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For Release: Friday, February 23, 2007

DEC Announces Nearly $11 Million to Improve Water Quality

Grants Will Help Support 58 Projects Statewide

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation today announced $10,851,331 million in grants for 58 Water Quality Improvement Projects (WQIP) that will help reduce polluted runoff, improve water quality, and restore habitat in New York State waters.

A total of $4,879,830 will be awarded to 37 municipalities and Soil and Water Conservation Districts across the state to assist with projects to reduce pollution from stormwater runoff, improve the storage and handling of road salt and reduce pollution from malfunctioning septic systems - which are major sources of water pollution in New York - as well as projects that will improve stream habitat.

A total of $2,655,511 will be awarded for 14 projects designed to help 132 municipalities in Dutchess, Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Schenectady, Albany, Rensselaer, Washington, Tompkins, Ontario, Wayne, Monroe, and Erie counties. This funding is being awarded to urban municipalities to comply with the federal Clean Water Act=s Phase II stormwater controls by developing and implementing required stormwater management programs. Stormwater management will limit stormwater runoff and control pollutants from runoff so that water quality is restored and protected.

An additional $2,742,990 will be awarded to six municipalities along the upper Hudson River to implement seasonal disinfection at their wastewater treatment facilities and abate combined sewer overflows. The projects announced today will further improve water quality and help to restore swimming in many locations along the Hudson River, a Natural Heritage River.

The Village of Patchogue in Suffolk County will receive $573,000 from the 1996 Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act to improve the operations of their wastewater treatment facilities. The project addresses priorities identified in management plans developed for the Peconic Estuary, including the reduction of nitrogen from wastewater treatment plants.

The Department periodically issues a call for projects, evaluates applications, and ranks projects for funding under the WQIP process. This is the ninth round of WQIP funding. A total of 180 applications were received in this round. State assistance payments will fund up to 50 percent of the costs for the projects announced today.

The list of projects is attached.

Round 9 Water Quality Improvement Projects
County Applicant Project Summary State Funding Amount
Albany Capital District Regional Planning Commission (CDRPC)

Albany Pool Combined Sewer Overflow Long Term Control Plan consultant team, Albany and Rensselaer County Sewer Districts, and the Albany Pool SPDES Permittees (Albany Water Board, Cities of Cohoes, Watervliet, Rensselaer, Troy, V. Green Island)
CDRPC will conduct a study to analyze the effects of point and nonpoint sources of pollution on water quality conditions in the Class C section of the Hudson River and its tributaries near their confluence with the Hudson. $475,000
Cayuga Cayuga County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) The Cayuga County SWCD will stabilize streambanks along the Owasco Inlet with rock riprap, willow plantings, and hydroseeding to reduce erosion and restore aquatic habitat. $71,287
Cayuga Cayuga County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) The Cayuga County SWCD will implement stream bank stabilization and debris removal on Putnam Brook to reduce erosion and restore aquatic habitat. $18,885
Cayuga Cayuga County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) The Cayuga County SWCD will stabilize critical areas including road banks and ditches, construction sites, and stream banks to reduce storm runoff. $95,000
Chautauqua Town of Portland The Town of Portland will construct a new culvert with head and wing walls to reduce sediments from entering the Brocton Reservoir and Lake Erie. $45,461
Chemung Chemung County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) The Chumung County SWCD will restore fourteen acres of wetlands to mitigate storm flows and improve water quality and habitat in the Seeley Creek watershed. $60,000
Chemung Chumung County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) The Chemung County SWCD and the Town of Horseheads will implement critical area seeding, debris removal and stabilize sections of Halderman Hollow Creek to improve aquatic habitat. $75,000
Chemung Southern Tier Central Regional Planning and Development Board (STCRPDB) The STCRPDB will provide technical assistance to regulated and non-regulated MS4s in the Elmira urbanized area to help municipalities develop their MS4 program. The program will include public outreach/education; public involvement/participation; illicit discharge detection and elimination; construction and post-construction management and training; and assistance for local highway departments on good stormwater management practices. $249,103
Chenanago Town of Plymouth The Town of Plymouth will reconstruct the Canasawacta Creek by clearing obstructions and restoring streambanks to increase channel capacity, reduce silt and sediment deposits and improve aquatic habitat. $175,900
Delaware Delaware County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) The Delaware County SWCD will restore stream corridors to improve water quality, aquatic habitat and fish passage. $161,700
Dutchess City of Beacon The City of Beacon will implement activities to detect and eliminate illicit discharges in conjunction with their Stormwater Management Program. $230,682
Erie County of Erie

Erie County DPW/DSM, Alden (Town and Village), T.Amherst, V.Angola, T.Aurora, V.Blasedell, T.Boston, Buffalo Sewer Authority, T.Cheektowaga, T.Clarence, V.Depew, V.East Aurora, T.Eden, T.Elma, T.Evans, T.Grand Island, V.Hamburg, V.Kenmore, C.Lackawanna, Lancaster (Town and Village), T.Orchard Park, V.Sloan, Tonawanda (City and Town), T.West Seneca, V.Williamsville, Niagara County DPW, T.Cambria, Lewiston (Town and Village),T.Niagara, Niagara Falls Water Board, C.North Tonawanda, T.Pendleton, T.Porter, T.Wheatfield, V.Youngstown, Peace Bridge Authority, SUNY Buffalo
The Erie County Department of Environment and Planning, in partnership with 42 cooperating municipalities will implement elements of their Phase II Stormwater Management Programs including:
  • detection and elimination of illicit discharges
  • construction and post construction site reviews and management activities
  • adoption of sound municipal pollution prevention management practices
  • training and outreach to municipal staff and others
$209,200
Erie Erie County SWCD Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) The Erie County SWCD will restore eroding streambanks within the Eighteenmile Creek watershed with rock riprap and biotechnical/natural stream design restoration techniques to improve water quality and aquatic habitat. $292,342
Essex Town of Newcomb The Town of Newcomb will install an ultraviolet light disinfection system on their wastewater treatment facility to help achieve water quality suitable for swimming in the Hudson River. $100,000
Livingston Town of Conesus The Town of Conesus will perform roadside and ditch stabilization improvements to prevent sediments and pollutants from entering Conesus Lake. $139,700
Monroe Monroe County

Brighton, Brockport, Chili, Clarkson, East Rochester, Fairport, Gates, Greece, Henrietta, Hilton, Irondequoit, Mendon, Monroe County DOT, Ogden, Parma, Penfield, Perinton, Pittsford (Town and Village), Rochester Pure Waters District/City of Rochester, Spencerport, Sweden, Webster (Town and Village), Churchville, Hamlin, Riga, Rush, Wheatland, SUNY Brockport
Thirty municipalities, including twenty four regulated municipalities, will implement elements of their Phase II Stormwater Management Programs including:
  • detection and elimination of illicit discharges
  • construction and post construction site reviews and management activities
  • adoption of sound municipal pollution prevention management practices
  • training and outreach to municipal staff and others
In addition, the municipalities will conduct activities leading to the legal adoption of funding mechanisms to support their Stormwater Management Programs
$485,803
Nassau Nassau County Nassau County will purchase two Vactor Trucks to clean and maintain drainage structures as part of implementing the Nassau County Stormwater Management Program. $350,000
Nassau Nassau County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) The Nassau County SWCD will restore wetlands and construct stormwater controls to improve aquatic habitat in Hempstead Harbor. $83,750
Ontario Ontario County

Finger Lakes Community College (FLCC), the Canandaigua Lake Watershed Council, and the Ontario County Soil and Water Conservation District
Ontario County and its partners will implement elements of its Stormwater Management Program through adopting pollution prevention management practices to mitigate existing stormwater runoff from the campus of FLCC. $211,325
Ontario Ontario Soil and Water Conservation District

T.Farmington, T.Victor, V.Victor, T.Ontario, V.Macedon, T.Macedon, Ontario County Highway Department
The regulated municipalities in Wayne and Ontario Counties will implement elements of their Phase II Stormwater Management Programs including:
  • develop required local laws to prohibit illicit discharges, control stormwater runoff from construction sites and manage post-construction stormwater discharges
  • detection and elimination of illicit discharges
  • construction and post construction site reviews and management activities
  • adoption of sound municipal pollution prevention management practices
  • training and outreach to municipal staff and others
In addition, the municipalities will conduct activities leading to the legal adoption of funding mechanisms to support their Stormwater Management Programs
$175,860
Putnam Town of Carmel The Town of Carmel will implement elements of their Phase II Stormwater Management Program including:
  • develop required local laws to prohibit illicit discharges, control stormwater runoff from construction sites and manage post-construction stormwater discharges
  • detection and elimination of illicit discharges and
  • construction and post construction site reviews and management activities.
$31,500
Putnam Town of Putnam Valley Putnam Valley will implement activities to detect and eliminate illicit discharges in conjunction with their Stormwater Management Program. $13,220
Putnam Town of Carmel The Town of Carmel will install stormwater treatment and control structures to reduce the amount of silt and sediment entering the New York City Reservoir system. $200,000
Rockland Rockland County Soil and Water Conservation District

T.Clarkstown, Haverstraw (Town and Village), T.Orangetown, T.Ramapo, T.Stony Point, V.Chestnut Ridge, V.Montecello, V.Nyack, V.Pomona, V.South Nyack, V.Suffern, V.Upper Nyack, V.West Haverstraw, V.Piermont, V.Wesley Hills
The participating municipalities in the Stormwater Consortium of Rockland County will implement elements of their Phase II Stormwater Management Program, including:
  • detection and elimination of illicit discharges;
  • construction and post construction site reviews and management activities;
  • training and outreach to municipal staff and others.
In addition, the Town will conduct activities leading to the legal adoption of funding mechanisms to support their Stormwater Management Program. The consortium will also be expanded to include all 24 municipalities in county and they will develop a comprehensive Stormwater Management Program for the county.
$411,000
Saratoga City of Mechanicville The City will address overflow issues with the sanitary sewer system by correcting inflow and infiltration and separating the sanitary and storm sewer systems in select areas of the City. $598,000
Saratoga Town of Waterford The Town will install disinfection equipment to provide seasonal disinfection of effluent to help achieve water quality suitable for swimming in the Hudson River. $722,500
Saratoga Village of Schuylerville The Village will install an ultraviolet light disinfection system at their wastewater treatment facility to help achieve water quality suitable for swimming in the Hudson River. $167,445
Schenectady County of Schenectady
C.Schenectady, V.Scotia, T.Glenville, T.Niskayuna, T.Princetown, T.Rotterdam
Seven regulated municipalities in Schenectady County will conduct training and outreach for municipal staff and teachers as part of implementing their Phase II Stormwater Management Program. $8,521
Schuyler Schuyler County Schuyler County will implement wastewater management laws that require wastewater system inspections for all lakefront properties on Lamoka and Waneta Lakes. $17,025
Schuyler Schuyler County Soil and Water Conservation District The Schuyler County Highway Department, with the Town of Hector, will stabilize several sections of road ditch, improving water quality by reducing the amount of sediment entering important waterbodies. $89,750
Steuben Steuben County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) The Steuben County SWCD will stabilize streambanks along Meads Creek by constructing rock vanes and planting willows for buffer development and improved fish habitat. $30,845
Steuben Steuben County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) The Steuben County SWCD will stabilize streambanks and improve aquatic habitat by removing a gravel bar, constructing rock vanes, and planting willows. $21,250
Steuben Steuben County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) The Steuben County SWCD will stabilize a section of Bennett's Creek by constructing four rock vanes to reduce sedimentation and erosion and to improve fish habitat. $38,997
Suffolk Town of Brookhaven The Town of Brookhaven will construct leaching catch basins and an infiltration system at the Pine Neck Boat Ramp to reduce the amount of silt, sediment and pathogens entering the Swan River. $83,000
Suffolk Town of Brookhaven The Town of Brookhaven will construct stormwater drainage improvements to collect stormwater and mitigate stormwater impacts on Swan Lake $150,000
Suffolk Town of Shelter Island The Town of Shelter Island will purchase a vacuum truck to clean out drywells in order to reduce stormwater runoff into the Peconic Estuary. $150,000
Suffolk Town of Southampton (Seg. 1) The Town of Southampton will construct stormwater improvements to reduce pollutant discharges into surface waters and wetlands. $67,500
Suffolk Village of Babylon The Village of Babylon will purchase a drain cleaner and street sweeper to reduce the amount of sediment and pollutants entering drainage basins. $40,000
Suffolk Village of Babylon The Village of Babylon will purchase a street sweeper to reduce sediments and pollutants entering drainage basins. $125,000
Suffolk Village of Patchogue Funds will be used to upgrade the wastewater treatment plant to remove nitrogen that is discharged from the facility. $573,000
Tioga Tioga County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) The Tioga County SWCD will help municipalities and landowners implement nonpoint source hydrological and habitat restoration projects by providing coordination, planning, data collection, facilitation, project design/oversight, and program development assistance. $350,200
Tompkins Tompkins SWCD

C.Ithaca, T.Ithaca, T.Caroline, T.Dryden,T.Lansing, T.Newfield, T.Ulysses, V.Cayuga Heights, V.Lansing, Tompkins County
Ten municipalities will implement elements of their Phase II Stormwater Management Programs including:
  • detection and elimination of illicit discharges
  • construction and post construction site reviews and management activities
  • adoption of sound municipal pollution prevention management practices
  • training and outreach to municipal staff and others
$148,400
Tompkins Tompkins County The Tompkins County Planning Department will implement a comprehensive stream buffer program to establish a contiguous stream buffer throughout the County. $70,000
Tompkins Tompkins County Tompkins County will construct a stormwater control facility and streambed grade control structures to implement the Ludlowville Stormwater Control Project. $240,000
Tompkins Tompkins County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) The Tompkins County SWCD will construct rock structures to provide grade control in the streambed and plant vegetation to reduce erosion and improve aquatic habitat on Six Mile Creek. $220,285
Tompkins Tompkins County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) The Tompkins County SWCD will install a series of grade control structures, rock vanes, and riparian buffer zones to reduce erosion and improve aquatic habitat. $100,500
Tompkins Tompkins County Soil and Water Conservation District The Tompkins County Highway Department will purchase a combination street sweeper, catchbasin cleaner vacuum truck to help implement their Stormwater Management Program. $92,000
Warren City of Glens Falls The City of Glens Falls will install an ultraviolet light disinfection system on their wastewater treatment facility to help achieve water quality suitable for swimming in the Hudson River. $608,289
Warren Town of Queensbury The Town of Queensbury will establish three Septic Maintenance Districts to deliver a program that provides technical assistance, financial assistance, and enforcement of safe on-site sewage systems. $100,000
Warren Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) The Warren County SWCD will install a stormwater treatment system to reduce the pollutant load to Halfway Brook. $184,200
Warren Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) The Warren County SWCD, with the Town of Queensbury, will construct and install stormwater retrofits and related improvements to reduce urban runoff to Glen Lake. $122,000
Warren Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) The Warren County SWCD will undertake a comprehensive on-site septic system improvement program that includes voluntary system inspections, a GIS data base, and an education and outreach program focusing on water conservation, septic and water quality issues on Loon Lake. $15,150
Washington Town of Kingsbury

Town of Fort Edward
Village of Fort Edward
Hudson Falls
Washington County
Five participating municipalities will implement elements of their Phase II Stormwater Management Program including:
  • develop required local laws to prohibit illicit discharges, control stormwater runoff from construction sites and manage post-construction stormwater discharges
  • training and outreach to municipal staff and others
$30,000
Washington Washington Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD)

Town of Fort Edward
Village of Fort Edward
Village of Hudson Falls
Town of Kingsbury
Four participating MS4s, under the guidance of Washington County SWCD, will implement elements of their Phase II Stormwater Management Program through the adoption of sound municipal pollution prevention management practices. $200,000
Washington Washington County Sewer District The Washington County Sewer District will install an ultraviolet light disinfection system at their wastewater treatment facility to help achieve water quality suitable for swimming in the Hudson River. $546,756
Westchester Town of North Salem The Town of North Salem will implement elements of their Phase II Stormwater Management Program including:
  • complete adoption of required local laws to prohibit illicit discharges, control stormwater runoff from construction sites and manage post-construction stormwater discharges; and
  • form a Stormwater Management District to support its Stormwater Management Program.
$25,000
Westchester Town of Bedford The Town of Bedford will construct stormwater control structures to reduce silt and sediment. $154,000
Westchester Westchester County The County of Westchester will improve intertidal habitat and restore native vegetation in Manursing Lake, a part of Long Island Sound. $400,000
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