CLEAN WATER ACT Section 319 Grant Funds

1. CLEAN WATER ACTSection 319 Grant Funds Robin F. “Rob” Rung Contracts / Grants Officer Water Quality Planning Bureau Department of Environmental Quality

2. 319 Overview • DEQ is the lead Montana agency for the NPS program, and for the Clean Water Act Section 319 grant program. • Grant funds are used to further Montana’s Non Point Source Program (NPS) goals. • Montana’s primary goal is to protect clean water and restore water bodies that are impaired by NPS that do not meet state water quality standards.

3. Protection of clean water that meets or exceeds standards is accomplished through the use of Best Management Practices (BMPs), and the application of education and outreach (E&O) activities. For impaired water bodies that are not meeting standards, the State’s goal is to restore those waters through the development and implementation of science-based, locally-supported Watershed Restoration Plans (WRPs). Restoration of impaired water bodies is primarily done through implementation of BMPs as called for in approved WRPs. Protecting and Restoring

4. Categories • Watershed Restoration (including planning) • Groundwater • Education & Outreach

5. All 319 Grants Must… • Be submitted by an eligible applicant • Provide a 40% cost share in Non-Federal Matching funds • Keep Contract Administration costs to 10% or lower for 319 funds requested • Address the following: Education & Outreach, Reporting, Operation & Maintenance, Monitoring and Document Cooperative Efforts.

6. Eligible Applicants • State and Local Government Entities (Counties, Cities, Conservation Districts, Irrigation Districts, etc.) • Non-Profit Organizations with IRS designation of 501(c)3

7. 319 Grant Funds Cannot… • Be used for implementation of regulatory projects (permit specified tasks) • Be used as match dollars against other federal funds • Procure Land, Food or Recreation Activities.

8. Specific to Storm Water… • 319 Funds can be used for planning projects as well as: • Carrying out Education & Outreach activities (provided they are not included in a permit) • Monitoring activities • Project Coordination

9. Project Funding • 319 Funds can not be the sole source of project funding…especially for storm water projects. • Several State and Federal Grants exist and enhance each other for the project as a whole. • Start planning the project early and exploring all funding options. Let funding sources know about your project. • Check DEQ website for Natural Resource Grant Matrix at: http://www.deq.mt.gov/wqinfo/nonpoint/319grants.asp

10. Project Team • Seeks out all Interested Stakeholders for the project…see what each has to offer in support of the project • Identify the Project Team and their roles & responsibilities • Establishes timelines and matches these up against funding opportunities • Seeks Professional Assistance (consultant) if necessary to help drive the project (Beware, you cannot promise contract work in lieu of pro-bono grant writing or management assistance)

11. Questions ???