Funding to Update Aging Water Infrastructure, Protect Drinking Water, Reduce Contributors to Harmful Algal Blooms, and Improve Habitat
Local Grant Awards Part of $249 Million in Grants Awarded to 181 Water Quality Protection Projects Across New York State
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Region 9 celebrated Governor Kathy Hochul’s recent awarding of more than $34 million in State grants to support 25 projects across about three dozen communities 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.
“Ensuring Western New York communities are provided with the resources to maintain some of the highest water quality standards in the nation is a top priority for DEC,” DEC Acting Region 9 Director Chad Staniszewski said. “This funding from the Water Quality Improvement Project grants will directly assist these local communities with upgrading critical infrastructure and enhancing resiliency of water systems to protect public health and the environment. DEC is excited to provide these vital grants to protect water supplies for today and future generations of the region’s residents.”
THE LOCAL COUNTIES OF THE REGION 9 WQIP GRANTEES:
Niagara Falls Water Board, (Niagara County), $10,000,000 – The Niagara Falls Water Board will convert their wastewater treatment process from physical/chemical to biological by installing a Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor. This project will improve the water quality of the Niagara River.
Town of Cheektowaga, (Erie County), $1,675,250 – The Town of Cheektowaga will partner with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to restore habitat in Scajaquada Creek in Cheektowaga Town Park. They will construct a two-stage channel and flood plain bench, establish a 100-foot riparian buffer, control invasive species, and plant native vegetation. This project will restore degraded aquatic, riparian, and floodplain habitat while preserving the federal.
Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper, (Niagara County), $940,617 – Buffalo Niagara Water keeper will restore degraded riparian and floodplain habitat in the Town of Sanborn. They will construct a 10-acre living shoreline, improve 2,000 feet of stream channel, and install 2,000 native trees and shrubs. This project will reconnect the floodplain and restore degraded riparian habitat.
Town of West Seneca, (Erie County), $408,000 – The Town of West Seneca will replace an undersized and failing salt storage structure. This project will protect water quality in the Buffalo Creek and Lake Erie watershed.
City of North Tonawanda, (Niagara County), $400,000 – The City of North Tonawanda will purchase a new vacuum truck to clean and maintain the community’s catch basins. Using the vacuum truck will reduce pollutant discharge and debris entering into the Niagara River watershed.
Village of Angola, (Erie County), $300,000 – The Village of Angola, in partnership with the Town of Evans, will purchase a vacuum truck to clean out catch basins in their regulated municipal separate stormwater sewer systems ( MS4) areas. This project will reduce stormwater pollut ants and protect water quality in the Lake Erie watershed.
Village of Kenmore, (Erie County), $227,947 – The Village of Kenmore will purchase a combi nation vacuum truck and street sweeper to clean out catch basins in the Village’s regulated MS4 area. This project will reduce stormwater pollutants in Two Mile Creek and ultimately the Niagara River.
City of Niagara Falls, (Niagara County), $75,000 – The City of Niagara Falls will complete a comprehen sive stream corridor assessment of the Cayuga Creek water shed. The assessment will identify and prioritize areas for restoration projects, such as stream bank stabilization, riparian buffer restora tion and culvert repair/ replacement, that will improve water quality and flood resiliency.
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 Infra structure 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, reimburse ment grant program that funds planning reports for nonpoint source water quality improvement projects. The program aims to prepare nonpoint source projects for construc tion and application for implementation funding. Grant funding will also be available for regulated MS4 Operators to complete comprehensive storm water system maps and stormwater management program planning. For an overview of the program.