Hudson River Estuary Local Stewardship Planning Grant

The Hudson River Estuary Program, administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), has been active since 1999 in supporting municipalities and nonprofit organizations within the designated Estuary Watershed Boundaries. The purpose of this program is to improve water quality, enhance environmental education, promote climate resiliency, and foster stewardship of habitat and natural resources. These goals align with the Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda 2021–2025, a strategic plan aimed at sustaining the ecological health and public engagement with the Hudson River Estuary. The funding for this program is provided through New York State's Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), and since its inception, over $30 million has been distributed across 664 grants. These grants are intended to empower local and regional partners, particularly governmental entities and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, to implement projects that advance specific priorities such as habitat restoration, climate change adaptation, public access to natural resources, and environmental education initiatives. In 2025, specific grant RFAs included Local Stewardship Planning and River Education, each with separate webinars to inform potential applicants. Applicants must be registered in the New York State Grants Management System, with not-for-profit organizations required to prequalify. The application process mandates that projects be located within the Estuary Watershed Boundaries, which can be verified through an interactive map provided by DEC. Eligible applicants include counties, cities, towns, villages, recognized Indian nations or tribes with reservations within New York, public authorities, municipal corporations, school districts, community colleges, and eligible nonprofits. Quarterly reporting is mandatory for grantees, with deadlines tied to the state fiscal calendar. Reports must be submitted electronically and consist of a progress narrative and a financial report, including documentation of expenditures, timekeeping, and any in-kind donations. A final report is also required at the close of the grant term, summarizing all activities, deliverables, and financials. All forms and guidelines for these reports are provided directly by the program and must be strictly adhered to. The 2025 webinar series highlighted successful prior projects and offered lessons learned in areas such as conservation planning, climate resiliency, watershed restoration, and environmental education. These sessions served to guide new applicants in crafting effective proposals. Recorded sessions and transcripts are available for public access, helping inform and inspire new project submissions. Contact information for the program includes the main office address in New Paltz, NY, and a general program email ([email protected]) and phone number (845-256-3016). While deadlines for the 2025 cycle have passed, the recurring nature of this grant indicates opportunities are likely to reemerge annually. Future applicants are encouraged to monitor updates through the official DEC website or direct communications with the program team.