ICYMI: DEC Region 4 Highlights Water Quality Investments for the Capital Region

Local Grant Awards Part of $249 Million in Grants Awarded to 181 Statewide Water Quality Protection Projects

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Region 4 celebrated Governor Kathy Hochul’s recent awarding of nearly $14 million in State grants supporting 18 projects in communities across the Capital Region to further improve water quality in the region. The grants support projects that help protect drinking water, update aging water infrastructure, reduce contributors to harmful algal blooms, and improve aquatic and terrestrial habitat in communities statewide.     

“Investments in water infrastructure are essential to safeguarding public health, while spurring economic development and community revitalization,” DEC Region 4 Director Sean Mahar said. “Thanks to the leadership of Governor Hochul and our partners in the state legislature, New York’s historic investments in the Water Quality Improvement Project program are delivering the resources necessary to upgrade aging infrastructure, protect drinking water and aquatic habitats, invest in resilient waterways to reduce flood risk, and restore our regions precious natural resources. DEC remains committed to supporting these partnerships with local governments and non-profit organizations to advance these essential projects.”     

WQIP grants fund projects that directly improve water quality or habitat, promote flood risk reduction, restoration, and enhanced flood and climate resiliency, or protect a drinking water source. View a statewide list of WQIP grant awards..  

Additionally, more than $422,455will help support 4 projects through DEC’s Non-Agricultural Nonpoint Source and Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Planning Grant (NPG) program. NPG projects help pay for the initial planning of water quality improvement projects, such as undersized culvert replacements and green infrastructure technologies, and State permit-required storm sewer mapping and stormwater management planning in urban areas. NPG projects will reduce the amount of polluted stormwater runoff entering lakes, rivers, and streams, and improve resiliency against the impacts of climate change. View a full list of NPG grant awards.  

Region 4 WQIP grantees in Albany, Columbia, Delaware, Montgomery, Otsego, and Rensselaer Counties, include:  

Albany Water Board (Albany County), $123,200 - The Albany Water Board will upgrade two undersized culverts to arch culverts. The new culverts will better convey storm flows and increase aquatic connectivity. This project will improve aquatic organism passage in the Alcove and Basic Creek watersheds. 

City of Cohoes (Albany County), $1,295,520 - The City of Cohoes will replace approximately 670 linear feet of combined sewer along Manor Avenue to improve conveyance capacity, separate stormwater from the system near North 2nd Street, and rehabilitate aging storm sewer infrastructure along Manor Avenue and North 2nd Street/Berkley Avenue. This project will reduce combined sewer system overflows to the Mohawk River. 

Helderberg Lake Environmental Restoration Corp. (Albany County), $1,064,855 -The Helderberg Lake Environmental Restoration Corp. will repair the inadequate spillway capacity and slope stability issues of a high hazard dam on Helderberg Lake. The improvements will help protect downstream property and infrastructure. 

Town of Bethlehem (Albany County), $500,000 - The Town of Bethlehem will work to acquire land surrounding the Vly Creek Reservoir, one of the Town's drinking water sources. The project will prioritize parcels in priority protection areas along the West end of the reservoir. The acquisition of these lands will prevent pollutant runoff often associated with shoreline development. 

Town of Hillsdale (Columbia County), $600,000 - The Town of Hillsdale will construct a salt storage facility to cover an exposed salt and sand pile. The storage structure will relocate the salt and sand away from wetlands adjacent to the current pile. This project will protect water quality in the Mid-Hudson watershed. 

Town of Franklin (Delaware County), $380,000 - The Town of Franklin will replace an undersized and insufficient lean-to structure currently located within the 100-year floodplain with a properly sized salt storage facility outside of the floodplain. This project will protect water quality in both groundwater and nearby Ouleout Creek. 

Town of Amsterdam (Montgomery County), $5,213,965 - The Town of Amsterdam will construct a new sanitary sewer collection system to connect properties with failing onsite septic systems in the Harrower neighborhood to the City of Amsterdam's wastewater treatment system.  The project will reduce bacteria and nutrients in North Chuctanunda Creek and the Mohawk River. 

Town of Canajoharie (Montgomery County), $600,000 - The Town of Canajoharie will replace and expand an existing salt storage facility. The new facility will allow the Town to house a partially exposed salt pile. This project will protect water quality in Canajoharie Creek, a tributary of the Mohawk River. 

Otsego County Highway Department (Otsego County), $450,000 -The Otsego County Highway Department will construct a salt storage structure at the Highway Department. The existing salt storage structure is undersized and structurally deficient, leaving an exposed salt pile. The project will protect water quality and trout habitat in Butternut Creek. 

City of Rensselaer (Rensselaer County), $400,000 - The City of Rensselaer will purchase a new vacuum truck to remove excess debris within the stormwater system. Using this vacuum truck will improve functionality of the stormwater infrastructure and protect water quality within the Wynants Kill-Hudson River watershed. 

Rensselaer County, $1,500,000 - Rensselaer County will rehabilitate the Burden Lake dam to address the eroding embankment and failing structural design. The project's improvements will increase spillway capacity and help reduce flood risk to downstream critical infrastructure. 

Town of Hoosick (Rensselaer County), $500,000 - The Town of Hoosick will construct a new salt storage facility to enclose exposed salt piles at the Highway Department. The facility will protect the salt from weather and reduce salt-laden runoff from entering waterways. This project will protect water quality in nearby groundwater and the Hoosic River. 

Town of Sand Lake (Rensselaer County), $600,000 - The Town of Sand Lake will replace an undersized and aging salt storage facility located over a principal aquifer. This project will reduce chloride pollution and protect nearby groundwater and the Wynants Kill watershed. 

Town of Schodack (Rensselaer County), $310,220 - The Town of Schodack will purchase a vacuum truck to implement comprehensive storm drainage maintenance for their catch basins. This project will reduce stormwater pollutants and localized flooding, increase storm sewer capacity, and protect water quality in the Hudson River watershed. 

Region 4 NGP grantees in Albany, Delaware, Rensselaer, and Schenectady Counties, include: 

City of Watervliet (Albany, Schenectady Counties), $75,000 - The City of Watervliet will conduct a comprehensive stream corridor assessment within the Watervliet Reservoir watershed, a primary drinking water supply for the city. The City will evaluate erosion and stream channel conditions in several tributaries. The plan will identify restoration priorities and an implementation plan that will improve aquatic connectivity and water quality within the watershed. 

Village of Margaretville (Delaware County), $50,000 - The Village of Margaretville will complete a green infrastructure feasibility and engineering report for the Swart Street and Orchard Avenue neighborhood. Green infrastructure will improve flood resiliency, reduce stormwater runoff, and protect New York City's water supply.   

City of Troy (Rensselaer County), $50,000 -The City of Troy will update its MS4 stormwater management program, including focus areas and municipal operating procedures. Components will be maintained in an ArcGIS format. 

Schenectady County, $247,455 - Schenectady County and the Town of Glenville will develop an electronic GIS inventory of MS4 infrastructure and other elements such as municipal facilities and sewershed boundaries. The project will assist in identifying illicit discharges and maintaining stormwater infrastructure.  

The WQIP funds are part of more than $249 million in grants recently announced by Governor Hochul for 181 projects statewide that help protect drinking water, update aging water infrastructure, reduce contributors to harmful algal blooms, and improve aquatic and terrestrial habitat in communities statewide. More than $206 million of the funding will support water quality improvements for environmental justice communities which may be disproportionately impacted by environmental pollution. This announcement supplements more than $10 billion in water infrastructure improvements and clean water projects investments by New York State since Governor Hochul took office.   

More than $42 million of funding provided through the 2022 Clean Water, Clean Air, Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act will be used to implement 49 WQIP projects. View a full list of WQIP grant awards.     

Sources of Funding  

WQIP is primarily supported by the state's 2022 Clean Water, Clean Air, Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act, Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), and Clean Water Infrastructure funding. The 2026-27 enacted State Budget maintains the EPF at $425 million and includes an additional $25 million from the Sustainable Future Program to provide a record $450 million for critical environmental programs such as land acquisition, farmland protection, invasive species prevention and eradication, enhanced recreational access, water quality improvement, and an aggressive environmental justice agenda.    

The Non-Agricultural Nonpoint Source and Municipal Separate Stormwater Sewer Systems (MS4) Planning Grant (NPG) is a competitive, reimbursement grant program that funds planning reports for nonpoint source water quality improvement projects. The program aims to prepare nonpoint source projects for construction and application for implementation funding. Grant funding will also be available for regulated MS4 Operators to complete comprehensive stormwater system maps and stormwater management program planning. For an overview of the program, view the NPG Factsheet (PDF). 

New York's Commitment to Clean Water   

Under Governor Hochul, New York State continues to increase its historic investments in water infrastructure. The enacted 2027 budget announced by Governor Hochul sets the national standard with a transformational $3.75 billion water infrastructure investment plan, building on $10.6 billion provided to clean water infrastructure projects since 2021. To leverage these investments and ensure ongoing coordination with local governments, the Governor supports the Environmental Facilities Corporation’s Community Assistance Teams in coordination with State agencies to provide proactive outreach for one-on-one consultations to help municipalities prepare strong applications. New Yorkers can view projects benefiting from DEC’s water grant programs using the interactive grant data portal.    

About the Consolidated Funding Application  

The grants were issued following completion through the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) process. The CFA was created to streamline and expedite the grant application process. The CFA process marks a fundamental shift in the way State resources are allocated, ensuring less bureaucracy and greater efficiency to fulfill local economic development needs. The CFA serves as the single-entry point for access to economic development funding, ensuring applicants no longer have to slowly navigate multiple agencies and sources without any mechanism for coordination. Now, economic development projects use the CFA as a support mechanism to access multiple State funding sources through one application, making the process quicker, easier, and more productive. Learn more about the CFA.  

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