New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos announced today the availability of $50,000 to help communities and site managers assess flooding risk and plan for flooding and sea-level rise at shorefront parklands and river access sites along the Hudson River estuary.
“Governor Cuomo has made significant investments to create new and expanded access to recreation along the Hudson River and encourage New Yorkers to get outside and enjoy nature. New York also recognizes the need to bolster the resiliency of these sites along the river in the face of increasing flood risks and severe weather events and this funding will help communities mitigate these climate risks,” Commissioner Seggos said.
Funding for this grant is provided by the State's Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) and is administered by DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Program in partnership with the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC) through a Request for Proposals.
The funding will help communities with fishing, boating, and swimming sites along the Hudson River and its tidal tributaries improve resiliency through design and planning guidelines that mitigate climate risks and allow for quick recovery from storm events. The grant will result in a regional planning guide and associated outreach.
Susan Sullivan, NEIWPCC Executive Director, said, "NEIWPCC is pleased to be able to help communities along the Hudson bolster the sustainability and resiliency of riverfront recreation sites that are experiencing increased flooding and sea-level rise resulting from climate change.”
The deadline for proposals is Feb. 15, 2019 at 12:00 p.m. The RFP and application is available on NEIWPCC’s website. General information about the RFP can be found on the DEC website.
In the 2018-19 State Budget, Governor Cuomo sustained the record-high EPF at $300 million for the third year in a row, providing funding for open space conservation, parkland stewardship, and other environmental protection projects.
DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Program focuses on the tidal Hudson and its adjacent watershed from the federal dam at Troy to the Verrazano Narrows in New York City.
