DEEP is Accepting Proposals for Grants under Section 319 of the Federal Clean Water Act
General Eligibility and Focus
As of November 7, 2024, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is accepting proposals for the Federal Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Clean Water Act Section 319 Nonpoint Source (NPS) Grant Program. Section 319 of the Federal Clean Water Act is a grant program to address NPS water pollution. DEEP receives these funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that can be passed onto municipalities, communities, local conservation groups, and many other organizations for NPS implementation projects, plans, and statewide NPS management efforts within Connecticut. Proposals may be submitted by any interested public or private organization (award recipients must be registered with the CT Secretary of State).
Projects which address nutrients, bacteria and sediment are a key focus of the Connecticut NPS Management Program. Examples of implementation projects may include but are not limited to: habitat improvements, dam removal, improved stormwater runoff management, and improved agricultural practices. Projects intended to meet mandated requirements of stormwater permits are not eligible for Section 319 grants. However, proposals that provide stormwater mitigation above and beyond permit requirements may be considered.
EPA defines NPS pollution as pollution that is “caused by diffuse sources that are not regulated as point sources and are normally associated with land use and runoff from the land.” Common NPS pollutants include: bacteria, nutrients, sediment, salt, petroleum products, heavy metals, pesticides, and debris. These pollutants are typically carried by stormwater runoff into streams, lakes, and estuaries from diffuse land use and other activities that are not regulated as point source discharges (“end of pipe”).
Approximately $1.2M in grant funds will be available, with many past projects often awarded between $150k - $350k, however, smaller or larger awards are feasible. DEEP seeks to fund larger, contiguous projects rather than funding many smaller, unrelated projects. This includes Projects that build off of ongoing projects, such as those that incorporate Green Infrastructure into other capital programs.
Application Details
Examples of previously funded projects
The application for the Section 319 NPS Grant Program is linked here:
Download the Application Form Here
The application for FY25 proposals must be submitted to DEEP by the February 13, 2025 deadline. Proposals should be submitted by email to DEEP.Watershed@ct.gov. Notification of awarded grant funds can be expected by Fall 2025.
Non-Federal Matching Funds
Demonstrating match from non-federal sources is an important component for the Section 319 NPS Grant program and EPA requires a 40% match for each award. Applications that include financial or in-kind contributions will demonstrate a commitment to the project that is considered by DEEP and recognized in the competitive review process.
Applicants should demonstrate a goal of 40% match from non-federal sources in their application. Applicants that cannot achieve this match should discuss potential options with us, please contact DEEP.Watershed@ct.gov well in advance of the RFP deadline.
Note: Non-federal match is calculated from the total project cost which first must be calculated using the grant amount requested. For example, if an applicant was requesting $150,000 from Section 319 grant funds, which accounts for 60% of total project cost, and providing 40% match, it would be calculated as:
[grant amount requested] + [percent match of total project cost] = [total project cost], so
$150,000 + 40% of the total project cost = total project cost, or
$150,000 + [total project cost x 0.4] = [$150,000 / 0.6], so
$150,000 + [$250,000 x 0.4] = $250,000, so
$150,000 + $100,000 = $250,000, therefore
40% match for $150,000 in requested funds is $100,000
Project Priorities for FY25
Environmental Justice and Environmental Equity
The Section 319 NPS Grant program is committed to DEEP’s NPS efforts and awareness of NPS environmental problems in environmental justice communities. In Connecticut, an environmental justice community is defined as a census block group with 30% or more of a low-income population OR a distressed municipality (https://cga.ct.gov/). Additional information can be found on DEEP’s website for Environmental Justice AND the federal census website. Applications for proposed work within a designated environmental justice community or which will have direct benefits to an environmental justice community will be considered a priority during the competitive review process. Applicants can determine where the environmental justice communities are in Connecticut by viewing the map. Applicants should use the map to identify percentages for minority, poverty level and/or limited English proficiency within the environmental justice community.
Adapting to Climate Change
The Section 319 NPS Grant program is committed to the CT DEEP and US EPA initiatives to advance climate change adaptation and resiliency goals through NPS solutions. Natural hazards associated with climate change may include longer droughts, water supply shortages, wildfires, frequent and more intense storms, flooding, and sea level rise, which all have broader effects on the NPS program. CT DEEP will prioritize projects that incorporate nature-based solutions to help mitigate the impacts of natural hazards, and encourages including BMPs that are designed to be adapt to a changing climate. Planning should state how climate adaptation and resiliency will be considered.
Watershed Based Plan Implementation Projects
Implementation projects in watersheds that have approved Watershed Based Plans (WBP) or applicable alternative watershed plan which lead to targeted pollutant load reductions and/or restoring impaired waters, or protecting unimpaired waters will continue to be prioritized. Implementation projects should have a clear connection to the management goals and objectives of the WBP and show progress towards attaining water quality goals.
Watershed Based Plan Development
DEEP will focus on WBP development for waters which are prioritized in the DEEP Integrated Water Planning Management (IWPM, previously IWRM). WBP development is considered an Action Plan in the IWPM strategy. DEEP may consider WBP development for other impaired waters or for an impairment not specific to a pollutant, or when addressing a small-scale water quality problem, or for enhancing or promoting high quality waters (see Watershed Based Plans). Common NPS pollutants include: bacteria, nutrients, sediment, salt, petroleum products, heavy metals, pesticides, and debris. A WBP proposal should expect to address at minimum nutrients, bacteria and sediment within the watershed.
New or revised WBPs must:
- consider BMPs and measures that can be adapted to a changing climate and have built-in flexibility to scale implementation efforts as conditions change in order to achieve or maintain water quality standards under future conditions;
- include considerations for Environmental Justice Communities when applicable
Other Details
Questions
Any questions can be directed to DEEP.watershed@ct.gov
Project Stakeholders
DEEP encourages the applicant/grantee to work with local communities, groups, property owners and/or municipalities in all aspects of the proposal/project. Local knowledge and assistance can be invaluable to achieving overall project success as well as future implementation opportunities. It is recommended the applicant/grantee consider a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or similar agreement to ensure commitment from all or specific project partners.
Grant Agreement
DEEP will notify the selected grantees after receiving grant approval from EPA, which is typically the fall after the RFP has closed. DEEP will work with each grantee to develop a grant agreement (contract) for the project. The process to establish a signed grant agreement is lengthy, and any project work cannot be paid for until a signed grant agreement is established. The grantee should account for the ample time needed to develop and approve the grant agreement when planning the project timeline.
Project Duration
DEEP will generally limit the project duration to a two-year contract period (longer terms for completion of larger, more complex projects would be at the discretion of DEEP). DEEP recommends that applicants examine their needs for permits and other factors that may cause delays as early as possible. Funding for projects that are not promptly initiated or fall substantially behind schedule may be considered for reprogramming to other Section 319 priority projects.
Water Quality Planning Information by Email
To receive Water Quality Planning Information by email, you must subscribe to the Water Quality Planning Listserv email.
To subscribe to the Listserv:
- Compose an email to listserv@list.ct.gov from the email address you wish to have added.
- You may leave the subject line blank, and in the body of the message type: Subscribe DEEP_WQPlanning YourFirstName YourLastName (Substitute your first and last name here.)
Note: If you have an e-mail signature, header, and/or footer set up to be automatically included in emails, you will need to delete these before sending the subscribe request. - After you send the email, you will receive an e-mail confirmation request. Follow the directions to confirm your email address.
- You will then receive an e-mail that you have successfully subscribed to the listserv.
To unsubscribe from the listserv:
- Compose an e-mail to listserv@list.ct.gov
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- Requests to unsubscribe must be sent from the same email account used when subscribing to the email list.
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If you experience difficulty in subscribing or unsubscribing to the Water Quality Planning Listserv, please contact DEEP.watershed@ct.gov.
Content Last Updated November 7, 2024