Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) Program - Aquatic Connectivity 2025

Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) Program - Aquatic Connectivity 2025 is sponsored by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Supports projects that restore and enhance aquatic habitat connectivity by addressing culverts, bridges, and dams.

Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) Program - NYSDEC Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) Program The Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) grant application period is open through July 31, 2026 . Apply using the Consolidated Funding Application . For more information, please join us for an informational webinar on June 8, 2026, from 1-3pm.

Register for Informational Webinar The Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) program is a competitive, statewide reimbursement grant program that funds projects that directly improve water quality or habitat, promote flood risk reduction, restoration, and enhanced flood and climate resiliency, or protect a drinking water source. For an overview of the program, view the WQIP Factsheet (PDF).

If you are looking for funding for the planning or design of a nonpoint source project, please refer to the NPG Grant webpage. To view previously awarded projects, visit the Division of Water Grants Data Portal webpage , which includes an easy-to-use map of projects awarded through the WQIP program. Applications are being accepted through the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) until 4:00pm on July 31, 2026.

For full program details, view the WQIP Round 22 Program Overview (PDF).

Eligible Project Types & Required Match (2026)* Wastewater Treatment Improvement (25%) Nonagricultural Nonpoint Source Abatement and Control (25%) Vacuum Trucks in Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Areas (25%) Land Acquisition for Source Water Protection (25%) Salt Storage and Road Salt Reduction (25%) Dam Safety Repair/Rehabilitation and Removal (25%) Aquatic Connectivity (25%) Marine District Habitat Restoration (25%) Fish and Wildlife Habitat Restoration and Enhancement (25%) Landfill Leachate Treatment (25%) *Match is the percentage of the award amount grant recipients are required to provide as a local share.

For more information about each category, including priorities, application requirements, and scoring criteria, view the WQIP Round 22 Program Overview (PDF).

Eligible Applicants (2026) Municipalities* (including Indian Nations) are eligible for all project types Soil and Water Conservation Districts are eligible for all project types except Wastewater Treatment Improvement, Dam Safety Repair/Rehabilitation and Removal, and Landfill Leachate Treatment.

501 (c)(3) Not-for-Profit Corporations are eligible for Land Acquisition for Source Water Protection, Dam Safety Repair/Rehabilitation and Removal, Aquatic Connectivity, Marine District Habitat Restoration, and Fish and Wildlife Habitat Restoration and Enhancement only.

*For the purpose of this grant opportunity, "municipality" means a local public authority or public benefit corporation, a county, city, town, village, school district, supervisory district, district corporation, improvement district within a county, city, town or village, or Indian nation or tribe recognized by the state or the United States with a reservation wholly or partly within the boundaries of New York State, or any combination thereof (Environmental Conservation Law §56-0101).

If you have questions regarding WQIP after reading this webpage and the 2026 WQIP Program Overview (PDF), email [email protected] with “WQIP Grant Question” in the subject line. Required Attachments for All Applications Find additional required project-type specific attachments in the WQIP Program Overview.

WQIP Budget Worksheet (PDF fillable form) - Please open using Acrobat Reader Location Map: 1:24,000 scale USGS or NYSDOT Map Index USGS Project Map Example (PDF) DOT Project Map Example (PDF) Sexual Harassment Prevention Certification Form (PDF) Executive Order No. 16 Certification Form (PDF) Gender-Based Violence and the Workplace Certification Form (PDF) Wastewater Treatment Improvement Grant Category/Subcategory Additional Required Attachments Resources All Wastewater Treatment Improvement Applications Engineering report prepared, stamped, signed, and dated by a New York State licensed Professional Engineer NYS EFC engineering report outline (PDF) Asset Management Guide (PDF) Asset Management Resources Large document upload instructions (PDF) Municipal Systems to Serve Multiple Properties with Inadequate On-site Septic Systems Sanitary survey (if applicable) Final DWSP2: Drinking Water Source Protection Program (if applicable) Sanitary Survey Outline – alternative waste management (PDF) Wastewater Effluent Disinfection Watershed Plan Implementation of Phosphorus Reduction Watershed Plan Implementation Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO)/Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) Other Wastewater Treatment Improvements Nonagricultural Nonpoint Source Abatement and Control Grant Category/Subcategory Additional Required Attachments Resources All Nonagricultural Nonpoint Source Abatement and Control Applications Best Management Practice Detail Form except for Nonpoint Source Program applications: Best Management Practice Detail Form Nonpoint Source Guidance and Technical Assistance Nonpoint source best management practices eligible for WQIP funding (PDF) EPA guidance for sanitary surveys Decentralized Municipal Wastewater Treatment Facilities for Failing On-Site Treatment Systems Feasibility Study or Engineering report that follows the NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation/DEC Engineering Report Outline for New York State Wastewater Infrastructure Projects NYS EFC engineering report outline Sanitary Survey Outline – alternative waste management (PDF) Green Infrastructure Practices Feasibility Study or engineering report that meets WQIP Green Infrastructure or Stormwater Retrofit Feasibility Study Requirements Policies and procedures for maintaining best management practices (BMPs) Green Infrastructure and Stormwater Retrofit Feasibility Study Outline (PDF) NYS Stormwater Design Manual NYS Maintenance Guidance: Stormwater Management Practices Feasibility Study or engineering report that meets WQIP Green Infrastructure or Stormwater Retrofit Feasibility Study Requirements Policies and procedures for maintaining best management practices (BMPs) NYS Stormwater Design Manual Green Infrastructure and Stormwater Retrofit Feasibility Study Outline (PDF) NYS Maintenance Guidance: Stormwater Management Practices Streambank / Shoreline Stabilization N/A Nature-based methods of shoreline stabilization Designing and maintaining riparian buffers In-Waterbody Controls for Nutrients Documentation of projects that are completed or underway to control external sources of nutrients A study acceptable to DEC by a qualified professional that identifies significant internal waterbody loading and justification for the proposed BMP Plan for long-term operation and maintenance (if applicable) Minimum Documentation Requirements for Control of External Sources of Nutrients Projects (PDF) Bathing Beach Restoration Beach Sanitary Survey for swimming beaches For green infrastructure projects: Feasibility Study that meets WQIP Green Infrastructure or Stormwater Retrofit Feasibility Study Requirements EPA guidance for sanitary surveys Beach Sanitary Survey Requirements (PDF) Green Infrastructure and Stormwater Retrofit Feasibility Study Outline (PDF) Stream Culvert Repair and Replacement Photographs of proposed site(s) demonstrating erosion and/or a DEC-approved site assessment report documenting erosion Division of Fish and Wildlife Technical Guidance for Bridge and Culvert Projects (PDF) NYSDOT Highway Design Manual North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Project (NAACC) Nonpoint Source Program N/A NYSDOT Highway Design Manual Division of Fish and Wildlife Technical Guidance for Bridge and Culvert Projects (PDF) Vacuum Trucks in Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Areas Grant Category/Subcategory Additional Required Attachments Resources All Applications for Vacuum Trucks in MS4 Areas MS4 Comprehensive Mapping Worksheet (PDF) Catch Basin Clean Out Plan and Procedures Catch Basin Clean-Out Plan Requirements (PDF) Catch Basin Clean-Out Plan Template (PDF) Land Acquisition for Source Water Protection Grant Category/Subcategory Additional Required Attachments Other Resources All Land Acquisition for Source Water Protection Applications Monitoring and Enforcement Protocol Project Map meeting all Land Acquisition requirements WQIP Land Acquisition Fact Sheet (PDF) NYS Open Space Plan (PDF) National Land Cover Dataset Monitoring and Enforcement Protocol Guidance (PDF) Land Acquisition Map Guidance (PDF) Example detailed expenditure-based budget for projects (PDF) Fiscal Reports (if applicable) Areal extent of zone of contribution Example detailed expenditure-based budget for programs (PDF) Participating DWSP2 Communities Salt Storage and Road Salt Reduction Grant Category/Subcategory Additional Required Attachments Resources Salt Storage N/A OGS salt storage specifications Principal and Primary Aquifers Maps Salt Storage Project Map example - DOT (PDF) Salt Storage Project Map example - USGS (PDF) Public highway lane and water resource map Winter Road Maintenance Outline (PDF) Adirondack Road Salt Reduction Task Force Report Secondary containment design specification guidance for brine storage tanks Road Salt Reduction Map Example (PDF) Dam Safety Repair/Rehabilitation and Removal Grant Category/Subcategory Additional Required Attachments Resources All Dam Safety Repair/Rehabilitation and Removal Applications Engineering report prepared, stamped, signed, and dated by a New York State licensed Professional Engineer Dam owner agreement (if applicable) NYS Guidelines for Design of Dams (PDF) DOW TOGS 3.

1. 3 - Emergency Action Plans (PDF) DOW TOGS 3. 1.

4 - Guidelines for Engineering Assessment Reports (PDF) DOW TOGS 3. 1.

5 - Dam Hazard Class Classification (PDF) Large document upload instructions (PDF) Grant Category/Subcategory Additional Required Attachments Resources Primary Priority Identify culverts, bridges or dams that are causing aquatic connectivity obstructions as documented by one of the following: North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative (NAACC) assessment Picture(s) of proposed site(s) upstream, downstream, inlet and outlet (culverts), structure (dams) DEC-accepted culvert site assessment report or feasibility study North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Project (NAACC) Stream Crossing Guidelines and Best Management Practices Species of Greatest Conservation Need Aquatic Connectivity Factsheet (PDF) North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative (NAACC) assessment or picture(s) of proposed site(s) upstream, downstream, inlet and outlet (culverts), structure (dams).

Photographs documenting poor infrastructure condition of culverts or bridges North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Project (NAACC) Stream Crossing Guidelines and Best Management Practices Species of Greatest Conservation Need Aquatic Connectivity Factsheet (PDF) Marine District Habitat Restoration Grant Category/Subcategory Additional Required Attachments Resources All Marine District Habitat Restoration Applications Feasibility Study that meets the Marine District Habitat Restoration Feasibility Study Outline required elements Landowner agreements (if property not owned by applicant) Pictures of successful marine district project(s) (if applicable) Marine District Habitat Feasibility Study Outline (PDF) Species of Greatest Conservation Need New York's Marine District Waters Natural Resource Management Plans NY/NJ Harbor Estuary Program Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) South Shore Estuary Reserve Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP) Peconic Estuary Program CCMP Long Island Sound Study CCMP Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda New York Ocean Action Plan New York State Ocean Acidification Task Force Final Report Fish and Wildlife Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Grant Category/Subcategory Additional Required Attachments Resources All Fish and Wildlife Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Applications N/A US EPA Wetland Restoration, Creation, and Enhancement: Introduction and User's Guide BLM Riparian Restoration Technical Reference Species of Greatest Conservation Need North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Project (NAACC) Environmental Assessment Form Mapper Fish and Wildlife Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Fact Sheet (PDF) Landfill Leachate Treatment Grant Category/Subcategory Additional Required Attachments Resources All Landfill Leachate Treatment Applications Engineering Report that follows the engineering report outline for New York state landfill leachate projects Engineering Report Outline for Landfill Leachate Treatment (PDF) Large document upload Instructions (PDF) Potential Environmental Justice Area and Disadvantaged Community Mapping Tutorial for WQIP and NPG grant applications Maps of Environmental Justice Areas Maps of Disadvantaged Communities in New York State DECinfo Locator (WI/PWL segment fact sheets) How to Read WI/PWL Segment Fact Sheets on DECinfo Locator (PDF) HUC 12 watersheds map (via DECinfo Locator, under “Environmental Monitoring – Hydrological Unit Code (HUC 12) Floodplain Map Instructional Guide (PDF) Flood Resiliency Requirements for WQIP and NPG grant applications Mapping Tutorial FEMA Flood Map Service Center Floodplain Development and Floodway Guidance Resilient NY Flood Mitigation Reports NYS Flood Risk Management Guidance for Implementation of the Community Risk and Resiliency Act Climate Smart Communities Certification Actions Participating Climate Smart Communities Asset Management Resources Municipalities Containing Disadvantaged Community (DAC) Populations (PDF) Nonpoint Source Planning Grant Designing and maintaining riparian buffers "Soft" streambank stabilization