The Lake Erie Watershed Protection Alliance (LEWPA) is soliciting proposals from municipalities, non-profit environmental organizations, or other entities/agencies to utilize funding through the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Environmental Protection Fund to support priority water quality improvement or protection projects and water-related climate resiliency projects in the Niagara River/Lake Erie Watershed.
Donor Name: Erie County Department of Environment and Planning
State: New York
County: Cattaraugus County (NY), Chautauqua County (NY), Erie County (NY)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 01/03/2025
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The Lake Erie Watershed Protection Alliance (LEWPA) is made up of Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, and Erie counties. This solicitation is primarily for projects within Erie County, but projects that have benefits in more than one of the three counties may be partially funded by more than one county.
This funding is designed to be utilized by projects that are unable to obtain funding through other sources or that need some initial seed money in order to become a competitive project for other funding sources. This money is considered New York State funds for match purposes.
Categories
Projects must work to improve or protect water quality in at least one of the following categories:
- Installation and Implementation of Best Management Practices
- Examples include:
- Stormwater management/treatment projects and green infrastructure
- Stream bank stabilization and erosion control including living shorelines
- Riparian buffer planting and restoration
- Examples include:
- Public Education and Outreach
- Examples include:
- Boat stewards aquatic invasive species prevention program
- Workshops/training/educational tours
- Innovative engagement techniques
- Examples include:
- Eradication of Invasive Species
- Examples include:
- Control of aquatic or terrestrial invasive species
- Habitat restoration
- Examples include:
- Geographic Information Services (GIS) or Other Technical Assistance
- Examples include:
- Feasibility/Engineering Studies
- Initial project design/scoping for larger grant applications
- Development of tools for water quality improvement or protection
- GIS Mapping assistance
- Examples include:
- Specialized water-related programs to address local concerns and support state-wide priorities
- Projects that advance the NYSDEC Great Lakes Action Agenda
- Projects that advance the development of the Regional Niagara River/ Lake Erie Watershed Management Plan – Phase 3 or are mentioned in the Phase 2 Plan.
Funding Information
- Approximately $70,000 is available for each of the counties in LEWPA.
- Typical project funding will be around $15,000.
Requirements
- Applicants must agree that any identifying signs will note that portions of the project were funded by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Environmental Protection Fund through the Lake Erie Watershed Protection Alliance.
- Projects will likely be funded in summer 2025.
- Generally, projects will be expected to be completed within one fiscal year, ending in early summer 2026. 75% of project funds may be made available upfront with 25% reimbursement after successful completion of the project.
- Three-page maximum for application, plus attachments
- Applicants may be asked to present to/discuss their project proposals with the Erie County Water Quality Committee (ECWQC) in January 2025.
For more information, visit ECDEP.
