Ossining 'Living Shoreline Project' Wins State Grant

OSSINING, NY — Ossining was one of three projects awarded money from New York state to improve climate resiliency, mitigate local flooding, and restore stream habitats.

"While Hudson Valley cities, towns, and villages continue to recover after devastating flooding in the wake of Tropical Depression Ida, New York is investing in our communities to preserve our natural resources and strengthen their ability to withstand flooding," Commissioner Basil Segos of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation said in the announcement.

In Ossining, the money will go to plan a living shoreline project at the Henry Gourdine and Louis Engel Waterfront Parks.

The $125,000 contract for Environmental Conservation Ossining Shoreline Revitalization and Community Connectivity Improvements was awarded to Henningson, Durham and Richardson Architecture and Engineering, P.C.

At heart it's about shoreline stabilization and better recreational fishing opportunities. Work to stabilize the riverbank will include eco-friendly elements to create fish habitat.

The planners also promise an inclusive stakeholder engagement process.

Ossining's is one of three projects receiving $349,000 in awards. Funding is provided by the State's Environmental Protection Fund. DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Program focuses on the tidal Hudson and its adjacent watershed from the federal dam at Troy to the Verrazano Narrows in New York City.

In the city of Hudson, a $125,000 contract was awarded to Hudson Valley Collaborative for a project that will use a nature-based approach to protecting shoreline and tidal wetlands from sea-level rise, while maintaining active recreation and cultural activities.

In the towns of Red Hook and Milan, the project will improve water quality, reduce flood risks, and reconnect habitat for migratory and resident fish in the Hudson River Estuary. The plans will include all crossings in both towns, building on the 148 previously inventoried culverts, including the road-stream crossings located within the portions of the Roeliff Jansen Kill, Cold Spring Creek, Little Wappinger Creek, Landsman Kill, and Saw Kill watersheds in the town of Milan, and Stony Creek, Saw Kill, Landsman Kill, and Muddler Kill watersheds in the town of Red Hook.