niagara.nypa.govNiagara-Relicensing

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These benefits include monetary payments to settlement partners consisting of local municipalities, state agencies, an Indian nation, school districts, and committees supporting the development of the Niagara River Greenway. The amount also includes payments by NYPA for the construction of recreational projects and ecological enhancements related to the License. In addition to monetary benefits, 32 MW of low-cost hydropower has been allocated to several settlement partners saving the recipients as much as 75% of the cost of energy. Scroll this webpage for information and updates on the many activities that NYPA is implementing in Western New York as a result of this new license. Greenway Standing Committees: Host Community Standing Committee Current Host Community Standing Committee Documents and Info: Agenda: March 31, 2020 Meeting Notice: March 31, 2020 Meeting Notice: March 24, 2020 2020 HCSC Meeting Dates Minutes: January 21, 2020 Agenda: January 21, 2020 View: Documents prior to 2020 Buffalo & Erie County Standing Committee Current Buffalo & Erie County Standing Committee Documents and Info: Minutes: February 27, 2020 Agenda: May 20, 2020 2019-2020 Eligibility Requirements, Guidelines, Priorities, Schedule and Application 2019 Annual Report Minutes: December 3, 2019 View: Documents prior to 2020 NYS Parks Minutes: Feb. 4, 2020 Agenda: Feb. 4, 2020 See: Projects Funded View: Documents prior to 2020 Greenway Ecological Standing Committee The Greenway Ecological Standing Committee ( GESC) is funded since the issuance of the new FERC license via an annual NYPA contribution to a Greenway Ecological Fund of $1 million until 2057 (i.e., until the end of the new license). It is responsible for the review of ecological projects that are proposed by stakeholders for funding through the Greenway Ecological Fund (GEF), with two submittal and review cycles each year. In order to be considered for GEF funding, all projects must receive a determination of consistency” with the Niagara River Greenway Plan from the Niagara River Greenway Commission (i.e., Commission review for consistency occurs prior to submittal to the Greenway Ecological Standing Committee. Current Greenway Ecological Standing Committee Documents and Info: 2020 Application Schedule Announced for Greenway Ecological Fund Greenway Ecological Fund Standing Committee Award Guidelines & Application Requirements See: Projects Funded (Greenway Ecological Standing Committee/Greenway Ecological Fund (GEF) Projects Approved) View: Documents prior to 2020 Greenway Resources Please visit the Niagara River Greenway Commission website to find more information about funded projects Niagara Relicensing Ecological Standing Committee: Niagara Relicensing Ecological Standing Committee The Niagara Relicensing Ecological Standing Committee (ESC) is independent of the Greenway. The ESC’s responsibilities are twofold: 1) to review the implementation and ongoing status of the eight defined Habitat Improvement Projects (HIPs) that were established as NYPA implementation obligations with the NIA relicensing and 2) review applications for new ecological projects as submitted by applicants for funding of such projects through the Habitat Enhancement and Restoration Fund (HERF). The HERF was established by NYPA with the relicensing in 2007, and consists of a one-time, lump-sum contribution by NYPA of approximately $16.2 million. Note that the HERF application is only one cycle per year, and is a two-step process – first a conceptual pre-proposal is submitted, then if the ESC approves of that, then a more detailed proposal is invited by the ESC. Guidelines for Fund Applications See: Projects Funded (Niagara Relicensing Ecological Standing Committee/Habitat Enhancement and Restoration Fund (HERF) Projects Approved) Improvement Projects: Habitat Projects Under the new License the Niagara Relicensing ESC is responsible for reviewing the implementation and ongoing status of the eight defined Habitat Improvement Projects (HIPs) that were established as NYPA implementation obligations with the Niagara Relicensing. See below for details. (1) Strawberry Island Restoration: This HIP created additional complex marsh and high-energy wetland habitats for fish and wildlife, complementing recent habitat enhancements undertaken by the DEC. The improvements created approximately seven acres of new diverse wetland habitat for fish, wildlife and water birds on the state-owned island. The improvement project includes measures to protect downstream shallow water habitats that may be affected by erosion caused by severe storms. Recreational opportunities, i.e., fishing, hunting and bird watching, were also enhanced. Following field studies, excavation work began in 2015 and was completed in 2016. This was followed by extensive planting that was conducted in phases through 2018. Monitoring is ongoing. (2) Frog Island Restoration: This HIP involved re-creation of approximately five acres of diverse habitat conditions at the site of a former island in the Niagara River. The habitat was created in a high-energy environment and consists of coarse (boulders, cobbles and gravel) and fine (muck, silt, clay and sand) substrate at variable depths that will support fish and wildlife; a series of low-profile berms was added to protect the new interior habitat area. Excavation work for this HIP was begun in 2013 and completed in 2015, followed by two years of planting. Ongoing monitoring has indicated that there is some erosion occurring in the interior, for which NYPA has proposed some further protective measures to the ESC. (3) Motor Island Shoreline Protection: The HIP includes the establishment of shoreline aquatic habitat and riparian vegetation up to the water’s edge to help stabilize shoreline erosion for the state-owned island, which is managed by the DEC for protection and enhancement of fish and wildlife, protected by low-profile berms. Some upland demolition work and planting was also included. Excavation and upland work was begun and completed in 2012, with some site plantings added in 2013. Due to sustained high water levels in following years, some further erosion was still observed and further work was completed in 2018 to raise the berms and restore eroded areas. Monitoring is ongoing. (4)...