NEW PALTZ – The Hudson River Estuary Program, part of the state Department of Environmental Conservation, will be awarded $146,000 in grants for 17 projects in the Hudson River Watershed.

The grants, funded through the state Environmental Protection fund, will help the estuary action plan agenda for the 2010-2014 to move forward. This is the 11th year the grants have been awarded.

“The grants announced today will help local partners with projects to improve the Hudson River and work toward making it a swimmable and fishable waterway,” said DEC Commissioner Joe Martens.

The action agenda charts a course to ensure clean water; protect and restore fish, wildlife and their habitats; provide water recreation and river access; adapt to climate change; and conserve the scenery of the area.

Hudson Valley grants include:

• $10,000 to the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater for the Hudson River Shad Education Project;
• $10,000 for the Newburgh Rowing Club;
• $10,000 for the Town of Wawarsing Open Space Plan;
• $10,000 for the City of Kingston Parks and Recreation Department for the Everette Hodge Community Center – Hudson River Classroom; $10,000 for the Town of Ulster Charles Rider

Park improvements:

• $10,000 for Hudson Valley Tourism for a waterfront map
• $5,000 for Hudson River Museum of Westchester for a riverama
• $10,000 for Village of Sleepy Hollow for the Fresnel lens for the lighthouse restoration
• $8,650 for Riverkeeper, Inc. to promote awareness of water quality;
• $10,000 for Teatown Lake Reservation, Inc., Inc. for its regional science and sustainability center in Westchester;
• $10,000 for Groundwork Hudson Valley in Westchester for the Mill-Hudson Connection