The Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program is providing a limited number of scholarships to stream and floodplain managers in the Ashokan Reservoir watershed to attend stream and floodplain management training courses in 2026.
AWSMP scholarships are available for attendance at the following programs:
2026 New York State Floodplain and Stormwater Managers Association Annual Conference (NYSFSMA)
April 28-30, 2026 at the Delta Hotel in Utica, NY
For Floodplain Administrators, Code Enforcement Officers, Town Board Members, Planning Board Members, Town Supervisors, Highway Superintendents, Community Rating System Coordinators, Flood Advisory Committee Members.
Requirements: None
Exam to become an ASFPM Certified Floodplain Manager Program – A National Program for Professional Certification of Floodplain Managers
For Floodplain Administrators, Code Enforcement Officers, Town Board Members, Planning Board Members, Town Supervisors, Highway Superintendents, Community Rating System Coordinators, Flood Advisory Committee Members
Requirements: Certifications remain in effect for 2 years and can be renewed with Continuing Education Credit documentation.
Requirements: Certifications remain in effect for 2 years and can be renewed with Continuing Education Credit documentation.
Recommended Prerequisites: A minimum of two years of floodplain management experience, or a degree in a related field, or completion of the four-day FEMA E0237 course.
NYSFSMA Trainings
For Floodplain Administrators, Code Enforcement Officers, Local Community Rating System Coordinators
The NYSFSMA 2026 training schedule has not been announced yet.
Requirements: Check the website for options and provide a justification for the course selected.
Requirements: FEMA recommends completing several online independent study courses prior to attending the course. Check the website for a full course list.
Managing Floodplain Development through the National Flood Insurance Program (E0273)
For Floodplain Administrators, Code Enforcement Officers, Local Community Rating System Coordinators
In New York: April 13-16
In Maryland: May 18-21 and August 24-27
Requirements: FEMA recommends completing several online independent study courses prior to attending the course. Check the website for a full course list.
National Flood Insurance/Community Rating System (FEMA E0278)
For Floodplain Administrators, Code Enforcement Officers, Local Community Rating System Coordinators
In Maryland : July 6-9
Requirements: Certified Floodplain Manager or floodplain administrator with 2 years of experience.
Recommended Prerequisite: FEMA E0273
Advanced Building Science Series I: Flood Mitigation (FEMA E2461)
For Floodplain Administrators, Code Enforcement Officers, Building Inspectors
In Maryland: July 27-29
Requirements: None
Applied Fluvial Geomorphology – A Basic River Morphology Course (Level I)
For Highway Superintendents, Town or County Personnel Involved in Stream Management, Stream Management Program Staff
Applicants must do significant work in the Ashokan Reservoir watershed to qualify.
Requirements: Basic survey skills
Level II, River Morphology and Applications – Training in How to Delineate Stream Types
For Highway Superintendents, Town or County Engineers, Town or County Personnel Involved in Stream Management, Stream Management Program Staff
Applicants must do significant work in the Ashokan Reservoir watershed to qualify.
Requirements: Applied Fluvial Geomorphology or Fluvial Geomorphology for Engineers (Level I)
Esri ArcGIS 1: Introduction to GIS
Town or County Personnel Involved in Stream Management, Stream Management Program Staff
Requirements: Online course, location in NY or neighboring state only
Scholarship Requirements:
Applicants must be able to apply the desired coursework to activities within the Ashokan Reservoir watershed. Applicants must be public officials or employees to be eligible. See a watershed map at here. Funding is dependent on receipt of a training scholarship award, successful registration, pre-approval of travel costs and expenses, and completion of the course or exam.
Award Coverage:
- Course registration fees for the days attended. Scholarship funds may only be used for course days attended. Notify the program if a municipal official must leave a course early for an urgent reason (e.g., local emergency, illness).
- Certified Floodplain Manager exam fee. The CFM Exam must be taken within 12 months.
- NYSFSMA and ASFPM memberships that result in net-benefit discounts. The AWSMP will fund association membership annual renewals for active CFMs in public roles if funding is available.
- Round-trip airfare from the award recipients’ point of origin to destination city up to $650, if airfare is the most cost-effective transportation mode.
- Travel between airport and training center using the lowest-cost available option.
- Hotel/lodging for duration of the attended portion of the course (double occupancy rates) at the GSA rate.
- A stipend to cover meals and incidentals at the GSA rate for meals not included in the training fee.
- Personal mileage costs to attend training courses held in New York State or adjacent states are not funded through the Training Scholarship Program.
How to Apply:
Submit a letter via email to Max Kelly at mk2397@cornell.edu stating the following:
- Requested training program and applicant
- Training dates and location
- Applicant role in organization
- How course knowledge will be used within the Ashokan Watershed
- Attach proof of prerequisites if required
No more than two scholarship applications may be submitted per individual per year. The applications will be evaluated based on the applicant role and ability to use the information to advance stream and floodplain management in the Ashokan Reservoir watershed with the knowledge received. Recipients are chosen by the Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program, and decisions will be announced within two weeks of receipt.
Reimbursement and Funding Source:
Funding is provided by NYC Department of Environmental Protection. Scholarships are administered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County (CCEUC) for the Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program.
CCEUC will directly fund some training course expenses to reduce administrative overhead, including:
- Course and conference registration fees
- Floodplain association memberships
- Lodging
- Airfare and other prepaid transportation costs
Other costs are covered as reimbursements. Reimbursement is contingent on submission of required backup documentation for expenses.
Funding Cycles:
Scholarships are awarded annually depending on the availability of funding.
For more information, contact the AWSMP at (855) 688-3047, ext. 117