The DEC Hudson River Estuary Program will hold an informational webinar about project eligibility and the application process for the Local Stewardship Planning RFA for Estuary Grants. Applications are due on August 7, 2025 at 3pm.

• Register for Local Stewardship Planning on June 11, 2 – 3 p.m.

The webinar will be recorded and will be available on the Hudson River Estuary Program Grants and Funding Opportunities page.  

Eligible projects in conservation planning include:

•    a natural resources inventory (NRI) that compiles, describes, and maps important natural resources in a municipality, county, watershed, or region

•    an open space inventory that uses an NRI to analyze natural areas and list them in priority order for acquisition, preservation, or restoration

•    an open space plan or community preservation plan that identifies priorities and strategies for conserving municipal, inter-municipal, or regional open space values, especially important lands and waters

•    a conservation overlay zone or natural resource protection regulations for priority lands and waters identified as important in a municipal or inter-municipal plan

•    a critical environmental area (CEA) for priority lands and waters identified as important in a municipal or inter-municipal plan  

•    an open space funding feasibility study that evaluates public financing options for a municipality to preserve priority open spaces and natural areas, or a cost of community services study  

•    a connectivity plan that identifies opportunities, strategies, and recommendations for acquiring lands and waters to preserve important connections for wildlife habitat, stream corridors, large forests, and overall ecological resiliency