Nevada Nonpoint Source Pollution Reduction 319(h) Grant Funding Opportunity

The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP), under its Bureau of Water Quality Planning (BWQP), is offering funding through its Nonpoint Source (NPS) Pollution Reduction 319(h) Grant Program. This initiative aligns with Section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act and aims to support activities that reduce or prevent nonpoint source pollution, a primary contributor to water quality impairments across Nevada. NPS pollution results from rainfall, snowmelt, or irrigation water moving across land, transporting pollutants into streams, rivers, lakes, and other water bodies. This funding opportunity supports both the development of watershed-based plans and the implementation of activities outlined in these plans or their EPA-accepted alternatives. The 319(h) Grant Program promotes planning and project implementation at the watershed level, reflecting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's increased emphasis on Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) and comprehensive watershed-based planning. The program supports various project types, including streambank stabilization, rangeland improvements, conservation easements, and low-impact development. Eligible applicants include federal, state, local, and tribal governments, interstate agencies, public and private nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) entities), and educational institutions that are public and not-for-profit. Eligible proposals must directly support implementation of Nevada’s State Management Plan or be grounded in a nine-element Watershed-Based Plan (WBP) or EPA-accepted Alternative Plan. Projects lacking a reference to such a plan will not be considered for funding. While combining WBP development and implementation within a single proposal is generally discouraged, it may be allowed with prior consultation. Certain activities are explicitly ineligible, such as those required under NPDES permits, ambient monitoring, and general education efforts not tied to implementation. All proposals must include detailed project summaries, budgets, schedules, contingency plans, and outcome measurement methodologies. The total anticipated funding pool is approximately $1.3 million, subject to receipt of the federal fiscal year 2025 allocation. Grants are expected to range from $25,000 to $500,000 in federal funding, with a required 50% non-federal match for implementation projects. The performance period for funded projects is typically up to three years. All funds are reimbursable, and grantees must demonstrate the ability to cover upfront costs. Evaluation criteria include alignment with watershed plans, potential for water quality benefit, cost-effectiveness, stakeholder collaboration, and the sustainability and maintenance of outcomes beyond the grant period. The grant application opened on September 22, 2025, and will close on November 3, 2025, at 5:00 PM PST. Applicants are encouraged to attend informational webinars scheduled in October and consult with NPS Program staff during proposal development. Submissions must be made electronically unless a hardship exception is granted. Proposal review will begin the week of November 17, 2025, with notifications expected by the end of November. Awards will be formalized through a legal subgrant agreement with the State of Nevada, and funded projects are subject to federal and state permitting, liability insurance, and quarterly reporting requirements.

Ensure proposals align with an EPA-accepted WBP or approved Alternative Plan; incomplete or non-compliant applications will not be reviewed; collaborate with NDEP early to determine eligibility.