SCHUMER SECURES INCREASE IN FED ASSISTANCE FOR LAKE CHAMPLAIN BASIN PROGRAM IN JUST-PASSED WATER RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT ACT
Lake Champlain Basin Program, Which Helps Protect Watershed & Wildlife Across Region, Will Now Have Feds Cover 90% Cost Of Projects, Up From 65% Thanks To Schumer’s Efforts – WRDA Now Headed To President’s Desk To Be Signed Into Law
A Win-Win-Win Says Schumer: Increasing Fed Funding, Saving Local Conservation Groups $$ And Protecting Lake Champlain
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today announced he secured a provision in the just-passed bipartisan Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) to increase the federal funding share in the Lake Champlain Basin Program. Schumer said this program provides vital federal assistance to projects dedicated to conservation in the Lake Champlain Region, and now thanks to this provision the feds will cover 90% of the cost, helping make the program more accessible to local partners and saving the funding of local conservation groups in Upstate NY.
“Lake Champlain is one of the crown jewels of Upstate NY, and the Lake Champlain Basin Program is how we protect the natural beauty of Lake Champlain’s waters and wildlife that is essential to the region’s tourism economy. That is why I am proud to announce I have just secured a provision to increase the federal cost share of projects in this program to 90%. This is a win-win-win increasing federal funding, saving local conservation groups money, and protecting Lake Champlain,” said Senator Schumer. “More federal funding will be flowing supporting tourism and jobs on all sides of the lake’s expansive shores. I’ll keep fighting to ensure Lake Champlain remains an economic anchor for the Adirondack region’s outdoor-recreation economy and continues to inspire generations to come.”
The Lake Champlain Basin Program supports New York and Vermont’s efforts to improve Lake Champlain’s water quality, support wildlife habitat, and enhance the environment. Previously eligible projects needed to be funded at least 35% from non-federal funding, but thanks to this Schumer-supported provision that is lowered to 10% which makes more projects eligible and affordable for local partners and means the feds now cover 90% of the cost. In addition, funding for the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, which the Lake Champlain Basin Program occasionally uses as the local sponsor match, can now be used for other preservation projects in the Lake Champlain Basin.
Schumer has a long history of supporting the Lake Champlain Basin Program. Since winning his Senate seat in 1998 Schumer has cosponsored numerous bills to support the foundation, growth, and continued funding of the Lake Champlain Basin Program. Apart from fighting to secure the program funding through annual appropriations bills, Schumer also secured an additional $40 million in funding as part of his Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law. This year he proudly cosponsored the Lake Champlain Basin Program Reauthorization of 2024 which authorizes the program for another 10 years with $55 million in funding – a $20 million increase. This funding is critical to restore, protect, and prevent pollution of the Lake Champlain ecosystem and also to plan response for climate-related disasters. Alongside local, State, and Federal governments, the Lake Champlain Basin program will be able to continue its mission while focusing administrative and planning measures to optimize the implementation of numerous programs while working with the EPA to make its grants more accessible to the local communities and dedicated partners on the shore. Senator Schumer pledged to continue fighting to keep funding for Lake Champlain flowing and - with the hard work and dedication of locals on the ground – and ensuring this ecosystem stays healthy and beautiful for generations to come.
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