Governor Kathy Hochul has announced a $42 million investment aimed at enhancing water quality and reducing harmful algal blooms (HABs) in the Eastern Finger Lakes region. The funding is part of Hochul’s 2024 State of the State commitment to address the root causes of HABs and support projects that prevent runoff, protect drinking water, and improve climate resiliency.
The Eastern Finger Lakes watershed, encompassing more than 30 percent of the Lake Ontario drainage basin, has experienced a rise in HABs, which threaten public health, recreation, and the local economy. The new funding will accelerate efforts to combat these blooms by expanding agricultural management programs, enhancing flood resiliency, and supporting nutrient reduction strategies.
Governor Hochul emphasized the importance of clean water for the health and economic stability of the Finger Lakes communities, noting that the state is using every tool available to assist local conservation efforts and support farmers. This investment builds on New York’s previous record-breaking water quality investments, which have targeted phosphorus and nitrogen pollution, key triggers for HABs.
The funding will be managed through partnerships between the State Departments of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Agriculture and Markets, and the region’s Soil and Water Conservation Districts. It will support a range of initiatives, including the adoption of cover crops, stream stabilization, and infrastructure upgrades to reduce sediment erosion.
State and local officials, including DEC Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar and State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball, praised the investment as a critical step in safeguarding the Finger Lakes’ water resources and supporting the region’s agricultural and environmental health.
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