The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources (DWR) is currently accepting proposals aimed at restoring waterways impaired by nonpoint source pollution. The proposals can be submitted until May 30 under the Clean Water Act-Section 319(h) Nonpoint Source Grant Funding Program.
The state anticipates awarding $1.5 million in funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for fiscal year 2025 to support competitive watershed restoration projects as per Section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act.
Eligible applicants for these grants include state and local governments, councils of government, interstate and intrastate agencies, public and private nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, and tribal groups with an EPA-approved Tribal NPS management program plan.
DWR is specifically looking for proposals that implement a DWR-approved watershed restoration plan to address waterways not meeting water quality standards due to nonpoint source pollution. Impaired waterways are those listed as Category 4 or 5 in the most recent Integrated Reports by the DWR Modeling and Assessment Branch, specifically the reports from 2020 and 2022. Proposals may also consider waters included in Category 4 or 5 of the latest draft Integrated Report.
Draft applications can be submitted by April 4, 2025, for preliminary review by DWR staff. Final applications must be received by midnight on May 30.
Grant awards are contingent upon funding availability. DWR retains the right to fully fund, partially fund, or decline any proposal or its components under Section 319 grant proposals.
For more details on program requirements, eligibility criteria, forms, and scoring criteria, interested parties should visit DEQ’s 319 grant program website. Additional inquiries regarding the FY 2025 request for proposals can be directed to Rishi Bastakoti at rishi.bastakoti@deq.nc.gov.
