This agreement provides funding under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) (PL 117-58) to the peconic estuary partnership (PEP)/ rfsuny stony brook

EPA Region 2 awarded the Research Foundation for the State University of New York (operating as Stony Brook University) $1,694,600 on October 1, 2025, under the National Estuary Program (CFDA 66.456) to support implementation of the Peconic Estuary Partnership's 2020 Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan. The recipient will continue and expand projects addressing bulkhead removal assessments, shoreline protection, stormwater management, wetland restoration, stormwater discharge elimination, and fisheries and aquaculture support in the estuary. New work includes shoreline protection projects, bulkhead removal implementation advancement, and stormwater-related implementation initiatives. The recipient will hire a grants manager to oversee IIJA project administration and track leveraged funds, and an education and outreach assistant to deliver project-specific education and outreach. Additional activities include direct stormwater discharge removal, bulkhead removal implementation, stormwater catchment plan development, bulkhead removal assessments, and shellfish, kelp, coastal protection, and education efforts supporting local aquaculture. Three sub-recipients are included in the assistance agreement. Performance period runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2028, with work performed in New York. Funding is provided under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58).

The recipient will support implementation of the comprehensive conservation and management plan (CCMP) to improve water quality, protect the natural habitat and living resources, and support sustainable human uses. PEP's 2020 CCMP guides the priorities of the organization and, as such, all projects and plans detailed in this workplan relate directly to the actions established to achieve the four goals outlined in the CCMP: strong partnerships and engagement, clean waters, resilient communities and a healthy ecosystem with abundant, diverse wildlife. The projects proposed for funding via the IIJA will leverage existing efforts that accelerates and more extensively implements the 2020 CCMP. Specifically, the recipient will continue projects associated with assessments of bulkhead removal, shoreline protection, stormwater management, wetland restoration, stormwater discharge elimination, and support fisheries and aquaculture in the estuary. The recipient will add new shoreline protection projects, advance bulkhead removal implementation, and stormwater related implementation projects, among other projects. Activities:the activities include the hiring of a grants manager who will be responsible for the management of IIJA projects and assistance in tracking leveraged funds, and education and outreach assistant who will provide education and outreach for IIJA specific projects. Some additional project activities include removal of direct stormwater discharge to the peconic estuary, bulkhead removal implementation, develop a stormwater catchment plan, as well as conduct further bulked removal assessments and to carry out shellfish, kelp, coastal protection, and education efforts to support local aquaculture. Subrecipient:there are three subawards included in this assistance agreement. These are: 1) town and jockey creek discharge elimination (163,500) - this project will remove direct stormwater discharge to the peconic estuary. 2) west neck BAY subwatershed project ($187,000) - in coordination with the town of shelter island, this project will review and implement up to three of these retrofits identified in the subwatershed management plan for west neck BAY in shelter island. 3) peconic east (CHANGES) shoreline protection implementation project - ($300,000) - this project will see implementation and expansion of the work in the suitable areas identified in the site suitability and pilot sites analysis funded under IIJA years 2 and 3. Combined, this project will enable successful implementation of shellfish, kelp, coastal protection, and education, which will support local aquaculture, fisheries, and homeowners. Outcomes:the anticipated deliverables and expected outcomes include: removal of direct stormwater discharge to goose creek sub-catchment, increased education on stormwater related pollution, siting and conceptual plan of area for pilot bulkhead removal and implementation of such removal, final plan for flooding reduction on church lane and the reduction of nonpoint source pollution, annual oral and written reports outlining site feasibility and performance of oysters, kelp, and seagrass for locations across the eastern peconic estuary including north haven, SAG harbor, and shelter island, completion of trails and educational signage and providing the community with coastal education, completion of stormwater wetland and educational signage, among other outcomes. The direct beneficiaries of this program include the general population who live and recreate throughout the peconic watershed, tourist population, schools, universities and other institutions of learning, environmental managers and policy makers and the participants in the peconic estuary partnership.