Statewide - Eligibility Guidelines for Coastal Rehabilitation and Resilience Projects Program Supported through the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022
Public Notice
Eligibility Guidelines for Coastal Rehabilitation and Resilience Projects Program Supported through the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022
The New York State Department of State (NYS DOS) will provide Bond Act funding from the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022 (Bond Act) to implement coastal rehabilitation and resilience projects within the New York State Coastal area and the Coastal Nonpoint Source boundary. Priority will be given to projects that support or are inspired by nature or natural processes and also offer environmental, economic, and social benefits while increasing resilience. Resilience projects can include goals such as habitat/restoration resilience, climate resilience/risk reduction, as well as direct stormwater management which includes both green and natural infrastructure.
Additional consideration will be given to applications submitted by cooperating applicants addressing issues in multiple jurisdictions and projects demonstrating a direct benefit to disadvantaged communities identified by the State’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (https://climate.ny.gov/Resources/Disadvantaged-Communities-Criteria). Priority will be given to projects that consider the NYS DOS Resiliency Principles: (https://dos.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2021/08/resilienceprinciples_…) when developing projects.
Eligible Applicants
Municipalities, not-for-profits, Indian Nations or tribe recognized by New York State or the United States, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and New York State entities.
Eligible Regions
Eligible projects will be located within the New York State Coastal area, areas draining to the New York State Coastal area, and/or are located within the Coastal Nonpoint Source boundary.
Eligible Projects
Implementation may include design/construction and construction. All projects must identify the current legal owner(s) for all properties where improvements will be implemented. Projects must be performed on public property, or where a permanent public interest such as an easement (e.g., public access, conservation) has been established. Eligibility includes:
Projects identified in state, regional, or local management plans/programs including, but not limited to:
NYS Ocean Action Plan, NYS Coastal Management Plan, Coastal Lakeshore Economy and Resiliency (CLEAR), Local Waterfront Revitalization Program and Component Plans (LWRP), Great Lakes Action Agenda, Mohawk River Basin Action Agenda, Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda, Finger Lakes Action Agenda, Long Island Sound Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, South Shore Estuary Reserve Comprehensive Management Plan, Peconic Estuary Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, Delaware Action Plan, Susquehanna Action Plan, forest management framework for New York City and New York/New Jersey Harbor Estuary Plan, and Resilient NY Plans.
Projects with a completed feasibility study/plan to assess project need and complete initial project planning or projects identified in a Resilient NY Study (or equivalent), Flood Mitigation Study, Local Flood Analysis Report, Stream Management Plan, County All Hazard Mitigation Plan, United States Army Corps of Engineers Flood Risk Reduction or Coastal Storm Risk Management Study, or other comparable study.
Applicants may apply for implementation funding for activities including but not limited to the following. (Note that the project examples included/proposed projects may fall into more than one project category):
- Habitat/Ecosystem Resiliency and Restoration:
- Salt marsh restoration;
- Sea grass restoration;
- Shellfish restoration;
- Stream restoration;
- Wetland restoration and expansion;
- Beach and dune restoration and expansion;
- Wildlife barrier projects;
- Fish ladders; and
- Dam removal.
- Climate Resiliency and Risk Reduction
o Natural and nature-based elements alone or in combination with minimized structural elements (e.g., living shorelines, horizontal levees, etc.);
o Culvert rightsizing with natural stream bottoms;
o Floodplain reconnection;
o Bluff grading with vegetative stabilization;
o Vegetative buffers between land use and natural features;
o Projects to make public facilities, including parks, boardwalks, trails, blue-way trails, fishing piers, picnicking sites and benches, elevated viewing platforms, etc. more resilient to potential severe weather and flooding impacts including water quality improvements;
o Measures such as moving structures away from the shoreline to reduce their risk from flooding and erosion, reducing or adjusting the structure footprint, and elevating structures; and
o Structural measures for the purposes of protecting at-risk public infrastructure, where relocation is not feasible and where the cost-benefit analysis demonstrates public benefits clearly outweigh the long-term adverse effects to the natural systems and environment (e.g., adaptive event spaces, recreational facilities, educational kiosks, green parking, kayak launches, temporary or seasonal commerce and concessions, etc.). - Stormwater Management
- Projects to reduce localized flooding and/or provide resiliency to impacts from increased precipitation and increased flooding due to climate change;
- Green infrastructure; and
- Stormwater retrofit projects.
The Bond Act requires that disadvantaged communities shall receive no less than 35 percent, with the goal of 40 percent, of the benefit of total Bond Act funds ($4.2 billion). The term disadvantaged communities shall mean the same definition approved by the Climate Justice Working Group under the State’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (https://climate.ny.gov/Resources/Disadvantaged-Communities-Criteria). DOS has established a 40 percent goal consistent with this requirement and will aim to ensure 40 percent of Coastal Rehabilitation and Resilience projects supported through the Bond Act benefit disadvantaged communities.
Public comments on the guidelines are to be submitted in writing to the contact listed below and will be accepted until Friday, August 2, 2024, at 5:00 p.m.
Alicia Candlen
NYS DOS - Office of Planning, Development and Community Infrastructure
One Commerce Plaza
99 Washington Avenue, Suite 1010
Albany, NY 12231
