State awards over $37M to Western New York for water quality projects

The grants are part of a $265 million investment across New York to support water infrastructure and protect drinking water.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — New York State is making a large investment into water quality projects in Western New York.

The NYS Department of Conservation has awarded over $37 million to 29 water quality projects across WNY in an effort to improve and protect drinking water quality, slow erosion on lake shores and river banks, and more.

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“Since taking office, and most recently in the 2026 State of the State, Governor Hochul continues to provide unprecedented resources to invest in climate resiliency and water infrastructure to support communities across the State,” DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton in a statement.

“With more than $265 million from multiple programs, including $185 million supporting improvements in environmental justice communities, the awarded projects will help our municipal partners achieve meaningful reductions in flood risk, protect drinking water, improve aquatic habitat, and safeguard residents from increasingly severe weather events.”

The projects are broken down into Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP), Non-Agricultural Nonpoint Source Planning and Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Mapping Grant (NPG) and Resilient Watersheds Grant (RWG). A full breakdown of the projects can be view below, or at the NYS DEC’s website.

Allegany County Soil and Water Conservation District$1.2 million – Three separate $400,000 WQIP grants to construct salt storage facilities in the towns of Birdsall, Granger and New Hudson, new facilities to protect water quality in Black Creek, Rush Creek and the groundwater in the areaRush Creek – $50,000 – NPG project to evaluate erosion on Rush CreekCaneadea – $50,000 – NPG project to evaluate erosion in six locations on Caneadea CreekAngelica Creek – $50,000 – NPG project to study effects of stormwater runoff in Angelica CreekCuba Lake -$75,000 -NPG project to evaluate and reduce levels of sediment running into Cuba Lake

Cattaraugus County Soil and Water Conservation DistrictTown of Hindsdale – $805,600 – WQIP to connect around one mile of trout habitat in the Town of Hindsdale.Town of Humphrey – $240,000 – WQIP for a salt storage facility to protect water quality in Wrights Creek and surrounding groundwater$171,768 – WQIP to purchase live edge plow blades for the Cattaraugus Co. Department of Public works and the Town of Carrollton Highway department. New equipment is meant to reduce the amount of salt applied on the roads, protecting drinking water and groundwater

Town of Chautauqua$508,363 – WQIP to replace Wright Road culvert to reduce erosion and nutrient loading in the Chautauqua Lake watershed$410,757 – WQIP to replace Elmwood Road culvert to reduce erosion and improve flood defenses in the Chautauqua Lake watershedChautauqua County Soil and Water Conservation District$20,000 – NPG to identify areas of emergent wetlands and to replant native plants around Cattaraugus Creek in an effort to reduce erosion and improve water quality in the creek

Buffalo Sewer AuthorityScajaquada Creek – $10 million – WQIP to install new drop shaft to the Scajaquada Tunnel on Colorado Avenue to reduce the number of combined sewer overflows, improving the water quality of the Black Rock Canal and Scajaquada Creek.Town of CheektowagaScajaquada Creek – $10 million – WQIP to renovate 2,800 feet of sewer infrastructure and over 1,200 manholes to reduce sewer overflow in Scajaquada Creek during stormsErie CountyErie County Parks – $4 million – WQIP to stabilize streambanks and shorelines at 10 sites across Erie County, including severe coastal erosion at Wendt Beach Park, project will stabilize 10,000 feet of shoreline for the Lake Erie and Niagara River watershedsTown of Grand IslandNiagara River – $1.9 million – WQIP to replace undersize pumps at Lift Station 8, as well as renovate 10,000 feet of sewer infrastructure on Stony Point Road to reduce sewer overflows into the Niagara RiverTown of AuroraEast Branch Cazenovia Creek- $486,000 – WQIP to replace a salt storage facility to improve the water quality in the East Branch Cazenovia CreekTown of ClarenceRansom Creek – $400,000 – WQIP to purchase a vacuum truck to reduce pollutants and improve water quality across the Ransom Creek watershedTown of AldenEllicott Creek – $288,532 – WQIP to replace a salt storage facility to protect the water quality in Ellicott CreekTown of Amherst$67,500 – NPG to map a portion of the town’s stormwater system 

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic PreservationReservoir State Park -$3.3 million – RWG to add 600 linear feet of stream in Reservoir State Park, creating a wetland pond and a walking trailBuffalo Niagara WaterkeeperGill Creek – $2 million – WQIP to conduct living shoreline project along Gill Creek in the City of Niagara Falls. Restoration of the shoreline will include planting native plants, removing deteriorating boardwalk, and replacing a mowed lawn a restored river bank to reduce erosionCity of North Tonawanda$75,000 – NGP for a stormwater mapping project to identify issues in the existing stormwater systemNiagara County Soil and Water Conservation DistrictEighteenmile Creek – $388,250 – WQIP for a salt storage project in the Town of Royalton to protect the water quality in Eighteenmile Creek 

Trout Unlimited, Inc.Trout Brook – $344,471 – WQIP to replace a culvert in Trout Brook to reconnect over three miles of aquatic habitat.Wyoming County Soil and Water Conservation DistrictCreek Road – $300,000 – RWG to restore a severely eroded stream along Creek Road, protecting the drinking water in the City of Batavia and protecting the habitat of the endangered Salamander Mussel.Village of WarsawGenesee River Basin – $50,000 – NPG to replace culverts to prevent flooding and streambank erosion throughout the Village of Warsaw