The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and New York Sea Grant have awarded nearly $200,000 to five local projects aimed at protecting and restoring the Great Lakes Basin. The funding will support efforts to improve water quality, combat invasive species, and increase climate resilience in western and northern New York communities.
“New York’s Great Lakes Basin Small Grants support local science-based projects that restore habitats, combat invasive species, and engage communities while strengthening the resilience of our shared environment and the State’s economy,” said DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton.
Katherine Bunting-Howarth, Associate Director of New York Sea Grant, emphasized the importance of preserving natural infrastructure. “The projects apply a holistic approach that recognizes the dynamic interaction of ecological, social, and economic systems,” she said.
Since its launch in 2015, the program has invested over $2 million in 66 projects across the basin. The latest round includes $40,000 for a living shoreline restoration in Erie County’s Sheridan Park, and $40,000 to educate forest landowners on invasive species in nearby preserves.
Genesee County Parks received $39,753 for a youth-led habitat restoration in the Upper Black Creek watershed. The initiative will involve 200 young people and 25 adult volunteers in hands-on ecological work.
In Jefferson County, Cornell Cooperative Extension secured $40,000 to establish a native seed collection network spanning three counties. The program will train volunteers and create seed storage infrastructure to bolster habitat resilience.
The final award of $39,943 goes to a community tree planting initiative in Pulaski, Oswego County. Residents will help plan and plant over 70 trees in targeted areas to address flooding and heat stress, guided by local climate and land-use plans.
The grants are funded through the state’s Environmental Protection Fund and administered under the New York Ocean and Great Lakes Ecosystem Conservation Act.
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