Chesapeake Bay Watershed Restoration Gets Support

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos last week awarded three grants totaling nearly $1 million for programs in New York’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Funding for the grants is provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. DEC’s Chesapeake Bay Watershed Program administers the grants.

The grants are for projects to permanently protect riparian buffers through land acquisition and conservation easements.

“Riparian buffers are critical to New York’s continued effort to reduce nutrients and sediment in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. New York, along with six other jurisdictions, are working together to restore the Chesapeake Bay,” said DEC Commissioner Seggos. 

“Riparian buffers have the added benefit of reducing flood impacts, creating wildlife habitat, and providing shade to streams. These land acquisitions and conservation easements will permanently protect these riparian areas and help improve and sustain water quality and habitat.”

Grants are being awarded to:

• Tioga County Soil and Water Conservation District, $669,620;
• Edward L. Rose Conservancy, $199,032;
• Finger Lakes Land Trust, $124,212.