| Press Release: NYS, May 26, 2000
Governor George E. Pataki today announced nearly $1.2
million in grants for 33 local projects to protect and enhance the Hudson River
and its tributaries. These Hudson River Estuary Program grants will be awarded
to not-for-profit corporations and municipalities through the Environmental
Protection Fund.
"The Hudson River is one of New York's premier natural and
historic resources, providing unlimited recreation, tourism and economic
development opportunities," Governor Pataki said. "These grants will help build
on the record progress we've made in cleaning and protecting the Hudson, while
increasing public access, conserving vital natural resources, improving
educational programs, and protecting open space along the entire Estuary."
The Hudson River Estuary Grants Program is designed to
build partnerships with community organizations to fund local projects that
contribute to the river's renewal and protection along the Hudson River
Estuary.
Senator Vincent Leibell said, "From the beginning of our
State's history the Hudson River has served as an invaluable resource to make
New York the Empire State that it is. The grants provided under the Estuary
Program will allow the Hudson to continue as the wonderful natural and scenic
waterway we love, as well as be cultivated into a beautiful tourism and
recreational asset that all our citizens can enjoy."
State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner
John P. Cahill said, "These awards expand the vitally important work already
underway in achieving Governor Pataki's vision for a cleaner and healthier
Hudson River. These grant projects will collectively serve to implement the
commitments of the Estuary Action Plan through local, grassroots action."
The grants announced by the Governor today are the first
ever awarded under the Estuary Program. Grants are available for municipalities
and not-for-profit corporations located in the 12 counties that border the
Hudson River Estuary, including Bronx, New York, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam,
Orange, Dutchess, Ulster, Columbia, Greene, Albany and Rensselaer counties.
The Hudson River Estuary grants range in size from a
minimum of $2,500 to a maximum of $100,000 in five eligible categories. Among
the grants announced today are: 14 grants totaling $419,732 for interpretation
and education projects; three grants totaling $165,125 for habitat preservation
and restoration; two grants totaling $56,710 for local scenic resources; five
grants totaling $136,549 for community conservation and stewardship; and nine
grants totaling $398,887 for river access improvements, including boating,
fishing, swimming and wildlife-related recreation.
Putnam County received a $100,000 grant to assist with the
development of a boat launch and expand public fishing access in the Village of
Cold Spring. The project will enhance water-based tourism in the village and
the nearby United States Military Academy at West Point, and provide increased
public access to the Hudson River.
The City of Peekskill, Westchester County, will receive a
$75,000 grant toward the construction of a waterfront trail serving the
Peekskill Landing site, connecting the property with Riverfront Green Park to
the south and to Annsville Creek to the north. The trail will provide increased
public fishing access to the river. The project is an element of the City's
ongoing Hudson River Trail project that seeks to provide public access to the
Hudson River shoreline bordering the City of Peekskill.
Peekskill Mayor John Kelly said, "I am very pleased that
Governor Pataki is able to commit funds for construction of the riverfront
trail. This project is part of my eight point plan to increase riverfront
access by creating a greenway along the Hudson River from the southern end of
the City to Annsville Creek."
Among the other projects announced today were: $62,531 for
the Arbor Hill Environmental Justice Corporation, in Albany, Albany County, for
the Upper Hudson River Stream Keeper Project; $74,000 to the Eastern New York
Chapter of The Nature Conservancy to obtain conservation easements in the Mill
Creek Watershed in Stuyvesant, Columbia County; and $38,000 for the Village of
Castleton, Rensselaer County, to establish disabled-accessible fishing access
on the Hudson River.
Under the Governor's leadership, more than $116 million has
been approved for implementation of priorities in the Hudson River Estuary
Action Plan, including $50 million from the Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act for
water quality and habitat restoration projects.
The Governor has also secured $12.4 million in the New
York/New Jersey Port Plan to track down and clean-up toxic chemical
contaminants in the Estuary and $30 million from the Environmental Protection
Fund for implementation of other commitments in the Estuary Action Plan. A
total of $24.3 million has been allocated for open space preservation, state
and municipal park improvements and brownfield clean-up projects.
Since its release by Governor Pataki in May 1996, the
Hudson River Estuary Action Plan has served as a blueprint for DEC and
partnering agencies' implementation of management actions along the estuary.
The action plan was updated in 1998 and extends the plan through 2001.
Development of Action Plan 2000 is underway and will continue to address the
estuary's most pressing needs through 2003.
Hudson River Estuary Grants
1. Interpretation and Education $419, 732 total
| County | Applicant | Project Name/Location/Funding |
| Columbia | Columbia Co. Soil& Water Conservation District | Exhibit, "Meeting the Hudson River Estuary" at Mud Creek Environmental Learning Center, Ghent, $25,500 |
| Dutchess | Dutchess County BOCES | Purchase of boat for education programs at Norrie Point, $75,000 |
| Dutchess & Ulster | Hudson River Sloop Clearwater | Operation Kid Steward, field trips for kids and programs for their parents at libraries and community centers, $24,975 |
| Dutchess | Scenic Hudson | Interpretive Kiosks, Madame Brett Park, Beacon, $27,000 |
| Dutchess | Vassar College | Series of Hudson River radio programs, $45,000 |
| Greene | Greene Co. Soil & Water Conservation & District | Environmental Education Program at Cohotate Center of Columbia-Greene Community College, $22,750 |
| New York City | The River Project | Community Education Initiative, Pier 26, $20,000 |
| New York City | NYC Soil & Water Conservation District | Design Community Interpretive Center, Riverbank State Park, $20,000 |
| Orange | Newburgh Free Library | Hudson River Resource Center On Line, Newburgh, $18,146 |
| Putnam | National Audubon Society | Nature Center Winterization Project, Constitution Marsh Sanctuary, $14,987 |
| Ulster | Arm-of-the-Sea Theater | Develop Hudson Estuary show, $24,500 |
| Ulster | Town of Esopus | Environmental Education Program, Sleightsburgh Spit Park, $4,874 |
| Westchester | Beczak Environmental Education Center | River-based education program, Yonkers, $63,000 |
| Westchester | Hudson River Museum | "Hudson Stories" multimedia production, $34,000 |
2. Habitat Preservation and/or Restoration $165,125
Total
| Columbia | Nature Conservancy | Mill Creek, 90 acres, land acquisition, $74,000 |
| | Rockland | Rockland County |
Grassy Point Marsh, 31.4 acres, land acquisition, $85,125
| Westchester | Village of Dobbs Ferry | Wickers Creek, biological assessment, habitat restoration feasibility study, $6,000 |
. 3. Local Scenic Resources Projects $56,710 Total
| Putnam | Manitoga | Restoring views, $5,210 |
| Westchester | City of Yonkers | Restoration of views of the Hudson from Untermyer Park and Gardens, $51,500 |
4. Community Conservation and Stewardship $136,549
Total
| Albany | Arbor Hill | Environmental Justice Corporation Upper Hudson River Stream Keeper Project, $62,531 |
| Dutchess | Dutchess County EMC | Dutchess County watershed program , $44,000 |
| Putnam | Town of Putnam Valley | Peekskill Hollow Brook Conservation and River Stewardship Project, $5,800 |
| Rockland | Rockland County | Natural Resource Plan for Waterfront Park, $2,625 |
| Ulster | Cornell University | Recreational Boaters and Conservation of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation, $21,593 |
5. River Access: Boating, Fishing, Swimming,
Wildlife-related Recreation $398,887 Total
| Greene | Northern Catskills Chapter, National Audubon Society | Wildlife observation platform and bird banding station at Livingston- Ramshorn Marsh, $2,500 |
| New York City | Municipal Art Society | 7 docks/floating piers at various locations on the Hudson and East River for hand launching, $34,147 |
| Orange | Newburgh Rowing Club |
Construction of hand launch, $52,365
| Putnam | Putnam County | Construction of trailered boat launch, Cold Spring, $100,000 |
| Rensselaer | Village of Castleton | Handicapped accessible fishing access, reclamation of industrial site, $38,000 |
| Rockland | Rockland County | Design of trailered boat launch, Haverstraw, $26,250 |
| Ulster | Town of Esopus | Walkway for wildlife observation at Sleightsburgh Spit, $49,250 |
| Westchester | Town of Cortland | Construction of hand launch, Oscawana Island, $21,375 |
| Westchester | City of Peekskill | Waterfront Trail, $75,000 |
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