New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos Thursday announced grants totaling more than $1.4 million for 23 projects to help communities along the Hudson River Estuary improve water quality and enhance environmental education and stewardship. The announcement coincides with the 20th Annual 'Day in the Life of the Hudson and Harbor,' where 5,000 student scientists are gathering along the Hudson River and New York Harbor to collect data on the Hudson's fish and invertebrates, track the river's tides and currents, and examine water chemistry and quality.
"Thanks to Governor Kathy Hochul's support, the $1.4 million in grants announced today will help Hudson River Valley communities develop plans and advance work on the ground to become more resilient to the ongoing impacts of climate change while protecting ecosystems and natural resources," said Seggos. "New York is undertaking the nation's most ambitious climate law. These grant awards build on local conservation efforts and priorities to sustainably improve water quality, protect our natural resources, and bolster statewide climate action."
The grants are administered by DEC's Hudson River Estuary Program. Now in its 20th year, the Estuary Grants Program implements priorities outlined in DEC's Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda 2021-2025. To date, DEC's Hudson River Estuary Program has awarded 617 grants totaling nearly $27 million.
Funding for DEC's Estuary Grants program is provided by the State's Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), a critical resource for environmental programs such as land acquisition, farmland protection, invasive species prevention and eradication, recreation access, water quality improvement, and environmental justice projects. Among the many environmental victories in the 2022-23 State Budget (leaves DEC website), Governor Hochul succeeded in increasing the EPF from $300 to $400 million, the highest-ever level of funding in the program's history. The EPF supports climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts, improves agricultural resources to promote sustainable agriculture, protects drinking water sources, advances conservation efforts, and provides recreational opportunities for New Yorkers.
Grant recipients listed by region can be viewed at https://on.ny.gov/3Cqceu2
Categories: New York, Education