District of Columbia Watershed Stewardship Project

The District of Columbia Watershed Stewardship Project is a grant initiative funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and administered by the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) through its Watershed Protection Division. This grant program seeks to support environmental education and stewardship among District of Columbia residents, with a focus on watershed health and pollution mitigation. The goal is to increase community engagement and equip individuals with knowledge, skills, and opportunities to become active participants in improving and sustaining the region’s water quality, particularly within the Anacostia River watershed and the broader Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. The central objective of the grant is to design and implement a comprehensive educational project targeting residents aged 16 and older. The selected grantee will deliver instruction on the fundamentals of watershed stewardship, including historical and contemporary sources of pollution, policy solutions, and green infrastructure practices. A significant element of the program is hands-on training, ensuring participants not only gain theoretical understanding but also practical experience in identifying and addressing environmental challenges. Lessons are expected to include topics such as bioretention facility maintenance and community-based water pollution solutions. The project must engage a minimum of 30 District residents over the two-year grant period and promote equitable participation, particularly from historically underrepresented communities. The curriculum should be structured with measurable outcomes, including increased knowledge, community adoption of green infrastructure projects, and behavior changes that support water health. Participants will be encouraged to adopt and help maintain existing green infrastructure installations, such as rain gardens and other bioretention features located throughout the District. DOEE will provide a pre-approved list of such infrastructure projects, and the grantee will be responsible for organizing maintenance schedules, collecting before-and-after photos, and tracking volunteer hours. Applicants must present a detailed work plan and budget, outlining the structure of lessons, recruitment strategies, and timelines for implementation. The budget ceiling for this grant is $70,000, which will be reimbursed based on documented expenses. While matching funds are not required, applicants may include them to enhance competitiveness. Indirect costs may be included, but if exceeding 10%, supporting documentation must be submitted. All project expenditures must be allowable under federal and District guidelines. Applications must be submitted electronically through DOEE’s Grants Management System by 11:59 p.m. on March 13, 2026. A pre-application information session was held on February 17, 2026. Interested applicants may obtain the RFA by emailing DOEE or downloading it directly from the agency’s website. Required documentation includes the Certificate of Good Standing, IRS W-9, Clean Hands Certificate, and a detailed proposal narrative, among others. Applications will be evaluated competitively by a panel based on criteria such as feasibility, curriculum quality, applicant experience, outreach to underserved communities, and demonstration of technical knowledge. Awards are anticipated to be announced within six to twelve weeks following the deadline. The grant period begins upon execution and extends through September 30, 2027. Grant monitoring and quarterly reporting will be required, along with a final report that captures measurable outputs and outcomes.