2023 Watershed Assistance Grants Available

Reminder: A Pre-proposal Consultation is REQUIRED for both 319 and 604(b) grants.  Call or email the project manager for your watershed to discuss your Pre-proposal by September 2, 2022.

NHDES’ Watershed Assistance Section has released the 2023 Watershed Assistance Grants’ Pre-proposal request for proposals (RFP) to support local initiatives to restore impaired waters or protect high quality waters. Pre-proposals are due by 4 PM, September 16, 2022.

For more information, contact: 

Funds for this grant are appropriated through the US Environmental Protection Agency under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act.

Water Quality Planning 604(b) Grants

Water Quality Planning 604(b) grants are available for water quality planning purposes. The 2023 Request for Letter of Intent (LOI) is now available. An approximate total award amount of $160,000 is available. All LOIs are due by 4 PM, September 16, 2022.

2023 Water Quality Planning 604(b) Letter of Intent   .pdf Icon

Section 604(b) of the EPA Clean Water Act requires funds to be allocated to entities for conducting water quality planning, including:

  1. Identifying the most cost effective and locally acceptable facility and nonpoint source (NPS) measures to meet and maintain water quality standards;
  2. Developing an implementation plan to obtain state and local financial and regulatory commitments to implement water quality plans;
  3. Determining the nature, extent, and causes of water quality problems in the state; and
  4. Determining those publicly owned treatment works which should be constructed, taking into account the relative degree of effluent reduction attained and the consideration of alternatives to such construction.

Other eligible projects that address the above water quality concerns may include but are not limited to: developing corridor management plans for designated rivers; conducting monitoring to address specific water quality concerns; planning stormwater retrofits to address water quality impairments; green infrastructure projects that manage wet weather to maintain or restore natural hydrology; working with municipalities committed to adopting specific model ordinances and/or meeting regulations (MS4 Permits) to address priority water quality planning concerns; and/or developing watershed-based plans in accordance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) criteria requiring nine key elements (a) through (i) for watershed-based plans.

Contact Andrea Bejtlich for additional information: andrea.l.bejtlich@des.nh.gov or (603) 271-8475

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