This small grants program provides seed funding for new, cooperative approaches to projects with the potential to improve understanding and/or management of New York's “north coast” including embayments, rivers, creeks and their watersheds. The program is intended to supplement the Lake Ontario Coastal Initiative restoration and remediation program and to expand the program to include cooperative projects between academic institutions, local governments, non-profit organizations and others. Small grants of up to $10,000 each will be awarded. Awards can be used either as seed money for pilot projects, preliminary research or project planning that leads to larger projects or it can be used to support small-scale projects consistent with the goals objectives established by the Lake Ontario Coastal Initiative. In this program, we encourage working with local government and community organizations to identify local and regional issues. The money for this program comes from funds provided by Congressman Walsh of New York State.