Grants Program And Funding Opportunities For The Hudson River Estuary

Since 1999, DEC's Hudson River Estuary Program has offered grants to municipalities and non-profits located within the Estuary Watershed Boundaries (PDF) to help communities improve water quality, adapt to climate change, enhance environmental education, and advance stewardship of habitat and natural resources. This funding helps partners implement priorities outlines in the  Hudson River Estuary Grants Program implements priorities outlined in the Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda 2026-2030. To date, the program has awarded 680 grants totaling more than $31.7 million with funding from New York State's Environmental Protection Fund (EPF).

Eligibility and Application Process

All New York State (NYS) grant applicants - both governmental and 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organizations - must be registered in the NYS Grants Management system to be eligible to apply for any NYS grant opportunity. Not-for-profit organizations must prequalify. Registration and prequalification information, forms, online guidance, documentation, and grant opportunities are available online at the State Financial System (SFS) New York Grants Management website.

On-Demand Training is available in SFS Coach​, and this SFS training presentation (PDF) contains links to relevant training materials and videos. SFS questions may be directed to [email protected]​ or 518-457-7737 or 877-737-4185 (toll-free)​

Eligible applicants include Governmental Entities, Municipalities, and Quasi-Governmental Entities, including but not limited to Counties, Cities, Towns, Villages, or Indian nation or tribe recognized by the state or the United States with a reservation wholly or partly within the boundaries of New York State, or any combination thereof, Public Benefit Corporations, Public Authorities, Municipal Corporations, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, School Districts, and Community Colleges, and not-for-profit corporations with a 501(c)(3) designation.

Estuary Watershed Boundaries

Projects eligible for funding must be located within the Estuary Watershed Boundaries (PDF). To find out if a potential project is located within these boundaries, please type the location of the project into the Hudson River Estuary Grant Program Interactive Boundary Map. The Hudson River Estuary Grant Program Boundaries are also available on the interactive Hudson Valley Natural Resource Mapper.

Other Hudson River Estuary Funding Opportunities 

Small Grants for Watershed Education and Stewardship

The Hudson River Estuary Program in cooperation with NEIWPCC invites proposals  for education and stewardship projects within the estuary watershed boundaries that will directly support the Clean Hudson River Water and Healthy Tributaries goals of the 2026-2030 Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda. Grants of up to $10,000 are available to support community-led projects to engage the public and stakeholders through outreach, education, and stewardship focused on Hudson River Estuary tributary and watershed conservation, restoration, flood resilience, drinking water protection, and best management practices. Projects should implement strategies and actions outlined in the Action Agenda and build support for watershed stewardship, management, and actions that will benefit the Hudson River Estuary. Proposals are due by 4 p.m. on Friday, December 4, 2026. For more information, the Request for Applications is available on the NEIWPCC Funding Opportunities webpage.

Grants to Replant Hudson Valley Streams

The Hudson River Estuary Program in cooperation with the New York State Water Resources Institute at Cornell University invites bids to coordinate with the Hudson Estuary Trees for Tribs (HETFT) program to deliver the following tasks in 2027:

• Complete on-the-ground riparian plantings with HETFT
• Deliver complete applications for HETFT for plantings in 2028
• Complete a Municipal or Watershed-based Riparian Assessment
• Create and deliver outreach and education on the importance of riparian protection and restoration

Applicants must be located and work within the Hudson River Estuary Program boundary. Proposals are due by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 25, 2026.

For more information, see the Request for Proposal for Riparian Planning and Restoration Planting.

Hudson River Estuary Recorded Grant Webinars

Grant webinars showcase examples of recently completed projects funded by the Hudson River Estuary Program. In these case studies, grantees share successes from their work, lessons learned, and tips for designing an effective project. 

Grants Program Reporting

Reporting is required on a quarterly basis for all Hudson River Estuary Program grants. Quarters are based on the New York State fiscal year, deadlines as follows: July 30 (for April 1 - June 30); October 30 (for July 1 - September 30); January 30 (for October 1 - December 31); April 30 (for January 1 - March 31). Quarterly reports consist of a technical narrative (progress report), and an invoice (financial report). Reports must be submitted electronically to Susan Pepe. Guidelines and associated forms are as follows:

Grants Program History

Grants for Local Partners

Recent Past Recipients and Their Projects

• 2021 - 2025 (PDF)
• 2015-2020 (PDF)