From road ditches to wastewater plants, major water projects are coming to Cayuga and Tompkins counties.
New York State awarded millions in new funding to local governments and conservation groups as part of a broader $25.5 million investment in water quality and climate resiliency projects across Central New York.
The money targets erosion, flooding, aging infrastructure, and pollution flowing into lakes and streams.
Cayuga County focuses on erosion and road salt
Cayuga County will receive more than $733,000 through the Water Quality Improvement Project grant program.
The Cayuga County Soil and Water Conservation District secured $448,000 to work with local municipalities on hydroseeding road ditches. The effort aims to stabilize soil, reduce erosion, and improve water quality countywide.
Another $285,200 will go toward reducing road salt use. The district will purchase live-edge plow blades, weather sensors, and truck-mounted brine spreaders to limit excess salt application and protect drinking water supplies, including Owasco Lake.
Big upgrades across Tompkins County
Tompkins County projects account for some of the largest individual awards in the region.
The City of Ithaca received $10 million to upgrade the Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility. The project includes refurbishing treatment equipment and improving solids handling to reduce the amount of phosphorus entering Cayuga Lake.
The Village of Freeville secured $4.25 million to modernize its wastewater treatment system. Planned upgrades include new aeration equipment, advanced filtration, and ultraviolet disinfection to cut phosphorus discharges into Fall Creek.
The Village of Groton received $1.4 million to improve its wastewater treatment plant and reduce phosphorus entering Owasco Inlet.
Culverts, creeks, and flood resilience
Several Tompkins County awards focus on flood-prone roads and streams.
The Tompkins County Highway Department will use $1.3 million to replace a failing culvert in the Town of Caroline with a new box culvert featuring a natural stream bottom.
The Town of Ulysses received $855,675 to replace an undersized culvert on Agard Road that frequently overtops during floods.
The Town of Groton will use $490,631 to replace two failing culverts on Webster Brook with a single concrete box culvert, improving flood resilience and aquatic connectivity.
The Tompkins County Soil and Water Conservation District received $250,000 to restore a degraded section of Miller Creek in the Town of Dryden, including erosion control and habitat improvements for native brook trout.
Additional planning grants will support streambank stabilization along Salmon Creek in the Town of Lansing and green infrastructure studies in the Village of Owego’s Evergreen Cemetery.
Part of a statewide push
The Cayuga and Tompkins County projects are part of more than $265 million in water infrastructure and resiliency funding announced by Governor Kathy Hochul.
The awards draw from multiple state programs, including the Water Quality Improvement Project, the Non-Agricultural Nonpoint Source Planning program, and funding from the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act.
State officials say the investments aim to protect drinking water, reduce flooding, and prepare communities for more extreme weather.
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