Region 06 Fiscal Year 2025 Wetland Program Development Grants

The Region 06 Wetland Program Development Grants (WPDG) offered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 6 Water Division, aims to build and strengthen the wetland programs of eligible governmental and academic entities within the Region 6 jurisdiction, which includes Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Tribal lands located therein. The WPDG initiative supports state, tribal, territorial, and local governments, as well as certain interstate and intertribal agencies, in developing or refining wetland protection and management programs. Through the use of core elements and frameworks, these grants help applicants conserve and restore wetland acreage, improve wetland conditions, and build the institutional capacity necessary to protect these critical ecological resources. The EPA’s wetland program prioritizes the development and enhancement of long-term Wetland Program Plans (WPPs) as a strategic approach to effective wetland governance. Under this funding opportunity, there are two distinct applicant tracks. Track One is reserved for states, Tribes, and territories with current or planned Wetland Program Plans, while Track Two supports entities without WPPs, including local governments, intertribal consortia, and state-affiliated universities. Applicants under either track must propose projects that align with the EPA’s Core Element Framework and develop or refine wetland programs through activities such as mapping, monitoring, training, and regulatory development. Only projects that contribute to wetland program development or refinement—not implementation—are eligible. Funding for this opportunity ranges from $1,234,000 to $2,468,000, with individual awards capped at $500,000. The EPA anticipates making between 4 to 10 awards. Award periods may extend from one to four years, but not exceed five years. Applicants must provide a cost share of at least 25% of the total project cost, unless the applicant is a Tribe or intertribal consortium applying under a Performance Partnership Grant (PPG), in which case the cost-share requirement is waived. The federal share and non-federal match must be clearly delineated in the application’s budget. Awards are provided as cooperative agreements, meaning substantial federal involvement is expected during the project, including review of reports and oversight of project performance. Eligible applicants include state agencies, local governments, federally recognized Tribes, intertribal consortia, interstate agencies, and institutions of higher education that are agencies of state governments. For-profit organizations, individuals, and federal agencies are not eligible. Projects must be conducted within Region 6 and demonstrate a clear plan for coordination with relevant state or Tribal partners. Ineligible activities include implementation-only projects, land purchases, standard wetland restorations, and projects required under regulatory permits. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on April 6, 2026. Questions are accepted until March 30, 2026. No pre-application or concept paper is required. Required components of the application include SF-424 and SF-424A forms, a project narrative (limited to 26 double-spaced pages), budget documentation, and various optional materials such as letters of commitment and resumes. Projects that will use environmental data must include plans for Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC). Restoration demonstration projects, if proposed, must detail the innovation and knowledge transfer aspects, including post-installation monitoring. Evaluation of applications is based on project need, environmental benefit, methodology, milestones, budget reasonableness, and potential for results transfer. Past performance on EPA or similar grants is also considered. Selected applicants will be notified in July 2026, with award notices issued in August 2026. Successful projects are expected to result in measurable outputs such as wetland inventories, improved wetland mapping, development of wetland policies, or public engagement tools. Although funding is not guaranteed beyond this cycle, additional awards may be made within six months if funding allows.

Align projects with Core Element Framework; must articulate environmental benefit and results transfer; implementation-only projects are not eligible.