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Schoharie Watershed Program
A program of Greene County Soil and Water Conservation District |
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Please use the links provided to access information on the SWP, its projects, and watershed issues |
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PO Box 996, 6049 Main Street Tannersville, NY 12485 Phone 518-589-6871 Fax 518-589-6874 |
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GCSWCD Main Office 907 County Office Building Cairo, NY 12413 Phone 518.622.3620 Fax 518.622.0344
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Watershed Grants Programs |
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation NYC Watershed Protection ProgramThe New York City Watershed Protection Program provides financial assistance for projects as a part of the watershed program for protection and enhancement of the quality of source waters of the New York City water supply system. New York State (NYS) and the federal government provide funding grants for these projects. The funds are administered by the NYS DEC through the NYC Watershed Water Quality Improvement Program (WQIP).
NYC Watershed Funding OpportunitiesFunding categories focus on the following types of project activities: · NYC Watershed WQIP: Projects build on watershed protection efforts helping to improve water quality while enhancing and preserving the economy and rural character of local communities. Click link for more about project eligibility requirements and to apply. · Statewide WQIP: Projects focus on water quality monitoring and surveillance, and research projects. Click link for more about project eligibility requirements and to apply. · Federal Safe Drinking Water Act funds: Projects focus on water quality monitoring and surveillance, and research projects. · NYC Watershed Water Resources Development Act: Projects focus on design and construction assistance for water-related environmental infrastructure resource protection and development projects including water supply, storage, treatment, and distribution facilities, and surface water resource protection/development. Click link for more about project eligibility requirements and to apply. More about Funding Sources for NYC Watershed Projects:The Federal Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) Funding Program: Information about federal funding grants through the Water Resource Development Act (WRDA). |
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Schoharie Watershed Advisory Committee Stream Management Plan Implementation Program
Guided by stream stewardship principles, the Schoharie Watershed Program offers assistance to local communities, residents, and organizations to advance recommendations from Schoharie Basin Stream Management Plans. Categories of funding include: Recreation and Stream Habitat Improvements, Education on Watershed Protection, Highway and Infrastructure Improvement, Planning & Assessment, Landowner Stream Assistance and Creative Stormwater Practices & Critical Area Seeding. Click Here for more information and for applications. |
Catskill Streams Buffer Initiative
The overall goal of the CSBI is to inform and assist landowners in better stewardship of their riparian (streamside) area through protection, enhancement, management, or restoration. The Department of Environmental Protection and its partners (County Soil & Water Conservation Districts and Cornell Cooperative Extension) will assist private, riparian landowners throughout the West of Hudson Watershed by providing: 1) Riparian Corridor Management Plans to create awareness about riparian management issues specific to individual properties. 2) Best management practice design and/or prescriptive measures and installation to encourage positive riparian stewardship. 3) Educational materials and activities as needed by landowners to understand the critical role of their buffer and how to maintain it in optimal functioning condition.
Click Here for program guidelines.
Click Here for CSBI application materials - this is the information you need to apply for Catskill Streams Buffer Initiative assistance.
Click here for background resources and educational materials on riparian buffers.
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Watershed Agricultural Council Grant Programs
The Watershed Agricultural Council (WAC) is a nonprofit organization with the mission to support the economic viability of agriculture and forestry through the protection of water quality and the promotion of land conservation in the New York City watershed region. WAC is funded by New York City Department of Environmental Protection, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Forest Service and other federal and foundation sources.
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) is a voluntary program that protects sensitive streamside land by placing it in vegetative buffers for ten to fifteen years. In return, farmers receive annual rental payments and reimbursement for establishing good conservation practices like livestock fencing, stream crossings and alternate water sources. CREP improves water quality by reducing animal contact with stream areas and providing filtration areas for surface water. This reduces sediment, decreases fertilizer/pesticide runoff, and improves wildlife and aquatic habitat. The USDA Farm Service Agency provides 50% of the cost for these practices, while WAC uses New York City funds to match this for farmers in the New York City watershed. The result is a very effective tool to complete the Whole Farm Plan. The CREP team is currently implementing riparian forest buffer plans on over 600 acres at watershed farms with a goal of planting 2,000 acres over the next two years.
Forest Management Planning Program: Current research shows that forests provide an important beneficial land cover for protecting drinking water at its source. Based on this research, and on the fact that wood products have always played a vital role in rural economies, forestry is deemed a preferred land use in the New York City watershed. Seventy-five percent of the million-acre NYC watershed is owned by private landowners. When these landowners connect their everyday actions with the life of the forest, they become stewards of this precious resource. The Watershed Forestry Program encourages these private landowners to actively manage their forests using sustainable best management practices and offers information and technical assistance to help them reach their goals. The program is administered by the WAC with funding from the U.S. Forest Service and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection. Technical support is provided by community-based forestry groups and foresters with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
WAC Easement Stewardship Program is a unique tool for watershed protection. By promoting long-term land uses in farming and forestry, this easement limits development, conserving both the water at its source and open space. This effort is funded by New York City Department of Environmental Protection. A conservation easement is a permanent legal agreement that limits the development and subdivision of property. Under an easement, landowners work the land as they always have. In addition, they may mortgage it, sell it, or leave it to their heirs. The easement remains intact even as the property changes hands.
Watershed Forestry Bus Tour Program: The Bus Tour Grant Program is designed to connect groups in New York City with their water supply systems in the Catskill Mountains and the East-of-Hudson region. The funding is a 50/50 cost share with the participating group and is open to anyone with the capacity to organize and coordinate a tour. Click link for more information and to apply. |
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Below are links and information about funding resources within the NYC Watershed. These varied programs and projects are funded from a number of different federal, state, and local sources. If you have any questions about these programs please contact the Schoharie Watershed Program. |
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Can’t find the page/information you’re looking for? See Sitemap |
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Catskill Watershed Corporation Grant Programs
The 1997 New York City Watershed Memorandum of Agreement required the development of 14 city-funded environmental protection and economic development programs in the Watershed West of the Hudson River as part of a pact that allowed the City to avoid filtering its Catskill-Delaware Water Supply. In November 2002, a renewed five-year Filtration Avoidance Determination was granted to the City by the US Environmental Protection Agency, permitting a continued exemption from building a filtration plant for the Catskill-Delaware Supply. The 2002 FAD was predicated on a long-term Watershed Protection Plan submitted by the City to the EPA outlining several water quality programs to be developed, continued or expanded by the CWC. In 2007, a new 10 year FAD was based on an updated Watershed Protection Plan.
Ongoing programs for which the CWC is responsible under all of these MOA agreements include: Catskill Fund for the Future (Economic Development): Provides loans and grants to businesses and organizations. Septic Repair and Maintenance: Funds residential septic system repairs, replacements, and maintenance (pump-outs). Stormwater Planning and Control: Funds planning, assessment, design and implementation of stormwater and erosion controls for existing conditions, as well as stormwater requirements for new construction. Education: Provides grants to schools and organizations. Community Wastewater Management: Funds a program to evaluate and build community-specific wastewater solutions which may include septic maintenance districts, community septic systems or wastewater treatment plants. |