Financial Resources for Watersheds Water Quality Grants, Cost Shares, and Loans

Funding Source Website	Activities Funded	Match Required	Eligibility
General Projects
Nonpoint Source Section 319 Grant Program USEPA and NCDWR	Implementation of approved nine element watershed restoration plan(s) with approved checklist	40% of Total Award	State and Local Governments Intra and Inter - State Agencies, Nonprofits, Educational Institutions
Clean Water Management Trust Fund NCDNCR	Protect, improve, and/or restore surface water, acquire lands with ecological, cultural, and/or historical significance (including riparian buffers)	Varies	State Agencies, Local Governments, Nonprofits
205 (j) Planning Grant USEPA and NCDWR	Water Quality management and planning	Optional Match	Regional Councils of Governments
Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation	Improve, restore, protect water quality, and ensure access to all waters		501(c) 3 Organizations
Clean Water State Revolving Fund USEPA and NCDWI	Provides low interest loans to fund wastewater collection and treatment facilities as well as estuary and nonpoint source program projects	N/A	Local Governments
State Wastewater & Drinking Water Reserve Programs USEPA and NCDWR	Provides grants for technical assistance and for construction of critical needs for wastewater collection systems, wastewater treatment works and public drinking water system projects	N/A	Local Governments
Cooperative Water Program USGS	Jointly funds water resources projects	Varies	Non-Federal Agencies
NC Division of Mitigation Services (formerly EEP)	Conduct watershed assessment, planning, and restoration implementation. DMS offers many benefits to landowners interested in protecting and restoring wetlands, streams, and riparian areas on their property, and may pay up to 100 percent of the costs of restoration.	N/A	Public and Private Entities
Community Conservation Assistance Program NCDSWC	Funds non-agricultural management measures	Up to 75% cost share	Citizens
Water Resources Development Project Grants NCDWR	Funds general and recreational navigation, water management, stream restoration, beach protection, land acquisition and facility development for water based recreation and aquatic weed control.	Varies	Local Governments
Section 22 Planning Assistance to States USACE	Aquatic ecosystem restoration and protection projects	35%	Non-federal public agencies
Section 206 Aquatic Restoration Grants USACE	Aquatic ecosystem restoration and protection projects	35%	Non-federal public agencies
Parks and Recreation Trust Fund NCDPR	-65% State park land acquisition and capital improvements -30% Local government park and recreation purposes -5% Beach Access	1:1
USDA-NRCS Easement Program	Voluntary easement programs to landowners who want to maintain or enhance their land in a way beneficial to agriculture and/or the environment.	Varies	Landowners
Developing the Next Generation of Conservationists NFWF	Provide support for innovative job opportunities that expose young people, particularly urban and underserved youth to natural world and career opportunities in conservation	1:1	Non-profit 501(c) organizations, state and local government agencies, Indian tribes, educational institutions (eligible for BLM, and USFS funds only), BLM field units (eligible for BLM funds only)
Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Grant Program NFWF	Provide support for innovative job opportunities that expose young people, particularly urban and underserved youth to natural world and career opportunities in conservation	1:1	Non-profit 501(c) organizations, state and local government agencies, Indian tribes, and educational institutions
Lowe's Home Improvements Community Partners Grant	Community improvement defined as building renovations/upgrades, grounds improvements, technology upgrades and safety improvements	varies	Non-profit 501(c) organizations, state and local government agencies, and educational institutions
Duke Energy Foundation - Water Resources Fund	Protecting, improving, restoring waterways in Carolinas and promoting environmental education and conservation	NA	Non-profit 501(c)(3) and local government organizations
Resilient Communities Program NFWF	Help communities prepare for future impacts associated with sea level rise, water quantity and quality and forest conservation	1:1	Non-profit 501(c) and local government organizations and Indian tribes
State and Local Governments
State of NC - Attorney General's Office - Environmental Enhancement Grant Program	Immediate or long term environmental enhancement projects that improve air, water, and/or land quality of NC.	Varies	(1) Nonprofit organization or institution with documented 501(c)(3) status whose primary purpose is conservation, preservation, and restoration of NC's environmental and natural resources or; (2) Part of federal, state, or local government
Agriculture and Forestry
Conservation Reserve Program USDA	Convert highly erodible cropland and other environmentally sensitive acreage to vegetative cover	Cost Sharing	Farmers and Ranchers
Environmental Quality Incentive Program USDA	Technical and financial assistance to install or implement structural and/or management practices on eligible agricultural land	Up to 75% Cost Share	Farmers and Ranchers
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program NCDSWC	Seeks to protect land along water sources that are in agricultural production	75 - 100% Cost Share	Landowners of agricultural land in Neuse, Tar-Pamlico, Chowan, Lumber Basins and Jordan Lake Watershed
Agriculture Cost Share Program NCDSWC	Funds agricultural management measures	10 - 25%	Farmers
Agriculture Water Resources Assistance Program NCDSWC	Identify opportunities to increase water use efficiency, availability and storage. Implement management measures to conserve and protect water resources	10 - 25%	Farmers
Farm Bill Programs	Funds agricultural management and grassland, wetlands and wildlife preserve programs	Varies	Farmers and Ranchers
NC Agricultural Development and Farmland preservation Trust Fund	Supports purchase of agricultural conservation easements (on farm, forest, and horticulture lands), including transaction costs. Funds public and private enterprise programs that will promote profitable and sustainable family farms through assistance to farmers in developing and implementing plans for the production of food, fiber, and value-added products, agritourism activities, marketing and sales of agricultural products produced on the farm, and other agriculturally related business activities. Funds conservation agreements (on farm, forest, and horticulture lands) targeted at the active production of food, fiber and other agricultural products.	Varies	Public and private
Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program	Projects which lead to a more effective and efficient management of urban and community forests, and improve public understanding of the benefits of preserving existing tree cover in communities	50%	Local, state government, public educational institutions, 501(c)(3) organizations
NC Forest Legacy Program	Supports purchase of agricultural conservation easements (on farm, forest, and horticulture lands), including transaction costs. Funds public and private enterprise programs that will promote profitable and sustainable family farms through assistance to farmers in developing and implementing plans for the production of food, fiber, and value-added products, agritourism activities, marketing and sales of agricultural products produced on the farm, and other agriculturally related business activities. Funds conservation agreements (on farm, forest, and horticulture lands) targeted at the active production of food, fiber and other agricultural products.	NA	Private landowners
Coastal
Planning and Management Grants NC DCM	Fund local planning and management projects in 20 coastal counties	Varies	Local governments
Education
Environmental Education GrantsNCOEE&PA	Variety of different projects	NA	Entities who can register with Environmental Ed affiliates
Recreation
Recreation Trails Program NC Div of Parks and Recreation	Trail construction and maintenance projects, trail side facilities, and land acquisition projects	25%	Government agencies and non-profits
Wastewater Infrastructure
NC Clean Water State Revolving Fund USEPA and NCDWR	Congress provides states with grant funds to establish revolving load programs to assist funding of wastewater treatment facilities and estuary and nonpoint programs.	N/A	Local Governments
Clean Water Partners Infrastructure Program NC Rural Center	Planning, design, and construction for water and wastewater infrastructure	Varies	Local governments in rural counties including water/sewer districts and authorities
Wetlands
Wetland Program Development Grant USEPA	-Develop comprehensive monitoring and assessment programs -Improve compensatory mitigation effectiveness -Refurbish wetland, aquatic resources, protection	25%	States, tribes, local governments, non governmental organizations (NGOs), nonprofits
Wildlife
Partners for Fish and Wildlife USFWS	Technical and financial assistance to landowners to restore and enhance fish and wildlife habitats on their property. Projects must benefit migratory birds, T & E species, anadromous, or migratory fish	30 - 60%	Private landowners, businesses, NGOs, nonprofits, and schools
Bring Back the Natives - Fish	conservation activities that restore, protect and enhance native populations of sensitive or listed fish species across US	1:1	Local, state, federal, and tribal governments and agencies, special districts, non-profit 501(c) organizations, schools and universities
Conservation Lands Program NC WRC	Wildlife conservation designated land assessed for taxation same as agricultural land. Acreage and land use requirements.	NA	Landowner who is individual, family business entity, or family trust
National Wildlife Refuge Friends NFWF	Non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations	1:1 (encouraged)	Landowner who is individual, family business entity, or family trust
Other Funding Databases/Resources
APNEP Funding Resources Page
EPA Watershed Funding Resources
Land and Water Conservation Fund
Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership (SARP)
USDA-NRCS Other Programs
National Fish and Wildlife Grants
EPA Environmental Education Grants
US Fish and Wildlife Grants
Wells Fargo Foundation Environmental Grants