DEC Announces $600,000 Now Available to Support Hudson River Estuary Community Resiliency Projects

 

Funding Complements Governor Hochul’s Commitment to Address and Prevent Damage Caused by Major Flooding Events

Supports Community Waterfront Resiliency Engineering Design and Tributary Restoration for Culverts and Road-Stream Crossings

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos announced today that approximately $600,000 is now available to help communities in the Hudson River Estuary watershed increase shoreline resiliency, conserve natural resources, and reduce localized flooding. Funding for these projects is administered by NEWIPCC in partnership with DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Program through two Requests for Proposals.

 

“New York is bolstering sustained efforts to help flood-risk communities adapt to climate change-driven extreme weather while protecting the State’s natural resources,” Commissioner Seggos said. “The $600,000 announced today to support efforts in Hudson River Estuary communities will advance the implementation of projects that will improve waterfront and tributary resilience in the watershed for years to come.”

 

Susan Sullivan, NEIWPCC Executive Director said, “NEIWPCC is pleased to help Hudson River communities reduce localized flooding and protect against sea-level rise. These two RFPs will help restore habitat, improve infrastructure, and implement waterfront resiliency projects.”

 

Two Requests for Proposals (RFPs) are available:

 

Community Waterfront Resiliency Engineering Design

Approximately $400,000 is available for qualified consultants to partner with eligible municipalities to use existing community supported, preliminary shoreline resiliency designs to prepare “shovel ready” plans and permitting materials. The design must be technically feasible and appropriate for the location, supported by the community, cost-effective, and permittable. Eligible projects will build on existing conceptual waterfront plans developed with inclusive outreach efforts. The Community Waterfront Design and Permitting RFP and application is available on NEIWPCC’s website. The deadline for proposals is April 12 at 12 p.m.

Since 2020, DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Program and NEIWPCC have awarded $500,000 to advance resilient waterfront conceptual designs to implementable preliminary projects in four communities: the village of Piermont; city of Kingston; city of Hudson; and the town and village of Ossining. The waterfront project designs were developed through an engaged stakeholder process and considered technical, regulatory, and funding feasibility. The designs also enhanced habitat value while reducing the impacts of shoreline and stormwater flooding.

 

Tributary Restoration for Culverts and Road-Stream Crossings

Approximately $200,000 is available for projects that will help communities restore aquatic organism passage and habitat connectivity, reduce localized flood risks, and improve water quality in and along Hudson River Estuary tributaries. The road-stream crossing must be at a location that is a barrier to habitat for river herring or American eel. This RFP includes two project types: Final Engineering Design Plans to Replace or Retrofit a Road-Stream Crossing; and Road-Stream Crossing Replacement and Retrofit Projects. The Tributary Restoration for Culverts and Road-Stream Crossings RFP and application is available on NEIWPCC’s website. The deadline for proposals is April 12 at 12 p.m.

 

Since 2015, DEC has awarded nearly $860,000 in competitive grant funding for municipal and county culvert assessments, prioritization, and management plans in Columbia, Greene, Dutchess, Ulster, Orange, Rockland, and Westchester counties. Nearly $814,000 was awarded for culvert replacement projects in New Paltz, Esopus, Red Hook, and Milan. The Community Waterfront Resiliency Engineering Design and Tributary Restoration for Culverts and Road-Stream Crossings RFPs and application materials are available on NEIWPCC’s website.  

Funding for these projects is provided by the State's Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). The initiatives are among Governor Kathy Hochul’s ongoing commitment to helping communities become more resilient. This includes 2024-25 Executive Budget proposals for investments to mitigate damage from major flooding events: $250 million from the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022 to promote voluntary home buyouts in communities most vulnerable to flooding; $130 million for Green Resiliency Grants to support flood control infrastructure projects; and $40 million to launch the Resilient and Ready program, which will support low- and moderate-income homeowners with resiliency improvements and assist with repairs in the event of a catastrophic event.

 

The Hudson River Estuary Program helps people enjoy, protect, and revitalize the Hudson River and its valley. Created in 1987, the DEC program focuses on the tidal Hudson and its adjacent watershed from the dam at Troy to the Verrazano Narrows in New York City.