Project Grant 96215823

DESCRIPTION:THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW (P.L. 117-58), ALSO KNOWN AS THE 'INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT OF 2021' (IIJA) OR 'BIL.' PROVIDED FIVE YEARS OF FUNDING FOR THE ACCELERATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND COMMUNITY RESTORATION GOALS BY EACH OF THE NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAMS. A CORE EMPHASIS OF THE NEP BIL FUNDING IS THE ACCELERATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND COMMUNITY RESTORATION GOALS WITHIN THE COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT PLANS (CCMP). THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT IS PROVIDED TO HUDSON RIVER FOUNDATION FOR SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH, INC. TO SUPPORT AND ACCELERATE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NY/NJ HARBOR AND ESTUARY' PROGRAM'S CCMP AND ACCOMPANYING ACTION PLAN PREPARED BY HUDSON RIVER FOUNDATION AND STAKEHOLDERS TO IMPROVE THE WATER QUALITY, PROTECT THE NATURAL HABITAT AND LIVING RESOURCES, AND SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE HUMAN USES OF THE NEW YORK-NEW JERSEY HARBOR AND ESTUARY. THIS AGREEMENT ALSO SUPPORTS THE URBAN WATERS FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP WHICH AIMS TO STIMULATE REGIONAL AND LOCAL ECONOMIES, ASSIST DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES, CREATE LOCAL JOBS, IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE, AND PROTECT AMERICANS' HEALTH BY REVITALIZING URBAN WATERWAYS IN UNDER-SERVED COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THIS IS THE THIRD YEAR OF THE FIVE YEARS OF BIL FUNDING FOR THE NY/NJ HARBOR AND ESTUARY PROGRAM.ACTIVITIES:THE ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED ARE SPECIFIED WITHIN THE NY-NJ HARBOR AND ESTUARY PROGRAM'S BIL PLANNING FRAMEWORK AND ANNUAL WORK PLAN AND BUDGET FOR FY 2024. THE BIL PLANNING FRAMEWORK AND ANNUAL WORK PLAN AND BUDGET FOR FY 2024 IS ATTACHED TO THIS FUNDING RECOMMENDATION, AND SUPPORTS THE NYNJ HARBOR AND ESTUARY PROGRAMS 2017 - 2025 ACTION AGENDA. ACTIONS INCLUDED IN THE WORKPLAN INCLUDE SUPPORTING GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE IN DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY, MONITOR PATHOGENS IN THE ESTUARY, PROVIDE GRANTS TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY RESILIENCE, INCREASE INVESTMENT IN CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION PROJECTS, INCREASE ACCESS TO THE WATERFRONT FOR DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES, FUND THE URBAN WATER PARTNERSHIP AMBASSADORS IN DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES, AND PROVIDE AN IMPORTANT PLATFORM FOR COMMUNICATION BETWEEN FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION PARTNERS TO SUPPORT THE HEALTH OF THE ESTUARY.SUBRECIPIENT:SUBAWARD ACTIVITIES TO BE FUNDED UNDER THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT INCLUDE: 1) ASSESS AND INTERPRET SHORELINE AND SHALLOW WATER HABITAT CONDITION AND VALUE THROUGH ENHANCEMENT AND CREATING STRUCTURED OYSTER REEFS. 2) INCREASE SUPPORT FOR MONITORING, ASSESSMENT AND INTERPRETATION OF SHALLOW WATER HABITAT CONDITION VALUE IN THE BRONX AND HARLEM RIVER AREAS. 3) ADVANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INCREASING PUBLIC ACCESS, PARTICULARLY IN AREAS OF HIGHER NEED. 4) SUPPORT STEWARDSHIP ACTIVITIES AND PUBLIC PROGRAMMING IN HIGHER NEED AREAS THROUGH SMALL GRANTS IN DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES. 5) ADVANCE MEANS AND METHODS FOR PUBLIC NOTIFICATION OF CSO EVENTS. 6) UNDERSTAND THE RISKS OF RECONTAMINATION OF RESTORED SITES BY SUPPORTING A RESEARCH PROJECT ON THE BIOTA AT A RESTORED LOCATION. 7) SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE OPPORTUNITIES IN CSO AND MS4 COMMUNITIES. 8) DESIGN AN INTENSIVE PATHOGEN MONITORING AND NOTIFICATION PLAN ON THE ARTHUR KILL 9) IDENTIFY PARAMETERS AND POTENTIAL FOR ESTABLISHING A LONG TERM MONITORING PROGRAM TO ASSESS CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS IN DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES. 10) PROVIDE GRANTS TO DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES TO SUPPORT ENGAGEMENT IN CLIMATE RESILIENCY INITIATIVES TO ADDRESS WATER QUALITY ISSUES. 11) INCREASE INVESTMENT IN CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION BY ASSESSMENT OF ROAD STREAM CROSSINGS SUCH AS CULVERTS AND BRIDGES FOR AQUATIC PASSAGE AND CLIMATE READINESS PRIORITIZING THOSE IN DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES. 12) PROVIDE TECHNICAL AND DIRECT SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY PARTNERS PILOTING AMERICAN EEL MONITORING PROJECTS IN NEW JERSEY.13) INCREASE INVESTMENT IN CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION TO SUPPORT ENHANCEMENT OF ONE OR MORE OF THE SITES RECOGNIZED IN THE HUDSON RARITAN ES