staff, compliance monitoring during removal, and restoration of impacted areas post-construction.
Suzette Lopane, Landscape Architect from Westchester County, shared information on their work removing barriers on the Furnace Brook in Westchester County. The Maiden Lane Dam is no longer compliant with the latest standards for dam safety. Defunct small dams such as this one are at risk of breaching due to deterioration with age, especially since significant development within watersheds has increased impervious surface area resulting in increased surface runoff, stormwater channeling and discharge during large precipitation events.
This program is supported by funding from the Hudson River Estuary Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, with support from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund, in cooperation with NEIWPCC.
NYS EFC Green Innovation Grant Program & City of Poughkeepsie Projects
Thursday, November 10, 2022 | Recording
Brian Gyory from NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation presented on the Green Innovation Grant Program. The Green Innovation Grant Program supports projects across New York State that utilize unique EPA-designated green stormwater infrastructure design and create cutting-edge green technologies. Competitive grants are awarded annually to projects that improve water quality and 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.
Joe Bryant from the City of Poughkeepsie’s Finance Department shared details about two GIGP-funded stormwater projects. These include retrofitting a downtown municipal parking lot and installing rain gardens, bioretention, and trees in Malcolm X Park to provide green space in the city’s Northside neighborhood along the Fall Kill Creek.
This program is supported by funding from the Hudson River Estuary Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, with support from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund, in cooperation with NEIWPCC.
NYS DEC Climate Smart Communities Grants & Cayuga Creek Floodplain Restoration
Thursday, October 13, 2022 | Recording
Myra Fedyniak from NYS Department of Environmental Conservation’s Office of Climate Change presented on Climate Smart Communities Grants. The Climate Smart Communities Grant Program is a competitive 50/50 matching grant program for municipalities to implement projects focused on climate change adaptation and greenhouse gas mitigation. Project types also include certain planning and assessment projects that are part of a strategy to achieve Climate Smart Communities Certification.
Emily Root from Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper shared their work with the Town of Niagara to restore and reconnect the floodplain of the Cayuga Creek, with funding in part from the Climate Smart Communities Grant program. This project restores habitat, mitigates downstream flooding, and improves community access.
Resources shared during the presentation:
– Climate Smart Communities Grant Program
– Climate Smart Communities Grants Fact Sheet
– 2022 Climate Smart Communities Grant Program Request for Applications
– Climate Smart Communities program and actions
– Cayuga Creek Stream and Floodplain Restoration Project
This program is supported by funding from the Hudson River Estuary Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, with support from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund, in cooperation with NEIWPCC.
NYS DEC Environmental Justice Community Impact Grants & Oakdale Lake Water Assessment Project
Thursday, September 8, 2022 | Recording
Dana McClure from NYS Department of Environmental Conservation’s Office of Environmental Justice presented on Environmental Justice Community Impact Grants. The Office of Environmental Justice offers competitive grants to support and empower communities as they develop and implement solutions that significantly address environmental issues, harms, and health hazards, build community consensus, set priorities, and improve public outreach and education.
Tamar Adler from Friends of Oakdale Lake also shared their experience receiving this grant to develop a comprehensive watershed assessment for Oakdale Lake in downtown Hudson, NY. The watershed assessment included water quality monitoring, modeling, and recommendations to improve the lake, which includes a public bathing beach.
Resources shared during the presentation:
– The Request for Applications from the 2021 round of the Environmental Justice Community Impact Grants, which describes eligibility and other details
– The NYS Open Data website lists the Office of Environmental Justice’s past grant awards, since 2006
– A map of DEC’s Potential Environmental Justice Areas
– The DECInfo Locator Map also shows Potential Environmental Justice Areas and locations of past grant awards. Click on Public Involvement on the left side, click the box for Potential Environmental Justice Areas, and zoom in. If you’d like to see grant awards, select the box for OEJ Grants.
– Friends of Oakdale Lake website
– PDF of the Oakdale Lake watershed assessment final report
This webinar series is supported by funding from the Hudson River Estuary Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, with support from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund, in cooperation with NEIWPCC.