New York Allocates $249 Million for Critical Water Projects: A statewide package will fund 181 projects, including aquatic-passage work in the Town of Annsville and streambank stabilization in Madison County.

New York water quality grants announced Friday include $2 million for an aquatic-passage restoration project in the Town of Annsville, giving Oneida County a direct stake in a $249 million statewide funding round.

Gov. Kathy Hochul said October 30 that 181 projects will receive grants to protect drinking water, modernize wastewater systems, reduce polluted runoff, limit harmful algal blooms, repair dams and restore habitat. The package combines two Department of Environmental Conservation programs: more than $246 million for 139 Water Quality Improvement Projects and more than $2.9 million for 42 planning grants.

This initiative, titled ‘New York Allocates $249 Million for Critical Water Projects’, aims to protect drinking water and modernize wastewater systems across the state.

The announcement says more than $206 million will benefit environmental justice communities. It also directs about $122 million across 63 projects in watersheds that have experienced harmful algal blooms or are covered by a state action plan. Another $17 million will support better salt storage and road-salt reduction practices.

The state release describes the awards and their purposes, but many project pages do not yet provide construction schedules, local matching costs or procurement dates. Those details will determine when residents see work begin and whether the grants cover complete projects or only part of the cost.

$2 million for aquatic passage in Annsville

The Town of Annsville will receive $2 million for aquatic-passage restoration. Projects in this category generally replace or improve culverts and stream crossings that block fish and other aquatic life, constrict water flow or increase flood risk. The governor’s announcement does not identify the exact road, stream or construction schedule for the Annsville work.

That missing location matters to residents. Culvert work can temporarily affect traffic, nearby properties and stream access. The town should publish the project site, engineering scope, permitting status, detour plan and expected construction dates before work begins.

Madison County Soil and Water Conservation will receive $95,571 for streambank stabilization. The state says the project will stabilize about 1,000 linear feet of streambank. That work can reduce erosion and sediment entering waterways, but the release does not name the stream or explain whether private landowners are involved.

How the two grant programs work

Water Quality Improvement Project grants

The Water Quality Improvement Project program pays for work that directly improves water quality or habitat. Eligible uses include wastewater treatment, source-water protection, land acquisition, salt storage, nonpoint-source pollution control, dam safety, flood-risk reduction and aquatic-habitat restoration.

This round provides more than $246 million to 139 projects. More than $42 million comes from the 2022 Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act and supports 49 WQIP projects.

Planning and stormwater grants

The Non-Agricultural Nonpoint Source and Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Planning Grant program provides more than $2.9 million to 42 projects. These awards pay for studies, mapping and design work that can prepare communities for later construction grants.

Planning activities include culvert-replacement studies, green-infrastructure design, storm-sewer mapping and municipal stormwater plans. The money does not necessarily build the final project. Communities may need additional state, federal or local financing after planning is complete.

Selected projects across New York

The state highlighted projects in every region. The list shows how broadly the programs are being used:

• Cayuga County Water and Sewer Authority: $10 million for a sewer extension serving areas near Cayuga Lake in Ledyard and Genoa.
• Niagara Falls Water Board: $10 million for wastewater-treatment upgrades.
• Town of Elizabethtown: $10 million for a new wastewater-treatment plant.
• Town of Canandaigua: $475,000 for drinking-water protection.
• Chemung County: $400,000 for a vacuum truck used in sewer and stormwater maintenance.
• City of New Rochelle: $400,000 for road-salt reduction.
• Franklin County: $600,000 for salt storage.
• City of Peekskill: $2.5 million for dam and spillway improvements at the Wiccopee Reservoir, a drinking-water source.
• Rensselaer County: $1.5 million for dam-safety work.
• National Audubon Society: $1,690,172 for salt-marsh restoration on Long Island.
• Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper: $940,617 for riparian-corridor improvements.
• Ulster County: $400,000 for storm-sewer mapping across 12 municipalities.
• Suffolk County: $50,000 for a Lake Ronkonkoma culvert study.
• City of Troy: $50,000 to develop a stormwater-management plan.

The statewide list also includes a $48,360 roadside-stabilization award to the Tioga County Soil and Water Conservation District. Readers should consult DEC’s full WQIP and planning-grant award lists for every recipient and the official project descriptions.

Why harmful algal blooms and road salt matter here

Harmful algal blooms can produce toxins, close beaches, affect drinking-water treatment and harm pets and wildlife. Warm water and excess nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen can create conditions that allow blooms to grow. New York advises people and animals to avoid discolored water, surface scum or suspicious mats and to report possible blooms through DEC’s online system.

Road salt is a separate but related water-quality problem. Chloride can build up in groundwater, streams and lakes, and it is difficult to remove once dissolved. The $17 million in this package may pay for covered salt storage, brine equipment, calibrated spreaders, segmented plow blades and GPS systems that help crews use less salt while maintaining winter safety.

The Phoenix recently reported on nearly $37 million in Mohawk Valley water-infrastructure grants. Those awards focus on drinking-water and wastewater systems and are separate from this DEC package. The Phoenix also covered an earlier $225 million water-quality grant round and a New York City flood project funded through the Environmental Bond Act.

What Mohawk Valley residents should watch

• Annsville’s identification of the affected crossing, road and stream.
• Town board action on engineering, permits, bidding and any local share.
• Madison County’s project location and land-access arrangements.
• Whether construction will require detours or seasonal limits to protect fish.
• Public updates on grant agreements, completion deadlines and cost changes.

Residents who use private wells should continue routine testing appropriate to local conditions. A state grant elsewhere does not establish that a private well is safe or unsafe. Questions about a public water system should go to the system operator or county health department.

Official sources and resources

• Governor’s October 30 water-quality grant announcement
• DEC Water Quality Improvement Project program and award information
• DEC planning and storm-sewer mapping grants
• DEC harmful algal bloom action plans and clean-water plans
• New York road-salt reduction guidance
• Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act

Do you know which Annsville crossing or Madison County stream is included? Share a link to a public town, county or DEC document in the comments. Please do not post private property details that are not already in a public record.