The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) has announced $349,922 in contract awards for three projects to help communities improve climate resiliency, mitigate local flooding, and restore aquatic habitats. Funding for these projects is provided by the New York State Environmental Protection Fund and is administered by NYSDEC’s Hudson River Estuary Program in partnership with NEIWPCC.
Two of the projects will create designs and conceptional engineering plans for climate resilient and connected waterfronts in the city of Hudson, and the village and town of Ossining. The third project will develop municipal management plans for road-stream crossings and dams within the towns of Red Hook and Milan.
“The funding awards will help Hudson River communities in Columbia, Dutchess, and Westchester counties bolster their climate resilience by enhancing the ability of natural systems to reduce flood risks,” said NYSDEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. “While Hudson Valley cities, towns, and villages continue to recover after devastating flooding in the wake of Tropical Depression Ida, New York is investing in our communities to preserve our natural resources and strengthen their ability to withstand flooding.”
Susan Sullivan, NEIWPCC executive director said, “NEIWPCC is pleased to assist Hudson River Valley communities use collaborative and innovative approaches to protect against the increasing risks resulting from climate change.”
Funded projects include:
Ossining Shoreline Revitalization and Community Connectivity Improvements
A $125,000 contract was awarded to Henningson, Durham and Richardson Architecture and Engineering, P.C. (HDR) for a living shoreline project at the Henry Gourdine and Louis Engel Waterfront Parks in Ossining. Eco-friendly elements such as plants, sand, or rock, will be included in the shoreline stabilization to create fish habitat and promote recreational fishing opportunities. An inclusive stakeholder engagement process will be used to provide input on specific design features. The project will result in an implementable preliminary design and an engineering report that includes a permitting strategy.
City of Hudson Climate-Adaptive Design
The Hudson Valley Collaborative received a $125,000 award for a project in the city of Hudson that will use a nature-based approach to protecting shoreline and tidal wetlands from sea-level rise, while maintaining active recreation and cultural activities. Hudson Valley Collaborative will seek community consensus on the design which will prioritize ecological solutions that restore the intertidal marshland, as well as the access points for public boat docks and launches. The final preliminary design will provide the necessary design, engineering, and permitting documentation for the city to finalize and construct the project.
Restoration of Watershed Connectivity and Improved Road Infrastructure
T&B Engineering and Landscaping Architecture, P.C. was awarded $99,922 to develop municipal management plans for road-stream crossings and dams in the towns of Red Hook and Milan in Dutchess County. The project will improve water quality, reduce flood risks, and reconnect habitat for migratory and resident fish in the Hudson River Estuary. The plans will include all crossings in both towns, building on the 148 previously inventoried culverts. Community outreach and collaboration will inform a municipal management plan that will include a documented inventory, prioritization, and conceptual designs for the top three priority crossings for each municipality.
The projects are expected to start this fall.