February 25, 2026
New York, N.Y. (February 25, 2026) — The Hudson River Foundation has completed the first round of awards under the Hudson River and Lake Champlain Habitat Enhancement, Restoration and Research/Habitat Improvement Project Trust (Champlain Hudson Environmental Trust or CHET), committing $3.5M to seven projects aimed at advancing critical research and enhancement efforts in Lake Champlain and the Hudson and Harlem Rivers. These inaugural investments focus on assessing and restoring critical habitats and ecological communities along the Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE) transmission corridor, laying the scientific groundwork needed to protect and preserve the surrounding bodies of water.
CHET is a $117 million commitment created in 2023 to support science-based research, restoration, and stewardship and established during the permitting phase of the CHPE transmission line, a clean energy project that will deliver hydropower from Quebec to New York City. CHET was designed as a 35-year funding mechanism, recognizing that any potential environmental effects can only be understood through sustained research and monitoring. Administered by the Hudson River Foundation, CHET is guided by science, responsive to local needs, and focused on delivering lasting results.
“The projects announced today mark an important milestone for CHET and underscore the importance of enhancing aquatic habitats and establishing a baseline understanding of current conditions in Lake Champlain, the Hudson River, and the Harlem River. By bringing together scientists, state and municipal agencies, environmental advocates, and local partners, these investments establish a strong foundation for future habitat research and enhancement projects that will support aquatic ecosystems and the communities that depend on them,” noted the members of the CHET Governance Committee.
As Trust Administrator, the Foundation worked closely with the nine partners of the CHET Governance Committee to develop a shared vision for prioritizing research and restoration needs across the region. The seven projects awarded to date reflect these goals as well as years of coordination and planning across multiple agencies and organizations. They are:
“Drawing on our four decades of work across the region, the Foundation is committed to achieving lasting, measurable impacts from Lake Champlain through the Hudson, Harlem and East Rivers,” said Jonathan Kramer, Hudson River Foundation President. “This first set of awards is just the start of our efforts to put CHET’s long-term vision into action, and we look forward to continuing to work with our partners to implement high impact research and restoration projects that support management and stewardship for sustained ecological improvements.”
“This first round of funding fulfills the promise of the Trust by supporting community and scientific efforts to improve and preserve the precious assets that are our waterways,” said Josh Bagnato, Senior Vice President, CHPE LLC. “The awarded projects will deepen our understanding of these ecosystems and help inform fisheries management and conservation decisions.”
“By supporting science-based research and habitat restoration in the Hudson and Harlem Rivers, this work strengthens our ability to steward these ecosystems for the long term while ensuring they continue to serve New Yorkers and the wildlife that depend on them,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura. “NYC Parks is proud to collaborate with the Hudson River Foundation and our partners at the New York City Economic Development Corporation to enhance biodiversity in the Harlem River by restoring natural shoreline features at the new Academy and North Cove Waterfront Parks. This work will deliver lasting environmental benefits and help protect and restore some of our region’s most vital waterways.”
“Lake Champlain is a magnificent regional asset, and the New State Adirondack Park Agency is very excited for the grant support of science-based research projects in this inaugural round of funding”, said Executive Director Barbara Rice. “These projects will advance greater understanding of Lake Champlain’s recovering fisheries and help guide future management actions. These critical funds help continue the positive momentum in the fight to mitigate the negative impacts of invasive species by supporting ongoing prevention and management efforts.”
Additional investments are underway, with future awards anticipated in the years ahead. To learn more about CHET and its impact, visit https://hudsonriver.org/article/the-champlain-hudson-environmental-trust-chet/.
Hudson River Foundation: For over 40 years, the Hudson River Foundation (HRF) has supported scientific research and engagement that has informed decision making to enhance the Hudson River, estuary, and watershed. HRF leads the implementation of CHET priorities through the development and management of an evolving portfolio of projects.