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Ulster County and the Town of Shandaken have secured four significant grants from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to enhance climate resilience and protect local infrastructure. The grants aim to address environmental challenges in the region, focusing on stream quality and infrastructure protection.
The county will receive $1 million to stabilize the streambank along a section of the Esopus Creek in Phoenicia, addressing severe erosion risks. Additionally, over $603,500 is allocated to replace an undersized and failing culvert as part of the Shandaken rail trail project. The Town of Shandaken will benefit from a total of $1.6 million to replace an undersized culvert over Alton Creek with a new 30-foot bridge. Furthermore, the town will receive almost $1.2 million to create a floodplain, plant a riparian buffer, and widen the channel of Alton Creek. These efforts aim to reduce erosion threatening homes and infrastructure, while also safeguarding an emergency evacuation route.
These projects are part of broader state initiatives to improve environmental resilience and are expected to significantly enhance the region's ability to cope with the impacts of climate change. The funding comes at a time when New York is actively pursuing conservation and climate resilience goals, including the planting of 25 million trees by 2033.
The grants reflect ongoing efforts by local and state authorities to mitigate the effects of climate change and ensure the safety and sustainability of communities in the Hudson Valley and Catskill regions. The projects are anticipated to commence soon, with completion expected in the coming years.