NY S07854

Establishes the New York State Cooperative Watershed Management Program within the Department of Environmental Conservation to provide funding to watershed networks for local and regional water management solutions.

Defines watershed networks as self-sustaining, non-regulatory, consensus-based networks composed of diverse stakeholders including lake associations, nonprofits, municipalities, agencies, and tribal nations.

Watershed networks may apply for grants for either development activities (bylaws, stakeholder outreach, nonprofit recognition) or professionalization activities (hiring staff, grant writing, developing restoration plans).

Development grants capped at $20,000 with eligibility once every five years; professionalization grants capped at $40,000 annually for up to three consecutive years; networks cannot receive both grant types in the same year.

Grant applications must meet competitive criteria including at least two stakeholders and demonstrated stakeholder buy-in through budget proposals and letters of support; all funding subject to legislative appropriation.