The Chesapeake Bay Trust and the District of Columbia Department of Energy and Environment partner to deliver the Community Stormwater Solutions Award Program.
Donor Name: Chesapeake Bay Trust
State: District of Columbia
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 03/13/2025
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
The goals of this Request for Applications (RFA) are to protect and enhance, directly or indirectly, the District’s water bodies or watersheds. Another goal is to create new community partners and strengthen existing relationships with community-based organizations and small businesses. This program will support community-oriented and inspired projects that are designed to increase knowledge and lead to behavior change as it relates to watershed and stormwater-related issues.
Special Focus Areas
- Special Focus Area 1: Advance stewardship, environmental education, restoration, community engagement, and maintenance efforts in neighborhoods within the Oxon Run watershed and Oxon Run Park corridor in the District or Fort Dupont watershed and Fort Dupont Park.
- About DOEE’s Oxon Run Work: The long-term goal of the Oxon Run Stream Restoration & Master Park Plan is to restore to a naturalized state the stream that flows through the Project Area, thereby restoring natural hydrology, preventing erosion, reducing flood risk, improving water quality, and enhancing and creating wildlife habitat. DOEE has a design contract underway and seeks to support efforts to prioritize educational community engagement activities and/or conservation or restoration work for residents of all ages within the Oxon Run watershed in the District.
- Special Focus Area 2: Conduct Targeted Pet Waste Disposal Education/Outreach strategies in the Fort Chaplin catchment area.
- DOEE and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducted a microbial source tracking study to identify sources of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in stormwater outfalls (drainpipes) in the Anacostia watershed. The Fort Chaplin catchment area had the highest fecal pollution ranking Fort Chaplin catchment area compared to the other study sites. This prompted recommendations to implement improved dog waste management practices and increased public awareness in Fort Chaplin.
Project Areas
- Project Area 1: Equitable access to natural areas along the Anacostia River and its tributaries
- Proposals in this area should focus on increasing access to local green spaces for historically excluded communities, including people of color, at-risk children and underserved students, people from non – or – limited English Proficient communities and people with disabilities. Projects should also promote meaningful connection to local green spaces rooted in the unique culture, history and environment of the participant’s communities. Projects should be free of charge and designed to address barriers to participation, such as accessibility issues ensuring that all individuals have the opportunity to engage.
- Project Area 2: Small-Scale Green Infrastructure Projects &/or maintenance
- Green infrastructure, such as green roofs, rain gardens, rainwater harvesting, permeable pavement, and tree planting, allows stormwater to be absorbed into the ground, reducing the impact of runoff on the District’s waterbodies. Projects may include the design, installation and/or maintenance as well as stewardship of existing small-scale infrastructure projects.
- Project Area 3: Pathways to green jobs
- Applications in this project area should support existing certification programs that empower communities to find jobs and career resources on topics such as litter prevention, watershed health, stormwater management and green infrastructure.
- Project Area 4: Natural Habitat Restoration and Outreach
- Proposals in this category should intentionally assist in the recovery of a degraded ecosystem to recreate a functional ecosystem. This could include tactics such as reducing or halting pollution, reviving the vegetation through removal of non-native plants, forest understory thinning and improvements, and restoration with native species that are appropriate to that habitat as well as transforming blighted and vacant property into green space; and DOEE’s priority areas for invasive species removal and native plantings are locations within the “Targeted Subwatersheds”, along with any Department of Parks and Restoration (DPR) forested area.
- Project Area 5: Project-based Educational Programming for District of Columbia Public and Charter School students
- A project in this category should provide engaging, out-of-the-box ideas for project-based educational programing that increases student awareness and knowledge or leads to behavior change on issues related to water quality. By encouraging creative and out-of-the-box approaches, projects should inspire students to think critically and take responsible actions in restoring rivers, streams, and parks. They should provide opportunities to develop critical thinking skills, make informed decisions, and create pathways for meaningful environmental engagement. Projects that take place at schools should include a letter of support from the school. Applications should include evaluations to measure changes in knowledge and behavior.
- Project Area 6: Transitioning from single use to reusable food service ware at restaurants and institutions
- This program is open to both brick-and-mortar restaurants and other food-serving entities, such as houses of worship or community spaces. The goal is to transition from single-use, disposable food service ware to reusable alternatives. Projects should focus on reducing trash from disposable items, which contribute significantly to waste in storm drains and waterways. The initiative should include a public education component to inform customers about the change and highlight the benefits of reusables for trash reduction, water quality, and ecosystem health.
- Project Area 7: Small Events at Kingman and Heritage Islands
- Applicants can propose small-scale, community-oriented events at Kingman and Heritage Islands. Applicants should keep in mind:
- The Islands have limited infrastructure. They do not have electricity or running water. There are two compostable toilets near the Benning Road entrance.
- The Trust plans to award these CSS Grants by June 2025; applicants should keep this in mind as they consider when the event they propose will take place.
- Small-scale events should expect to gather less than 500 people to minimize the impact of wildlife on the islands.
- Events must respect the natural resources of the Islands. Applicants must address how they will “leave no trace” in their proposal and include a waste management plan.
- Depending on the scope and activities of the event, there may be additional permitting required through Department of Buildings, Department of Health, and Fire and Emergency Medical Services. Applicants should address this in their proposals.
- Additional event insurance coverage may be required depending on the scope and activities of the event.
- Applicant must include a pedestrian safety plan if the event requires vehicles on the island for loading in and loading out as will be subject to permitting, insurance, and DOEE approval.
- DOEE does not allow the following activities to take place on the islands:
- Vending
- Off-leashed dogs and other pets
- Hunting
- Fishing without a license
- Swimming, unless with a special permit
- Events must be free of charge.
- Applicants can propose small-scale, community-oriented events at Kingman and Heritage Islands. Applicants should keep in mind:
Funding Information
- Total Available: $191,500.
- Funding Request: Projects may request up to $35,000.
Grant Period
Projects should be completed within 12 months of receiving the award.
Eligible Project Types
Projects should:
- Focus: Educate priority audiences, reduce stormwater runoff, or restore waterways.
- Target Communities: Applicants must focus on community engagement and propose culturally inclusive, participatory methods to ensure the active involvement of historically excluded groups (e.g., communities of color).
- Priority: Projects involving meaningful partnerships with communities facing systemic barriers to participation.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must be located in the District of Columbia and meet one of the following criteria:
- Nonprofit organizations, Faith-based organizations, Government agencies, Universities/educational institutions, Private enterprises
- Priority Applicants:
- Small organizations (25 FTEs or less)
- New applicants (those that have not received previous CSS grants)
- Minority/Women’s Business Enterprises (51% or more owned by eligible groups, including Black, Hispanic, Latino, Native American, Asian/Pacific Islander, and women).
Ineligible Applicants
- Individuals or unincorporated associations are not eligible (e.g., neighborhood groups without formal incorporation papers).
- Projects that are already required by law or other grants.
- Projects that fall within the scope of one of DOEE’s green infrastructure programs are not eligible.
For more information, visit Chesapeake Bay Trust.
