Governor Andrew Cuomo announced $1.3 million in funds for 12 Hudson River estuary projects, including several locally. The grants will support the repair and maintenance of docks and heritage wooden boats, offer new exhibits, educational opportunities, and enhanced accessibility for people with disabilities. The grantees include:

• Cary Institute for Ecosystem Studies (Dutchess & Ulster) $158,549.
Cary Institute for Ecosystem Studies will train secondary school students and teachers to use data from the Hudson River Environmental Conditions Observing System (HRECOS) and the Hudson River watershed to gain a better understanding of the environment. The Institute will build a web-based data portal to feature new environmental and social science data-sets for classroom use, along with resources for students, teachers, and others. Cary staff also will partner with Spark Media Project to help students in three environmental justice communities participate in the Hudson Data Jam Competition, an annual event that challenges students to creatively tell stories for a general audience using data from the Hudson River watershed.

• Hudson River Maritime Museum (Ulster) - $120,263
Hudson River Maritime Museum will build a 21-foot, eight-person, heritage wooden boat to provide “on the water” education and access to the tidal Rondout creek and Hudson River. The museum will document the boat’s construction, which will take place at its Riverport boat building school. The grant will also fund construction of universal access to the museum’s docks, including an accessible entryway and ramp to the docks, and an ADA-compliant kayak and small boat launch that includes a transfer bench for wheelchair-to-craft access.

• Arm of the Sea Productions, Inc. (Ulster) - $73,934
Arm of the Sea Productions will complete the planning, design and permitting needed to construct a center for Hudson River estuary education on the site of a 19th century paper mill on the tidal Esopus Creek. The 1.5-acre property is adjacent to the Tina Chorvas Waterfront Park in the Village of Saugerties.

• Marist College (Dutchess) - $54,674
Marist College will retrofit and upgrade a 28-foot educational vessel to increase accessibility for two educational programs that provide river-based outdoor experiences on the Hudson River Estuary. The retrofit includes modifications to the deck railing, a widened rail gate, and a hydraulic ramp equipped with railings. The retrofit and equipment upgrades will expand opportunities for students of all ages and abilities to gain hands-on experience and knowledge of the Estuary.

• Rensselaer Land Trust (Rensselaer) - $26,500
Rensselaer Land Trust will create a Hudson River Access Plan for shoreline communities in Rensselaer County. The plan will provide an inventory of existing public access sites, research for potential new sites, and will recommend improvements for storm resiliency and access for people of all abilities.