Section 319(h) – Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Financial Assistance Program - Watershed-Based Planning NOFO Grant

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is inviting proposals for watershed-based planning projects aimed at addressing nonpoint source pollution. This initiative seeks to improve water quality in Illinois by preventing, eliminating, and reducing impairments to surface and groundwater. Funded through federal funds under Section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act, eligible projects may include the development and updating of watershed plans, technical assistance, and educational outreach efforts.

Description
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) is seeking proposals for watershed-based planning projects (Projects) to address nonpoint source (NPS) pollution to prevent, eliminate, or reduce water quality impairments to Illinois’ surface and groundwater resources. The Illinois EPA receives federal funds from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) through Section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act (CWA) (33 U.S.C. § 1329(h)) to help implement the Section 319(h) Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Financial Assistance Program.
NPS pollution is caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground. As the runoff moves, it picks up and carries away natural and human-made pollutants, finally depositing them into lakes, rivers, wetlands and groundwater. It has been determined that over 60% of the (national) documented water pollution problem can be traced to nonpoint sources.
The applicant must describe the expected outcomes of the Project in terms of watershed-based planning NPS pollution control for surface and/or groundwater quality improvement. The long-term outcomes are the important changes that are to be set in motion or supported by the Project. These changes may be environmental or social and may be expected to appear on different time scales.
Examples of watershed-based planning projects and activities that have been funded through the Section 319 Grant Program are listed below.
The list is not all-inclusive, and inclusion of a project or activity does not equate to an automatic eligibility for funding under the NOFO.
Development of a watershed-based plan (WBP);Update of an existing watershed plan;Plans described above may include one or more of the following:Technical assistance for NPS water pollution control;Environmental and social indicator monitoring to help document the need for NPS water pollution control; andEducation and outreach to promote awareness and implementation of activities that may help to restore degraded waters or protect waters from degradation due to NPS pollution.