Hurricane Irene -- Tropical Storm Lee Flood Mitigation Grant Program
Overview
Applications are being accepted from counties for flood mitigation and flood control projects in creeks, streams, and brooks impacted by Hurricane Irene and/or Tropical Storm Lee. The Empire State Development Corporation (ESD) will administer this program in collaboration with DEC. The total amount of funding available is $9 million. Grants will range from a minimum of $300,000 to a maximum of $500,000 per county for eligible projects.
Eligible Counties
The 37 counties included in the federal disaster declaration are eligible:
Albany, Bronx, Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Clinton, Columbia, Delaware, Dutchess, Essex, Franklin, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer, Kings, Montgomery, Nassau, New York, Oneida, Orange, Otsego, Putnam, Queens, Rensselaer, Richmond, Rockland, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Suffolk, Sullivan, Tioga, Tompkins, Ulster, Warren, Washington, and Westchester counties.
Eligible Projects
Funding can be used for planning, design and implementation for any of the following eligible projects types. Please note: Only planning costs that are a component of a specific project, which will receive funding under this Program, will be eligible costs.
- Removal of flood debris from stream channel and/or floodway
- Removal of gravel in or directly around public and/or private infrastructure
- Installation or repair of stream bank stabilization measures
- Stream channel restoration to pre-flood depth, width, gradient, and where appropriate, channel characteristics
- Stream bank restoration involving the removal of side cast bed load material, reconnecting a stream to its flood plain
- Culvert repair and/or replacement
- Non-federal match to an approved Natural Resource Conservation Service's Emergency Watershed Protection project
Funding Requirements
Applications may be submitted for multiple projects, multiple counties, and may be submitted on behalf of one or more municipalities within the county. To the extent possible, counties should present their list of proposed projects in priority order. Projects must be completed and funds expended within 18 months. No match is required, but preference will be given to projects where these funds can be used to leverage federal, City of New York, or local funds to complete projects. The funding can only be used for new or prospective projects. This funding is not eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) eligible projects. Non-federal match for FEMA-reimbursable projects may be provided through other state funding sources.
Grant Application Materials
- Flood Mitigation Grant Program Guidelines (PDF) (54 KB) - Eligible counties interested in applying for this grant should review the program guidelines before filling out the application.
- Flood Mitigation Grant Application (PDF) (1.3 MB) - Applications must be postmarked and emailed by April 11, 2012.
Applications will be processed and reviewed in the order of their receipt and will be accepted on a rolling basis. Applications must be postmarked and emailed by April 11, 2012.
Send one (1) signed hard copy, along with any supporting documentation and attachments. Email one (1) electronic copy of the signed application, including attachments and photos in Adobe PDF format. The electronic copy should include a copy of the signed "Certification of Applicant" page.
Mailing address for hard copy of application
Attn: Flood Mitigation Grant Program
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Division of Water
625 Broadway, 4th Floor
Albany, N.Y. 12233- 3507
Email address for electronic copy of application
If your file is too large to be emailed, please mail a copy on compact-disc along with the hard copy of your application. No hand-delivered, facsimile, or electronic-only applications will be accepted.
Program Contact Information
DEC
Thomas R. Snow, Jr.
NYSDEC, Division of Water
625 Broadway, 4th Floor
Albany, New York 12233-1040
518-402-9395
trsnow@gw.dec.state.ny.us
ESD
Christine J. Costopoulos
Empire State Development
30 S Pearl Street
Albany, NY 12245
518-292-5348
ccostopoulos@esd.ny.gov
Coordination with Regulatory Agencies
The project sponsor, or its agents, shall coordinate with all regulatory agencies with review authority over the project, and shall complete all permit processes as needed. To expedite this process, DEC issued a General Permit (GP-0-11-008) (PDF) (76 KB) for repair of damages resulting from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, while the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) issued two general permits (NYPDGP-15 and RGP 99-000-1).
The DEC General Permit (GP-0-11-008) (PDF) (76 KB) is applicable to all protected streams, navigable waters and freshwater wetlands and is applicable in DEC Regions 1 - 9. The USACE general permits can be found on the USACE website. Direct links are in the "Links Leaving DEC's Website" section of the right-hand column of this page.
No design shall be considered complete until all reviews are complete and all approvals and permits have been obtained. Project sponsors are responsible for complying with the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), if necessary.
Additional Funding Opportunities
Empire State Development is also administering the Hurricane Irene-Tropical Storm Lee Business Flood Recovery Grant Program for small businesses, not-for-profit organizations, farms, and owners of multiple dwellings. $21 million is available, awards will be up to $20,000 and applications are due by March 16, 2012. A direct link to the ESD webpage is in the "Links Leaving DEC's Website" section of the right-hand column of this page.
Many other state and federal funding opportunities exist for flood mitigation and recovery work in New York. A Funding Opportunity Matrix (PDF) (61 KB) exists to help counties determine which program best fits their needs.
