Water Resources
The Hudson Valley Regional Council (HVRC) is the recipient of grant funding from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) 604(b) Water Quality Planning Grant and the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Training and Technical Assistance Program for Rural, Small, and Tribal Wastewater Systems. Through this funding, HVRC assists Mid-Hudson communities in accessing funding for both wastewater and water quality planning initiatives, and provides education and outreach to local municipalities regarding water quality planning and stormwater management.
Waterbody stream classification map of surface water in the Mid-Hudson Region
DEC 604(b) Water Quality Planning Grant Programs (2023-2028) for Drinking Water
- Drinking Water Source Protection Plans (DWSP2): Development of municipal source water protection plans to protect drinking water source longevity.
- 9 Element Watershed Management Plans (9E): Assessment of municipal sources of non-point source pollution within watersheds and strategy development for pollution reduction.
- Multiple Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4): Assistance for the MS4 general permit, including trainings to help municipalities meet all of the permit regulations, and assistance locating funding for resiliency and flood planning.
EPA Wastewater Technical Assistance (TA) Program for Small & Rural Wastewater Systems
- Assistance for small and rural municipalities in planning, development, and application for funding for wastewater infrastructure improvement projects.
Water Quality Planning Technical Assistance
Drinking Water Source Protection Program (DWSP2)
DWSP2 is a program created by NYS DEC in collaboration with the New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH) to assist communities in protecting their public drinking water sources. The draft framework provides a step-by-step process towards developing a community's unique source water protection plan. The program breaks down the process into four phases: Stakeholder Group, Drinking Water Source Assessment, Protection & Implementation Strategies, and Progression & Maintenance.
HVRC is currently assisting communities in the Mid-Hudson region to protect source water by providing technical assistance, education, and outreach for the program. Our technical assistance to municipalities participating in DWSP2 includes:
- Project hosting and coordination
- Plan writing and development
- Data interpretation and source water map development
- Development of a watershed potential contaminant source inventory
- Guidance on funding resources for plan implementation
If you are interested in learning more about this program, fill out this DWSP2 and a member of the DEC’s DWSP2 team will be in touch. If you have any questions, reach out to Water Resources Coordinator Lauren Bunce at lbunce@hudsonvalleyrc.org or the DWSP2 Team at source.water@dec.ny.gov.
A list of Mid-Hudson municipalities currently working on or have completed a is available here.
| DWSP2 Factsheets |
| What is DWSP2 |
| Understanding the DWSP2 Process |
| DWSP2 by the Numbers |
DWSP2 Land Use Training
HVRC and Pace Land Use Law Center provided a training to New Paltz in December 2021 with help from DEC and DOH. The training covered governance, an overview of the DWSP2 program, land use techniques, and intermunicipal collaboration. Below are the recordings and resource guides prepared for participants of this training:
Video 1: Introduction & Governance 101
Video 2: Land Use Techniques
Video 3: Intermunicipal Cooperation
Watershed Planning
HVRC provides technical assistance for watershed planning in the Mid-Hudson region. This assistance includes, but is not limited to, identifying funding sources and assisting with stormwater and floodplain management.
Watershed Planning Resources
HVRC’s Watershed Inventory 2021 includes a list of watersheds in our region
Hudson River Watershed Alliance (HRWA) List of Watershed Management Plans
9 Element Watershed Plan (9E)
9 Element Watershed Plans (9E) are used by communities, watershed councils, and other stakeholders in order to identify and quantify non-point source pollutants, establish pollutant reduction goals, and develop implementation steps to achieve those goals. Common pollutants addressed by 9E plans are phosphorus and nitrogen. Once completed, these plans are then approved by the DEC.
Grant funding is available to support the development of 9E plans through the NYS Department of State Local Waterfront Revitalization Program.
9E Resources
Clean Water Planning Presentation by Ken Kosinski and Karen Stainbrook, NYS DEC
Nine Element Watershed Plans Presentation by NYS DEC
NYS DEC Reviewer Guidance, Reviewer Checklist and Recommended 9E Plan Outline
For assistance with watershed planning and 9E please contact Water Resources Coordinator Lauren Bunce at lbunce@hudsonvalleyrc.org.
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)
Small MS4s that are located within the boundaries of an urbanized area, as defined by the US Census Bureau, are regulated under the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) Phase II Stormwater Rule. This rule requires MS4 Operators to developed a stormwater management program (SWMP) which includes six minimum control measures (MCMs) that, when implemented, are expected to reduce the discharge of pollutants to the maximum extent practicable. The goal of the program is to improve water quality and recreational use of waterways.
Stormwater discharges from MS4s in urbanized or additional designated areas must be authorized in accordance with the permit for stormwater discharges from MS4s. The NYS DEC released a new MS4 GP (Permit No. GP-0-24-001) on December 13, 2023. The effective date of the permit is January 3, 2024 and it expires on January 2, 2029.
For assistance with stormwater and the MS4 general permit please contact Water Resources Coordinator Lauren Bunce at lbunce@hudsonvalleyrc.org.
List of Notable Dates
- January 3, 2024 – Effective date of the permit (EDP)
- February 20, 2024 – Electronic notice of intent (eNOI) due
- January 3 to January 2 – Annual reporting year for any given year
- October 1 – Interim progress certification due for any given year
- April 1 - due for any given year
MS4 GP Resources
NYS DEC 2024 MS4 GP Fact Sheet
NYS DEC Compliance Items Summary Tool
HVRC Stormwater Series
HVRC provided training series on stormwater and the MS4 General Permit with funding from NYS DEC’s 604(b) Water Quality Planning Program. The trainings covered topics related to stormwater management, green infrastructure, sediment and erosion control, the new MS4 general permit (GP-0-24-001) and the MCM requirements. Click here to view the recordings and presentations.
- Monitoring Green Infrastructure: Data, Observations, & Lessons Learned Recording l Presentation
Hudson River Watershed Alliance Executive Director Emily Vail’s presentation explored her research on green infrastructure performance at two parking lots in the City of Kingston. The intent of the research was to examine how green infrastructure is used as a tool to manage stormwater and reduce runoff.
- Stormwater: What Is It and How Is It Managed? Recording l Presentation
John Dunkle’s, PE, CPESC, CPS4S, presentation investigated stormwater concepts, such as stormwater problems and solutions, the management and maintenance of stormwater practices, and stormwater regulations, including MS4 and construction permits requirements.
- Erosion & Sediment Control: Priorities & Practices for Protection Water Quality, Soils & Streams | Presentation
This in-person event was held in collaboration with the Orange County Planning Department. During this in-person stormwater management workshop, Jay Beaumont, PE, explored the principles of managing soil and erosion control on development sites. A large construction site in the Town of Montgomery was featured as an example of enhanced sediment and erosion control plan adoption.
- Green Infrastructure Techniques and Best Management Practices Recording l Presentation
John Dunkle’s, PE, CPESC, CPS4S, presentation explored in detail various green infrastructure techniques and provided insights into the best management practices for their maintenance.
- MS4 General Permit Workshop | Presentation
This in-person event was held in collaboration with the Orange County Planning Department. During this in-person MS4 General Permit Workshop, Kathy Czajkowski, Mohawk River Coordinator at the DEC and Natalie Browne, Environmental Specialist at the DEC, presented the requirements of the new MS4 general permit (GP-0-24-001).
- MCM 3: Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Workshop | Presentation
This in-person event was held in partnership with the Town of Montgomery. During the event, Jay Beaumont, PE, Vice-Chairman, Town of Montgomery Planning Board, presented on the Town of Montgomery's Enhanced Erosion and Sediment Control plan for large scale construction sites. Christina Chiappetta, Environmental Program Specialist II, DEC spoke about the new MS4 GP requirements for MCM 3 and gave a hands-on training on outfall inspections. Scenarios can be found at the end of the presentation.
Wastewater Technical Assistance
The Hudson Valley Regional Council (HVRC) is the recipient of financial support from the Environmental Protection Agency under an Assistance Agreement to provide technical assistance to small and rural communities to acquire funding through the NYS Clean Water State Revolving Fund for improvements to their wastewater infrastructure. The overall goal of this Program is to improve water quality in our region by increasing the number of small and disadvantaged communities that utilize low-interest financing provided by New York State. The Program equips municipal staff with the critical skills needed to plan, develop, a secure funding for projects on topics ranging from engineering reports, Intended Use Plan listings and NYS priority scoring, grant availability, and capacity building. The program now provides priority-based technical assistance to small municipalities and non-for-profit entities (e.g., regional sewer districts) meeting population or wastewater treatment plant capacity eligibility:
- Municipal populations less than 3,500
- Municipal populations less than 15,000
- Wastewater Treatment Plants serving less than 10,000 residents
- Water Treatment Plants processing less than 1 million gallons per day (MGD)
- Publicly or privately owned decentralized wastewater systems
The Wastewater Information Hub demystifies the search for funding by consolidating useful information about available grants, upcoming webinars, important deadlines, time-stamped webinar summaries, and additional support material.
For assistance with wastewater and HVRC’s Wastewater Technical Assistance Program please contact Water Resources Manager Ryan Corbett at rcorbett@hudsonvalleyrc.org.
Grants & Funding Opportunites
See the Wastewater Hub and HVRC’s Grants Guide for updated information on opportunities.
