The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) is authorized to finance eligible projects in accordance with the Clean Water Act.  Acquiring or preserving land as open space for water quality purposes is one such type of eligible project. Land acquisition includes outright purchases (fee simple) and purchases of conservation easements.  Allowable costs may include the cost of land purchases or conservation easements (based on fair market value), property appraisals, surveys, site assessments, title searches, and other related costs.

The Clean Water Act authorizes CWSRF funding for land acquisition under the following sections:

• Section 319 permits financing of nonpoint source pollution (NPS) control projects.  This section requires that financed projects be consistent with the recommendations of the State's NPS Management Plan and benefit water quality.
• Section 320 permits financing of projects that meet the activities outlined in a United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) approved Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) or estuary plan. New York currently has three USEPA approved national estuaries that are covered under Section 320:
  • Long Island Sound,
  • New York/New Jersey Harbor, and
  • Peconic Bay.

Any municipality or qualified not-for-profit organization which is authorized to acquire land for water quality protection purposes under Article 49 of the NYS Environmental Conservation Law may apply for CWSRF financing for land acquisition to protect water quality.

Please click here for the Land Acquisition Project Listing Form and the Land Acquisition Parcel Information Form which need to be submitted for listing land acquisition projects in the CWSRF Intended Use Plan (IUP).  Click here to view the Sample Parcel Information Form.  Eligible Municipal land acquisition projects will be listed in IUP Categories A, B or C.  Eligible Not-for-Profit land acquisition projects will be listed in IUP Category E.

For more information about utilizing CWSRF financing for land acquisition, please call EFC's toll-free number at 1-800-882-9721 (withing NYS) or 518-402-7396.