New York State has awarded more than $20 million in grants for 24 water quality and climate resiliency projects in the Department of Environmental Conservation’s Region 8, which covers Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Steuben, and Wayne counties. The funding is part of a larger initiative announced by Governor Kathy Hochul, totaling over $265 million statewide to protect drinking water, improve climate resilience, update water infrastructure, reduce harmful algal blooms, and ensure access to clean water.
Funding comes from multiple grant programs managed by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC), as well as investments from sources such as the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act and the Environmental Protection Fund. These programs—Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP), Non-Agricultural Nonpoint Source Planning and Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Mapping Grant (NPG), and Resilient Watersheds Grant (RWG)—are designed to help municipalities undertake essential projects with less financial strain on local taxpayers.
DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, “Since taking office, and most recently in the 2026 State of the State, Governor Hochul continues to provide unprecedented resources to invest in climate resiliency and water infrastructure to support communities across the State. With more than $265 million from multiple programs, including $185 million supporting improvements in environmental justice communities, the awarded projects will help our municipal partners achieve meaningful reductions in flood risk, protect drinking water, improve aquatic habitat, and safeguard residents from increasingly severe weather events.”
EFC President and CEO Maureen Coleman added: “Governor Hochul is investing billions in water infrastructure every year to help local governments affordably advance crucial water quality and resiliency projects. By pairing Environmental Bond Act funding with other State program funding to support new and signature programs, every dollar goes further and brings New York closer to a safer, more sustainable future. The new Resilient Watersheds Grant program will jumpstart flood-mitigation projects in some of the most at-risk communities while creating good-paying jobs that drive local economies.”
Projects funded include filtration system upgrades for Tonawanda Creek in Batavia ($6.65 million), wetland restoration by Ducks Unlimited in Genesee County ($641,000), culvert replacements in Avon ($1.98 million), salt storage facility construction across several towns for improved stormwater management, mapping of stormwater systems for better maintenance response times, acquisition of land for watershed protection near Canandaigua Lake ($2.8 million), roadside ditch stabilization along Jersey Hill Road ($1.58 million), wetland restoration at Montezuma Wetlands Complex ($577,264), among others.
The WQIP program awarded over $208 million statewide for 131 projects focused on improving water quality or habitats; promoting flood risk reduction; enhancing flood resilience; or protecting drinking water sources. The NPG program provided $2.9 million for 44 initial planning projects related to stormwater management and green infrastructure. The RWG program allocated $55 million for 24 climate resiliency initiatives across New York.
Governor Hochul’s administration has outlined a five-year plan committing $3.75 billion—$750 million annually—to modernize state water systems as described in her 2026 State of the State proposal. This would bring total investment since 2017 close to $10 billion when combined with previous spending aimed at replacing old pipes, upgrading sewage plants, removing lead lines, filtering PFAS chemicals, among other efforts.
The Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act was approved by voters on November 8th, 2022 with a value of $4.2 billion intended for agencies and local governments to fund projects that protect natural resources while adapting communities against climate change impacts. To date $1.9 billion has been invested under this act.
Some grants were distributed through New York’s Consolidated Funding Application process which streamlines applications so economic development funding can be accessed more efficiently through a single entry point rather than navigating multiple agencies separately.
