The Watershed Assistance Grant Program provides support for watershed restoration project designs and permitting and for watershed planning and programmatic development.
Donor Name: Chesapeake Bay Trust
State: Maryland
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 12/06/2024
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
The Watershed Assistance Grant Program is a partnership between the Chesapeake Bay Trust (Trust), the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), and the West Virginia’s Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP).
The ultimate goal of the projects funded through this opportunity will be to improve water quality in:
- The entire State of Maryland
- The West Virginia portion of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
This grant program aids local governments and nonprofits in improving water quality across Maryland and West Virginia by funding early-stage watershed restoration and planning. Goals include advancing restoration efforts, enabling future funding opportunities, and supporting local and state planning initiatives.
Eligible Project Types and Funding Request
Maryland and West Virginia welcome requests for the design of stormwater best management practices, restoration designs, watershed assessments, and watershed planning projects in the below tracks:
- Track 1 – Project Design
- Generally, up to $100,000 for the design of best management practices (BMPs), including the following:
- Bioretention cells and large-scale rain gardens;
- Stormwater management practices, that include low impact development (LID) techniques, green infrastructure (GI), water quality BMPs, and environmental site design (ESD);
- Submerged gravel wetlands; and
- Agricultural BMPs.
- Generally, up to $150,000 for the design of restoration practices, including the following:
- Stream restoration;
- Wetland and marsh creation/restoration; and
- Living shorelines.
- Generally, up to $100,000 for the design of best management practices (BMPs), including the following:
- Track 2 – Watershed Planning and Program Development
- Generally, up to $75,000 for planning and program development.
Grant Period
Projects must be completed within 12 to 16 months upon receipt of the award.
Eligible Project Locations
This grant program welcomes applications for projects in the:
- State of Maryland
- West Virginia portion of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Eligibility Criteria
The Trust, MDNR, MDE, and WVDEP welcome requests from the following organizations:
- Municipal, County, and Regional Agencies
- Nonprofit Organizations
- Faith-based Organizations
- Community and Homeowners Associations (HOAs)
- Soil/Water Conservation Districts & Resource Conservation and Development Councils
- Forestry Boards
- Public and Independent Higher Educational Institutions.
For more information, visit Chesapeake Bay Trust.
