North Raleigh Today

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Division of Water Resources (DWR) is now accepting proposals for projects aimed at restoring waterways impaired by nonpoint source pollution. Proposals will be accepted 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. This funding will support competitive watershed restoration projects as part of 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, academic institutions, and tribal groups with an EPA-approved Tribal NPS management program plan.

DWR seeks proposals that implement a DWR-approved watershed restoration plan to restore waterways not meeting water quality standards due to nonpoint source pollution. Eligible waterways are those listed as Category 4 or 5 in the most recent Integrated Reports published by the DWR Modeling and Assessment Branch. The reports from 2020 and 2022 are considered for this request for proposals (RFP), along with 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 depend on available funding, and DWR may choose to fully fund, partially fund, or not fund any proposal or component thereof.

For more information about program requirements, eligibility criteria, forms, and scoring criteria, interested parties can 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.