Water Quality Grant Proposals Now Accepted

NASHVILLE—The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) is now accepting grant proposals for projects that will help improve water quality and reduce or eliminate nonpoint source pollution.

“Creating and maintaining healthy waterways by reducing pollution is critical to the success of Tennessee,” Agriculture Commissioner Jai Templeton said. “These grants are a valuable resource for organizations looking to improve the watershed around them by implementing sound conservation practices.”

Nonpoint source pollution is soil, urban runoff, fertilizers, chemicals and other contaminants that degrade surface and groundwater quality. The Nonpoint Source Program was created in 1987 as part of the Clean Water Act and provides funding to states to stop nonpoint source pollution.

Local governments, regional and state agencies, public institutions and private nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for those federal dollars administered by TDA’s Land and Water Stewardship Section. Highest priority is given to projects that seek to make measurable improvements to waters impaired by nonpoint source pollution. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation assesses water quality. You can see a list of impaired waters online here.

The deadline for submitting grant proposals is Dec. 1. Proposals will be evaluated based on program goals and objectives, performance evaluation criteria and applicable EPA nonpoint source grant guidelines. Other priorities for funding include water quality related educational projects, projects that reduce urban runoff and projects that aim to protect threatened waters.

The FY 2018 Request for Proposals is posted here. For more information, contact Sam Marshall at 615-837-5306 or by email.