Stream Corridor Management Pilot Program

The Stream Corridor Management Pilot Program is administered by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and is supported by the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) through the Ocean and Great Lakes Initiative. This initiative represents a targeted effort by the State of New York to invest in environmental restoration and sustainability, particularly in areas connected to critical water resources. The program reflects a growing recognition of the importance of healthy stream corridors as essential elements for ecological integrity, economic resilience, and human well-being. This competitive grant opportunity provides funding for implementation projects and educational or outreach campaigns that support the protection, restoration, and sustainable management of stream corridors. Projects under this grant must promote the health and functionality of stream systems in a way that yields benefits to ecosystems, local economies, and communities. The types of projects eligible include physical restoration efforts such as re-vegetation, erosion control, habitat improvements, as well as public awareness and education efforts designed to increase community engagement and stewardship of water resources. The funding for this opportunity totals $2,000,000 and comes directly from the Environmental Protection Fund. While the exact amount available to individual applicants is not specified in the announcement, the funding is intended to support a variety of efforts, implying that awards may vary depending on the scope and scale of proposed projects. There is currently no specified matching requirement or minimum/maximum award amount provided. Funding is limited to projects that fall within New York State, and only governmental entities are eligible to apply. Applications must be submitted by December 8, 2025, at 4:00 PM. Although an anticipated award date and contract duration have not been disclosed, applicants are advised to direct all questions about the grant to Lauren Prezorski at the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. Questions must be submitted in writing by November 21, 2025. Answers to these questions, along with any updates or addenda to the Request for Proposals (RFP), will be posted on the Department’s website starting no later than September 22, 2025, and updated through November 28, 2025. There is no requirement to submit a Letter of Intent, nor is there mention of a pre-application or concept paper phase. While the announcement does not specify any bidder conferences or workshops, it emphasizes the importance of reviewing the Frequently Asked Questions and all addenda posted online to ensure applicants have the most accurate and up-to-date information. All communications and submissions should reference the grant opportunity ID: SCMP25. Applicants can access the full announcement and required application materials through the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets website under the Funding Opportunities section. The link to the grant page and Q&A updates is: https://agriculture.ny.gov/funding-opportunities. For additional inquiries, Lauren Prezorski can be reached via email at lauren.prezorski@agriculture.ny.gov.