North Wake News

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources (DWR) is now accepting proposals for projects aimed at restoring waterways impaired by nonpoint source pollution. 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 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in fiscal year 2025 for watershed restoration projects under Section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act.

Eligible applicants include state and local governments, councils of government, interstate and intrastate agencies, public and private nonprofit organizations and institutions, academic institutions, and tribal groups with an EPA-approved Tribal NPS management program plan.

DWR seeks proposals from applicants that would implement a DWR-approved watershed restoration plan to restore waterways not meeting water quality standards due to nonpoint source pollution.

Waterways are deemed impaired if listed as Category 4 or 5 in either of the two most recent Integrated Reports by the DWR Modeling and Assessment Branch. For this request for proposals (RFP), the relevant reports are from 2020 and 2022. DWR will also consider waters included in Category 4 or 5 of the latest draft Integrated Report.

Applicants may submit a draft application by April 4, 2025, for preliminary review by DWR staff. Final applications must be received by midnight on May 30.

Grant awards depend on funding availability. DWR reserves the right to fully fund, partially fund, or not fund any proposal or its components.

For detailed program information including requirements, eligibility criteria, forms, and scoring guidelines, visit DEQ’s 319 grant program website. Questions regarding the FY 2025 RFP can be directed to Rishi Bastakoti at rishi.bastakoti@deq.nc.gov.