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Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Division of Conservation Services. Drinking Water Supply Protection Grant Program. Drinking Water Supply Protection Grant Program. Eligible applicants: municipal public water suppliers and districts Eligible projects: land acquisition
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Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Division of Conservation Services Drinking Water Supply Protection Grant Program
Drinking Water Supply Protection Grant Program Eligible applicants: municipal public water suppliers and districts Eligible projects: land acquisition Maximum award: $350,000 Reimbursement rate: 50%
Land acquisition – eligible interests • Fee simple • Conservation Restriction (CR) • Watershed Preservation Restriction (WPR)
3 Project types • Land to protect existing wells/intakesMust be in Zone I (pre-1990) II or III/ A, B, or C / IWPA • Land to protect planned new wells/intakesMust be in anticipated Zone and be identified by appropriate planning process • Land to be used for groundwater rechargeMust have suitable location and soils and be identified by appropriate planning process
Ineligible projects • Zone I designated after 1990 • Land that is already protected • Land that is already owned by the municipality for any reason • Land with inappropriate soils (recharge)
DWSP Grant pays for: • Acquisition • Recording fees • Title research and certification • Property survey • Baseline Documentation Report & Land Management Plan
Application contents • Appraisal • TWO appraisals if the first is >$750,000 • Maps • Itemized budget • Project narrative • Supporting plans and documentation
Grant procedures • All projects must have board of water commissioners vote of approval for total cost • Do not purchase property until after contract execution • Project-specific DEP approval is still required • Contracts will be for fiscal year 2015 or 2016 • Reimbursement payments are contingent upon completing all requirements • Only documented municipal/district expenditures will be reimbursed
Evaluation criteria • Demographics Population served Environmental Justice • Resource Management Rate of water use % unaccounted for water Water rate structure • Project Quality Importance (differs by project type) Resource protection (current zoning, level of threat, planned) • Size • Public access
Post-completion Responsibilities • All sites that receive DWSP funding are protected by Article 97: land must remain as water supply land in perpetuity • Reasonable public access • Maintain natural vegetation cover • Sign
Other DCS Grant Programs • LAND grant For: conservation commissions Max award: $400,000 To: acquire land/CRs Application due: summer • Landscape Partnership grant For: conservation commissions, water Max award: $1,500,000 departments, non-profits, and state and Application due: summer/fall federal agencies To: acquire 500+ acres land/CRs/APRs/WPRs • Conservation Partnership grant For: non-profits Max award: $85,000 To: acquire land/CRs Application due: summer • Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant For: conservation commission/parks depts Max award: $ varies To: acquire land/CRs; develop parks
About those other grant programs... • Partnerships are encouraged! Interests overlap • Opportunity for water suppliers to help shape the kinds of uses taking place in water supply areas
Celia Riechel (617) 626-1187 or celia.riechel@state.ma.us Application materials available at: www.mass.gov/eea/dcs-grants or www.comm-pass.com