$1 Million in New Funding Available for River Access and Local Stewardship Planning
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced more than $2.7 million in grants and new funding opportunities to help communities in the Hudson River Estuary watershed improve water quality, restore habitat, enhance environmental education, and advance stewardship of natural resources. More than $1.77 million will support 21 projects from the Capital Region to New York City. Additionally, DEC is now accepting applications for $1 million in new funding available for communities to support local stewardship planning and river education in the watershed.
Department of Environmental Conservation Acting Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, "New York State's leading support for environmental protection, resiliency, and sustainability is evidenced by the record investments being made in initiatives like the $1 billion Sustainable Future Fund, Environmental Protection Fund, and historic $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act. The grants announced today will help communities develop plans to both protect residents and natural resources and support projects that promote local stewardship and education – vital components to ensuring the future environmental health of the entire Hudson River valley."
The grants and new funding opportunities complement Governor Kathy Hochul's comprehensive plan to help communities mitigate the impacts of climate change and protect natural resources by investing in resilience, including the recently announced historic $1 billion Sustainable Future Program that will deliver targeted funding to lower emissions, reduce household energy costs, and spur green job growth across the state.
In addition, the recently enacted FY 2025-26 State Budget includes $108 million for climate resiliency initiatives that support coastal resiliency, additional funding for Green Resiliency Grants, and an increase of the Environmental Protection Fund to a record $425 million to support measures to adapt and mitigate climate impacts. Progress also continues in administering the $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act, which has allocated approximately $1.25 billion, or 25 percent, of Bond Act funds to date.
DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Program grants helps fund projects that support priorities listed in the Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda. Projects eligible for State assistance must be located within the geographic boundaries of the Hudson River Estuary watershed. The recipient must provide a match of at least 15 percent of the grant funding amount.
Grant recipients listed by region include:
Capital Region
Village of Athens: $24,400 for the “Habitat Mapping Project” to identify, map, and describe ecologically significant habitats throughout the village;
Riverkeeper, Inc.: $288,000 for the “Undamming Claverack Creek: Engineering Planning and Design for Van de Carrs Dam Removal” project to produce engineering design plans and permit applications for removing the partially collapsed Van de Carrs Dam on Claverack Creek in the Town of Stockport;
Town of Stuyvesant: $37,371 for a “Natural Resources Inventory” to complete a comprehensive, accessible information resource on the locations and significance of the town's natural and cultural resources;
Trout Unlimited, Inc.: $279,682 for two projects to support the “Poesten Kill Reconnection:” the “Sweetmilk Creek Road Culvert Replacement Project” to replace an undersized culvert barrier on Sweetmilk Creek in the Town of Brunswick, and the “Quacken Kill Reservoir Dam Removal Feasibility/Conceptual Planning Project” to expand on existing sediment sampling work for potentially removing the 200-ft Quacken Kill Reservoir Dam in the Town of Brunswick.
Mid-Hudson Valley
Clarkson University: $75,000 for a “Fishkill Creek Watershed Characterization” project to produce a watershed characterization for Fishkill Creek that helps support long-term watershed planning and stewardship.
Village of Cold Spring: $75,000 for the “Climate Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Plan” to examine flooding issues and develop adaptation strategies that emphasize nature-based approaches.
Hudson River Maritime Museum: $20,674 for the “Hudson River Stewards - Water Story” project to create new content for its Hudson River Stewards school program, combining academic learning modules, on-site discovery modules, and experiential modules aboard the museum's solar vessel "Solaris."
Hudson Valley Stream Conservancy: $74,970 for a “Louis Engel Beach Water Quality” project to identify sources of sewage-borne fecal indicating bacteria at the Town of Ossining's Louis Engel Waterfront Park beach.
Town of Lloyd: $75,000 for a “Black Creek Watershed Characterization” to complete a watershed characterization and water quality sampling for Black Creek.
Mohonk Preserve: $87,418 for the “Hudson River Watershed Education” project to expand watershed-based educational programming in partnership with area schools and Hudson River Sloop Clearwater.
Town of Olive: $52,184 for an “Open Space Index and Plan” to produce a comprehensive Open Space Index and Plan to guide land-use decisions.
City of Peekskill: $38,746 for a “Source Water Quality and Resilience” project to complete water quality classification for source water in the Peekskill Hollow Creek watershed.
Town of Red Hook: $63,820 for a “Natural Resources Inventory” to conduct a comprehensive inventory of natural resources with GIS mapping, analysis, and recommendations for critical habitats.
Riverkeeper, Inc.: $75,000 for a “Drinking Water Source Protection Monitoring” project to monitor water quality in the Hudson River segments that provide drinking water to Hudson 7 communities.
Riverkeeper, Inc.: $210,000 for a “Final Engineering Design for Walsh Road Dam Removal on Quassaick Creek” to finalize engineering plans and permits for removal of the obsolete Walsh Road Dam in the Town of New Windsor.
Rockland County: $75,000 for a “Rockland County Natural Resources Inventory” to create a countywide Natural Resources Inventory (NRI) that will visualize the county's natural assets and design a plan to address environmental vulnerabilities.
Sarah Lawrence College: $75,000 for the “Rising TIDES - EELS Team 2.0” project to engage students from Yonkers Public Schools in Hudson River ecology research projects.
Town of Shandaken: $39,100 for a “Natural Resources Inventory” to create a comprehensive inventory of natural resources for informed land- use planning and decision-making.
New York City Region
Billion Oyster Project: $33,401 for a “Curriculum Pilot Program” to implement a curriculum for science teachers with students in Title I-funded public middle schools.
South Street Seaport Museum: $75,000 for the “Pioneer Program” to expand its river education program for low-income New York City students and upgrade the Schooner Pioneer’s electrical and navigation systems to modern standards.
New Funding Available
$1 million in competitive grant funding is available through two Request for Applications (RFAs):
Local Stewardship Planning: $700,000
Approximately $700,000 in funding is available for planning projects to help local organizations and communities in four categories:
- Creating climate vulnerability assessments and adaptation plans;
- Planning for Hudson River access site improvements to address swimming, boating, climate resiliency, and accessibility;
- Planning for conservation of natural resources through inventories, plans, and policy development; and
- Watershed-based stewardship, studies, planning, restoration, and management.
The minimum grant award for Local Stewardship Planning is $10,500 and the maximum is $75,000.
River Education: $300,000
Approximately $300,000 is available for projects to enhance education about the estuary along the tidal waters of the Hudson and make learning opportunities more accessible for a wide range of people. Eligible projects include:
- Locally-based facilities for learning about the Hudson River;
- Hudson River resources and education programs;
- Educator professional development and curriculum development; and
- Intensive environmental science research programs for young adults.
The minimum grant award for River Education is $20,000 and the maximum grant amount is $100,000.
Informational Webinars
DEC will hold two webinars about project eligibility and the application process on June 11 and June 12, 2025:
- Register for Local Stewardship Planning on June 11, 2 – 3 p.m.
- Register for River Education on June 12, 3 – 4 p.m.
The webinars will be recorded and will be available on the Hudson River Estuary Program Grants and Funding Opportunities page.
Applications for both grant programs must be submitted through the New York’s Statewide Financial System (SFS) Grants Management System. The deadline for all applications is Aug. 7, 2025, at 3 p.m.
All grant applicants, including government agencies and not-for-profit corporations, must be registered in the SFS Grants Management System to be eligible to apply for State grants.
General information about these grants is also available on DEC’s website. General questions about the Hudson River Estuary grants application process may be directed to Susan Pepe, Estuary Grants Manager, NYSDEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-3506; [email protected].
Now in its 22nd year, DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Grants Program implements priorities outlined in DEC's 2021-2025 Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda. To date, the Hudson River Estuary Program has awarded more than 664 grants totaling $30,548,053.
