Section 319(h) Georgia's Nonpoint Source Implementation Grant

Updated January 2020: FY2020 Grant Application Period is OPEN.

Application Deadline: APRIL 30, 2020.

FY2020 Grant Timelime

PRE-APPLICATION MEETING WEBINAR: All applicants are required to attend a webinar with GAEPD Grants Unit Staff to discuss the current application process. Project partners, consultants, or other affiliated parties are welcome to attend, but the lead organization must be in attendance on-line.

Pre-application Webinar: Thursday, March 19, 2020

Time: 9:30 – 10:30 AM (EST)

Dial-in number: (515) 604-9811 • Access code 654429

Link to webinar slides: *Coming soon*

Applications must be emailed in electronic format by the deadline of April 30, 2020. Applications delivered by hand or sent by mail will no longer be accepted.

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GAEPD) anticipates receiving a FY2020 Section 319(h) grant to prevent or abate nonpoint source pollution in support of current, revised 2019 Georgia’s Nonpoint Source Management Plan. Using a competitive process, GAEPD will award grant funds to eligible applications that propose to reduce pollutant loads and result in measurable water quality improvements to impaired waters throughout the State.

The grant requires a cost-share ratio of 60% Federal dollars (maximum) and 40% non-federal match (minimum) toward the total project cost. The maximum Federal award to any individual project is $400,000 with no minimum Federal award amount. Proposed project schedules should be completed within three years.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS: Local, State or regional public entities, agencies or authorities that operate public service or delivery programs (e.g. sewer, water, resource development or planning); city or county governments that have Qualified Local Government status; county extensions; local school systems; and State colleges and universities. 

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR FUNDING: To be considered for funding, projects must meet all three of the following minimum requirements:

1. Implement existing watershed-based/watershed management plans that adequately address USEPA's Nine Elements for Watershed Planning;
2. Focus within a 10-digit Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC-10) or smaller watershed; AND
3. Commit to a minimum 40% non-federal match.

ELIGIBLE PROJECTS: Grant proposals must specify the nonpoint sources of pollution and identify the activities best suited to address those sources, such as the following: green infrastructure/low impact development projects; watershed hydrology restoration; urban stormwater controls not included in NPDES permits; agricultural BMPs; education and training; water quality monitoring to evaluate success of BMPs; and lake/pond dredging as long as ALL contributing sediment sources have been corrected.

APPLICATION DOCUMENTS:

• Grant Announcement - FY2020 Grant Announcement
• Grant Application - Section 319(h) FY2020 Nonpoint Source Implementation Grant Application (WORD Format) [Revised Dec. 2019]
• Grant Project Schedule - Section 319(h) FY2020 Grant Project Schedule (EXCEL Format) [Revised Dec. 2019] This document is a required component of the FY2020 Section 319(h) Grant application and will be used to track the completion of tasks, reporting requirements and the expenditure of funds.
• Grant Guidelines - Section 319(h) FY2020 Grant Guidelines [Revised Dec. 2019]

ADDITIONAL APPLICATION RESOURCES:

• Georgia’s Statewide Nonpoint Source Management Plan 2019
• Georgia's Watershed Based Plans Addressing Nonpoint Source Pollution - List of Nine Element Watershed Based Plans funded by GAEPD 
• Georgia’s 2018 Section 305(b)/303(d) List of Waters - Scroll down past Georgia 2018 305(b)/303(d) List Documents to access 305(b)/303(d) Integrated Report for listings of 2018 Rivers/Streams, 2018 Coastal Streams, and other waterbodies.
• Example Score Questions  - Example Score Questions (.pdf Format). This document represents possible questions that the GAEPD Grants Unit may consider when scoring applications.
• USEPA's Watershed Planning Website  - Contains information about the "Handbook for Developing Watershed Plans to Restore and Protect Our Waters", the "Quick Guide to Developing Watershed Plans to Restore and Protect Our Waters", and the Watershed Plan Builder application to build a plan framework. Note: Datasets for Georgia may not be up-to-date nor appropriate for HUC10/HUC12 level watersheds. 

ADDITIONAL CRITERIA APPLIED DURING THE SELECTION PROCESS: Proposals that meet the following criteria will be reviewed in a more competitive light: Include appropriate project evaluation components; demonstrate cost-effectiveness; support the current, revised Georgia Nonpoint Source Management Program (see 2019 Plan above); alleviate NPS pollution in impaired waters or protect healthy watersheds (Georgia’s 2018 Section 305(b)/303(d) List of Waters); engage multiple partnerships; leverage ongoing watershed management activities; address priority pollutants; target priority watersheds; correct adverse impacts of increased impervious surfaces; correlate BMPs to management strategies identified in appropriate Regional Water Plans.

SECTION 319(H) FY2020 GRANT TIMELINE

• January 2020: GAEPD issues the call for proposals
• March 19, 2020 Pre-application Meeting Webinar (required) 
• March 31, 2020: Last day to submit DRAFT proposals for GAEPD written review (optional)
• April 30, 2020: Email deadline for digital applications to GAEPD
• Summer 2020: Grant award selection 
• Summer 2020: GAEPD notifies applicants of grant award
• Fall 2020: GAEPD and grant recipient finalize project scope of work
• Fall 2020: GAEPD and grant recipient execute contract, and project begins

CONTACT:  To inquire about potential projects, schedule a conference call with Joyce McClain.