Department of Environmental Conservation

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Grants Program and Funding Opportunities for the Hudson River Estuary

The Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda works to conserve or improve clean water; fish, wildlife and their habitats; waterway access; the resiliency of communities; and river scenery. DEC provides funding through the Hudson River Estuary Program to implement Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda priorities. These opportunities are announced as Request for Applications (RFAs) through the Hudson River Estuary Grants Program or as Request for Proposals (RFPs) in partnership with NEIWPCC.

Estuary Watershed Boundaries

Projects eligible for funding must be located within the Estuary Watershed Boundaries (PDF). To find out if a potential project is located within these boundaries, please type the location of the project into this Hudson River Estuary Grant Program boundaries Google Earth map.

Grants Program Reporting

Reporting is required on a quarterly basis for all Hudson River Estuary Program grants. Quarters are based on the New York State fiscal year, deadlines as follows: July 30 (for April 1 - June 30); October 30 (for July 1 - September 30); January 30 (for October 1 - December 31); April 30 (for January 1 - March 31). Quarterly reports consist of a technical narrative (progress report), and an invoice (financial report). Reports must be submitted electronically to Susan Pepe. Guidelines and associated forms are as follows:

Grant Reporting Categories Grant Reporting Forms
Quarterly Progress Report
  • Progress Report Form
  • Include any addendums/attachments that may be necessary (e.g. draft deliverables, meeting agendas or minutes, etc.)
Quarterly Financial Report (see Financial Report Guidelines (PDF)
Additional Financial Report Templates (use as needed, depending on the project)
Final Report (see Final Report Guidelines (PDF)
two young women in a kayak
The creation of this dock for the 72nd Street
free kayak program that serves more than
8,000 people every year was made possible
through an Estuary Program Grant

Grants Program History

Grants for Local Partners

Since 1999, DEC's Hudson River Estuary Program has offered grants to municipalities and non-profits located within its Estuary Watershed Boundaries (PDF). More than $19.4 million had been distributed to 495 applicants as of year's end, 2017. The funding for this program is primarily from New York State's Environmental Protection Fund (EPF).

The Estuary Grants were created to help fulfill those goals of the Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda that can be implemented most effectively by municipalities, not for profits, and other local partners.

Recent Past Recipients and Their Projects