Deadline: 16-Jul-21
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is inviting applications from eligible applicants to develop or refine state/territorial/tribal/local government wetland programs.
The goals of the EPA’s wetland program include increasing the quantity and quality of wetlands in the U.S. by conserving and restoring wetland acreage and improving wetland condition.
In pursuing these goals, the EPA seeks to develop the capacity of all levels of government to develop and refine effective, comprehensive programs for wetland protection and management.
WPDGs provide state, territories, tribes, local governments, interstate agencies, and inter tribal consortia (hereafter referred to as applicants or recipients) an opportunity to develop and refine comprehensive state/territorial/tribal/local government wetland programs. These programs are meant to:
- Develop the capacity of state/territorial/tribal/local governments to increase the quantity and quality of wetlands in the U.S. by conserving and restoring wetland acreage and improving wetland condition.
- Use one or more of the following “Core Elements” to achieve this goal.
Core Elements
These four core elements are:
- Monitoring and assessment.
- Voluntary restoration and protection.
- Regulatory approaches including CWA Section 401 certification.
- Wetland-specific water quality standards.
Priority Areas
Applications should clearly explain how, if selected for funding, the project will lead to greater protection for one or more of the following Regional Priority areas:
- Vulnerable aquatic resources such as wetlands lacking a regular hydrologic connection to other aquatic resources, and ephemeral streams;
- Aquatic ecosystem that mitigate climate change through carbon capture (e.g. seagrass, saltmarshes;
- Aquatic resource areas that will mitigate flooding and sea level rise; and
- Waters in or associated with Environmental Justice communities.
Funding information
- The EPA anticipates approximately $2,648,000 in federal funding to be available for assistance agreements under this announcement to fund approximately 10 to 20 awards depending on funding availability and other applicable considerations.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible Applicants
- States, territories, tribes, local government agencies, colleges and universities that are agencies of a state, interstate agencies, and inter tribal consortia are eligible to apply for WPDGs under this announcement.
- Tribes must be federally-recognized, although “Treatment as a state” status is not required. There will be two separate applicant tracks with states, territories, and tribes in Track One or Track Two, and local governments, interstate agencies, intertribal consortia, and colleges and universities that are agencies of a state government in Track Two.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=333950