Maintenance Grant

The Volunteer Stream Monitoring Program Maintenance Grant, administered through the Michigan Clean Water Corps (MiCorps), supports the continued operation of community-based stream monitoring efforts across Michigan. This funding opportunity is backed by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), with administrative duties handled by Michigan State University and the Huron River Watershed Council. The program's core purpose is to promote citizen science and environmental stewardship by supporting organizations that are already conducting volunteer benthic macroinvertebrate monitoring activities using MiCorps-approved procedures. Eligible applicants include local governments, federally recognized Tribes, and nonprofit organizations operating in Michigan. These entities must already be engaged in stream monitoring efforts under an approved Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) dated on or after March 6, 2024. The program requires that applicants have not had prior grants revoked or terminated and must demonstrate the ability to manage grant funds effectively. A successful financial audit completed within the past two years is also required. Organizations lacking an eligible audit must partner with another qualifying entity to serve as the fiduciary agent. Each maintenance grant provides up to $3,000 in cost-reimbursable funds, supporting activities such as staff compensation, equipment purchases, travel for MiCorps events, data collection and processing, and data uploads to the MiCorps database. The total allocation for Maintenance Grants in fiscal year 2026/2027 is approximately $20,000 out of a $75,000 program-wide budget. All expenditures must be completed within the contract period, which runs from April 1 to December 31, 2026. Grant-funded activities must culminate in a final report due by January 31, 2027. The report includes a one-page program fact sheet, a financial summary, and submission of monitoring data to the MiCorps online platform. Applications must be submitted via email to Dr. Paul Steen at the Huron River Watershed Council ([email protected]) no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on March 6, 2026. Each submission must include a single PDF with the narrative and a separate Excel budget file using the provided template. The narrative includes project background, monitoring history, anticipated changes, staff updates, community engagement outcomes, and a justification of budget items. Ineligible activities include river cleanups, lake monitoring, and chemical or thermal analyses. School partnerships are permitted if the focus remains on adult volunteers. Applicants are expected to provide a 25% local match, which may include in-kind contributions such as staff labor, volunteer time, and materials. Match contributions must be well-documented and realistic, as they become part of the contractual obligations. The grant review process considers prior performance, proposal clarity, budget realism, and funding history. Preference may be given to applicants who have not received repeated maintenance funding in prior years. Dr. Paul Steen serves as the Project Officer and primary contact for the grant. Applicants may reach out to him with questions prior to submission. Additional resources, including fact sheet templates, monitoring documentation, and budget spreadsheet templates, are available through the MiCorps website. This grant opportunity supports continuity in local environmental monitoring and community engagement, playing a critical role in the broader mission of protecting Michigan’s freshwater resources.

Ensure audit letter meets CPA standards; be realistic in match commitments; focus on adult volunteers even in school settings.