319 Grant Program

Section 319(h) Grant Program Overview

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The 1987 amendments to the Clean Water Act (CWA) established the Section 319 Nonpoint Source Management Program Section 319 addresses the need for greater federal leadership to help focus state and local nonpoint source efforts. Under Section 319, states, territories and tribes receive grant money that supports a wide variety of activities including technical assistance, financial assistance, education, training, technology transfer, demonstration projects and monitoring to assess the success of specific nonpoint source implementation projects.

Clean Water Act Section 319(h) funds are provided only to designated state and tribal agencies to implement their approved nonpoint source management programs.

Funding

Each year, EPA awards Section 319(h) funds to states in accordance with a state-by-state allocation formula that EPA has developed in consultation with the states. Section 319(h) funding decisions are made by the states. States submit their proposed funding plans to EPA. If a state’s funding plan is consistent with grant eligibility requirements and procedures, EPA then awards the funds to the state.

Clean Water Act Section 319(h) funds are provided only to designated state and tribal agencies to implement their approved nonpoint source management programs. State and tribal nonpoint source programs include a variety of components, including technical assistance, financial assistance, education, training, technology transfer, demonstration projects, and regulatory programs.

For more information, link to EPA’s website https://www.epa.gov/nps/319-grant-program-states-and-territories.

Kentucky 319 Grant Process

Within this program, funds may be used to demonstrate innovative best management practices (BMPs), support education and outreach programs, develop Watershed Based Plans, and to implement Watershed Based Plans. Funds can be used to pay for 60 percent of the total cost for each project; a 40 percent nonfederal match is required.

Applicants to the Commonwealth’s Nonpoint Source Grant Program must first submit a project proposal. Applicants may include communities, citizen groups, government agencies, colleges or universities and nonprofits. Each applicant group submits a short proposal. Proposals are then reviewed and ranked by DOW and their partners. The proposals that rank highest are invited to apply for a grant award.

The grant award application is substantially more detailed compared to the proposal. Applications include several pages of project summary and background, detailed objectives, a milestone schedule, a list of project partners with letters of support, and a comprehensive budget. DOW staff are available to work with applicants to ensure all parts of the application are completed sufficiently for submission. Complete applications that are received by the annual deadline are reviewed and ranked by DOW and an expanded group of invited partners. Awards are granted to those applications that rank the highest. The top applicants consistently build partnerships in their watershed that include stakeholders from all areas to achieve citizen and government support and maintain sustainable results. DOW strives to fund as many applications as possible in order to see the greatest positive impact on nonpoint source pollution in Kentucky.

Complete applications that are received by the annual deadline are reviewed and ranked by DOW and an expanded group of invited partners. Awards are granted to those applications that rank the highest. The top applicants consistently build partnerships in their watershed that include stakeholders from all areas to achieve citizen and government support and maintain sustainable results. DOW strives to fund as many applications as possible to see the greatest positive impact on nonpoint source pollution in Kentucky.

Learn more on KDOW website

Application Process Resources