What's happening
This bill creates a New York State cooperative watershed management program to fund and support local and regional watershed networks.
Why it matters
Promotes local collaboration on water issues. By funding "watershed networks" that include a diverse range of stakeholders (such as municipalities, nonprofits, agencies, and tribal nations), the bill encourages cooperative, community-driven approaches to water management rather than top-down mandates.
Supports capacity building for grassroots groups. Grants can be used to help new and existing watershed groups organize, develop bylaws, gain nonprofit status, and hire professional staff—potentially increasing the effectiveness and sustainability of local water protection efforts.
Creates a competitive, stakeholder-based grant process. Only networks that demonstrate true collaboration (with participation from at least two stakeholders and evidence of buy-in via budgets and support letters) are eligible, which incentivizes genuine partnership and planning.
Establishes clear funding limits and timelines. By capping grant amounts ($20,000 for development, $40,000 for professionalization) and limiting how often networks can apply, the bill aims to spread resources across multiple regions and prevent overreliance on state funds by any single group.
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Who cares
Lake associations and watershed nonprofits
Participating watershed networks could compete for grants of up to $20,000 for organizational development or $40,000 for professional staffing, restoration planning and project design.
Municipalities and tribal nations
They could participate in watershed networks seeking funding for local or regional water management solutions.
Department of Environmental Conservation
The department would house the program and develop its grant application process and competitive award criteria.
State legislators
Grant funding would depend on legislative appropriations.
Headline styles
Fund Watershed Management Networks
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Recommit, enacting clause stricken
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Referred to environmental conservation
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1103
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 8, 2025
Introduced by Sen. MAY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to establishing the New York state cooperative watershed management program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new section 15-0519 to read as follows: § 15-0519. Cooperative watershed management program.
1. There is hereby established within the department a "New York state cooperative watershed management program" for the purpose of providing funding to watershed networks to encourage such watershed networks to form local or regional solutions to address their water and watershed management needs.
2. For the purposes of this section the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) "Program" means the New York state cooperative watershed management program established pursuant to subdivision one of this section.
(b) "Watershed network" means a self-sustaining, non-regulatory, consensus-based network that is composed of a diverse array of stakeholders, which may include but shall not be limited to, lake associations and other watershed-related non-profit organizations, municipalities, federal, state, or local agencies, and tribal nations. A "watershed network" may be specific to a defined watershed devoted to one water body or may represent an array of such groups working across connected watersheds in a region. A "watershed network" may be housed within a watershed management council, a lake association, intermunicipal body, or a municipal government, but shall represent a variety of stakeholders in such watershed or region.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03626-01-5
(c) "Watershed network development" means activities to develop a watershed network, including, but not limited to, development of bylaws or mission statements, performing stakeholder outreach, pursuing recognition as a nonprofit, or other similar organization activities.
(d) "Watershed network professionalization" means activities to professionalize a watershed network, including, but not limited to, hiring professional staff for watershed management or grant writing, developing watershed restoration plans, or designing watershed management projects.
3. (a) The program shall develop a process whereby watershed networks may apply to the program for grants for watershed network development or watershed network professionalization.
(b) The program shall develop criteria for a competitive award process for approval or denial of grant applications from watershed networks pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subdivision. Such criteria shall include, but not be limited to, the following for approval of a grant application:
(i) The applicant watershed network shall be comprised of two or more public or private stakeholders; and
(ii) The applicant watershed network has demonstrated stakeholder buy-in to the watershed network development or watershed network professionalization plan by submitting a complete budget proposal for such plan, and by submitting letters of support from such stakeholders.
4. (a) A watershed network selected for a watershed network development grant pursuant to this section shall be awarded a grant not to exceed twenty thousand dollars. The same watershed network shall be eligible to receive a watershed network development grant pursuant to this section no more frequently than once every five years.
(b) A watershed network selected for a watershed network professionalization grant pursuant to this section shall be awarded a grant not to exceed forty thousand dollars. The same watershed network shall be eligible to receive a watershed network professionalization grant pursuant to this section annually for up to three consecutive years.
(c) A watershed network shall not be eligible to receive a watershed network development grant and a watershed professionalization grant in the same year.
5. Funds awarded by the program pursuant to this section shall be subject to appropriation therefor by the legislature.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to establishing the New York state cooperative watershed management program
Purpose
To establish a funding mechanism for watershed organizations that will help to develop and professionalize watershed networks
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 defines the component pieces of the New York state cooperative watershed management program, outlines the criteria for grant applica- tions for watershed network development or professionalization, and includes where networks may be housed within a region
Section 2 establishes the effective date of the bill
Justification
This bill proposes the creation of the New York State Cooperative Watershed Management Program, aimed at addressing water and watershed management needs by providing funding to diverse stakeholder groups known as watershed networks through a competitive grant application process. Many of the state's watersheds are represented by a variety of stakeholders; many of these groups have formed alliances or other watershed-based networks on formal and informal bases to coordinate their advocacy. This bill would provide support for more groups to do so through watershed networks. These networks, composed of various entities including but not limited to private property owners, non-profit organ- izations, municipalities, and tribal nations, would work collaboratively to develop local or regional solutions. Development grants would focus on organizational activities like bylaws creation and stakeholder outreach, while professionalization grants support hiring professional staff and implementing management plans. The bill aims to foster sustainable, non-regulatory, and consensus-based networks that promote effective water resource management, emphasizing the importance of stakeholder engagement and eligibility criteria to ensure responsible use of grant funds.
The purpose of this legislation is to empower local communities in New York to actively participate in managing their water resources through cooperative efforts. By supporting the formation and enhancement of watershed networks, the state aims to encourage collaboration among diverse stakeholders, ensuring a holistic approach to address water and watershed. challenges. The competitive grant program, funded through general appropriations, seeks to promote transparency and accountabil- ity, requiring applicants to demonstrate stakeholder buy-in and outlin- ing specific criteria for grant approval. This bill envisions communi- ty-driven solutions to water and watershed management issues, contributing to the overall environmental health and sustainability of the state.
Legislative history
2023-2024: S7854 (May)
Fiscal implications
Subject to appropriations.
Effective date
Sixtieth day after becoming law
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.