Where new state grants are flowing to boost area water quality projects
Communities in Chemung, Steuben and other Southern Tier counties are among localities statewide that will benefit from water quality grants announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul. Through the program, the state Department of Environmental Conservation is awarding $45 million in state grants to support 25 projects to further improve water quality in Region 8, which includes Chemung, Steuben and Schuyler counties. Those projects will directly improve water quality or habitat, promote flood risk reduction, restoration, and enhanced flood and climate resiliency, or protect a drinking water source, DEC said in a news release. "Funding from these grants will directly help local communities upgrade essential infrastructure to protect drinking water, improve flood resiliency, and reduce the amount of polluted stormwater runoff entering lakes, rivers and streams,” said DEC Region 8 Director Timothy P. Walsh. Here is a breakdown of how those grants will support water quality projects in area counties: Chemung County Chemung County: A $400,000 grant will enable the county to buy a vacuum truck to conduct regular cleanouts of catch basins and stormwater infrastructure and help reduce pollution in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Town of Horseheads: A $400,000 grant will fund replacement of an aging salt storage facility at the
