Reclamation and Development Grants Program (RDGP) Planning Grants

The Reclamation and Development Grants Program (RDGP) Planning Grants, administered by the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), provide state-funded support for planning activities that lead to the development of RDGP Project Grants. These grants target efforts that protect and restore natural resources impacted by non-renewable resource extraction or address critical state needs with measurable public benefits. The program supports local governments, tribal entities, and state divisions in Montana in developing viable projects for future implementation funding. Planning grants are designed to lay the groundwork for reclamation and mitigation projects that address environmental damage caused by mining, hazardous waste, and oil and gas operations. They also support planning for projects that prevent unacceptable damage to natural resources or secure significant public benefits at risk of being lost. The program allows for strategic project development through activities such as feasibility studies, site assessments, sampling, design planning, groundwater investigations, and grant writing. Eligible applicants include Montana-based cities, counties, school and utility districts, conservation and irrigation districts, tribal governments, and state agencies or boards. The eligible planning categories reflect both environmental remediation and statewide resiliency goals. These categories include reclamation, drought management plans, drought mitigation project planning, high hazard dam mitigation planning, channel migration zone mapping, and other crucial state need projects directly related to the preservation or restoration of natural resources. Each project type has a set maximum grant amount. Reclamation, high hazard dam, and CMZ mapping projects can receive up to $75,000. Drought-related and crucial state need projects may receive up to $50,000. Projects must demonstrate direct environmental benefit, alignment with existing watershed or drought management plans (if applicable), and relevance at the regional, watershed, or state level. Applications are currently being accepted and must be submitted by October 15, 2025. DNRC will review, rank, and select applications for funding based on project merit and availability of funds. Successful applicants will receive awards after evaluation, and grants are distributed through a competitive process. Interested applicants should prepare materials demonstrating the project’s scope, relevance to natural resource concerns, and potential for impact. The RDGP Planning Grants represent a critical first step in Montana’s broader efforts to address legacy environmental impacts and emerging threats to natural resources. These grants enable entities to develop well-designed projects that can advance to the implementation phase through the RDGP Project Grants program in future funding cycles.

Focus on projects with clear regional or watershed benefit; align planning efforts with RDGP Project Grant requirements; define environmental outcomes clearly.