November 21, 2011

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Farrell Sklerov / Michael Saucier  (718) 595-6600

DEP Announces $4 Million in New Funding for Community-Based Green Infrastructure Grant Projects

Awardees Will Be Selected for Innovative Methods to Manage Stormwater Runoff

 
Environmental Protection Commissioner Carter Strickland today announced up to $4 million in grants as part of the 2012 Green Infrastructure Grant Program to build green roofs, rain gardens, rainwater harvesting, right-of-way bioswales, and similar methods for reducing and managing stormwater on private property and public sidewalks in combined sewer areas. The new round of grants continues to support the PlaNYC goal of improving water quality by reducing the likelihood and intensity of combined sewer overflows. New York City, like other older urban centers, is largely serviced by a combined sewer system where stormwater and wastewater are carried through a single pipe. During heavy storms, the system can exceed its capacity and is designed to prevent treatment plants from washing out by discharging a mix of stormwater and wastewater — called a combined sewer overflow, or CSO — into New York Harbor. Under the 2011 Green Infrastructure Grant Program, DEP awarded $3.8 million in grants to 13 entities out of 52 that applied.

"This round of project grants continues the drumbeat of positive news for New York's waterways," said Commissioner Strickland. "The Green Infrastructure Plan proposes a more sustainable and adaptive approach to improve the water quality in New York Harbor. We were thrilled with the quality of applications that we received for the first round of grants and we are excited to see again the innovative ideas that local communities will develop to deal with stormwater where it falls and, in doing so, help improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods."

Private property owners, businesses, and not-for-profit organizations are eligible for funding for projects that use green infrastructure to reduce or manage stormwater on private property and public sidewalks. Preference for grants will be given to projects in DEP's priority watersheds and those that can provide evidence that they will create further benefits such as increased shade, decreased energy use for cooling buildings, increased awareness about stormwater management, and increased community stewardship. More information and the grant application can be found at www.nyc.gov/dep. Applications are due February 15, 2012. DEP now has an online application to facilitate an entirely electronic, paperless submittal process. Selections are made by an interdisciplinary and interagency Review Committee comprised experts from the City's Departments of Environmental Protection, Transportation, Design and Construction, Parks and Recreation, the Mayor's Office of Long Term Planning and Sustainability, and DEC.

DEP is also hosting a series of grant workshops at the following dates and locations:

The NYC Green Infrastructure Plan proposed a total investment of $2.4 billion over the next 20 years in green infrastructure to improve harbor water quality by capturing and retaining stormwater runoff before it enters the sewer system. Most green infrastructure includes vegetated features such as bioswales and green roofs, or structural aspects such as porous pavement, both of which can absorb and retain stormwater.

DEP manages the city's water supply, providing more than one billion gallons of water each day to more than nine million residents, including eight million in New York City. The water is delivered from a watershed that extends more than 125 miles from the city, comprising 19 reservoirs and three controlled lakes. Approximately 7,000 miles of water mains, tunnels and aqueducts bring water to homes and businesses throughout the five boroughs, and 7,400 miles of sewer lines and 95 pump stations take wastewater to 14 in-city treatment plants. DEP employs nearly 6,000 employees, including almost 1,000 in the upstate watershed. DEP has a robust capital program, with a planned $8.9 billion in investments over the next five years. DEP has a robust capital program, with a planned $13.2 billion in investments over the next 10 years. For more information, visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nycwater, or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/nycwater.