Pennsylvania Section 319 Nonpoint Source Management Grants

The Section 319 Nonpoint Source Management grant funds are provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and authorized through Section 319(h) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to help states implement watershed management programs (33 U.S.C § 1329(h)). The grant program’s primary purpose is to implement Watershed Implementation Plans (WIPs).

Approximately 54 percent of Pennsylvania’s impaired waterways are polluted from nonpoint source pollution. Major sources of nonpoint source (NPS) pollution include acid mine drainage (AMD), urban and agricultural runoff, atmospheric deposition, on-lot sewage systems, earthmoving, stream hydromodification and timber harvesting.

Project categories:

• BMP Implementation as identified in an existing Section 319 WIP. This includes design and permitting and/or construction for agricultural and stormwater management BMP projects, along with AMD, stream channel degradation and floodplain restoration to mitigate the risk of flood damage in the watershed.

• Section 319 WIP Revisions or updates to existing WIPs that are at least eight years old.

• Tier III Monitoring within 319 WIP Watersheds, TMDL/ARP watersheds, and other impaired waters conducted by qualified collectors, generating assessment level data according to DEP standards.

• Incorporated watershed association.

• County or municipality.

• County conservation district.

• Council of governments.

• Educational institution.

• Municipal authority.

• Tax-exempt corporation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and registered with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Charitable Organizations.

• To be eligible for a grant award, grant applicants must be in good standing with the Commonwealth, which will be verified with two program checks: eFACTS compliance check and Contractor Responsibility Program (CRP) check.

• Implementation projects must be implemented in one of the EPA approved 319 WIP watersheds.

• Preference will be given to applicants proposing projects on Pennsylvania Agriculture Conservation Stewardship Program certified farms.

• Preference will be given for WIP implementation in Tier 1-4 within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

• If funded, the grant’s timeframe will be approximately October 1, 2027 – June 30, 2030.

• Proposed projects containing the following items are ineligible and will not be scored or funded: Projects that exceed 10% administrative costs.

• The maximum grant request amount for the Tier III Monitoring program is $100,000.

• For funded projects larger than $250,000, grantees must comply with the federal Buy America, Build America Act.

The application period is from April 22 – June 22, 2026, with applications due through the Commonwealth eGrants system by 4:00 p.m. on June 22, 2026. Applications submitted after 4:00 p.m. will not be considered for funding.

Applicants should contact DEP’s Watershed Support Section and their county conservation district when developing projects and preparing their grant application. If the project works with known landowners, the landowner letter of commitment is required to be submitted with the application. If the landowner is not known at the time of application submittal, this should be identified in the workplan; and if an award is made, the grantee must provide the executed Landowner-Grantee Agreement prior to BMP construction.

Sign up for notification for Growing Greener Watershed Protection, Section EPA 319 Nonpoint Source Management, and Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act Grant Programs notification.

• 2027 Section 319 Nonpoint Source Management Grants Program Guidance

• Sample Agriculture Workplan

• Map of Watershed Implementation Plans

• eGrants Instructions for Applicants

• Sign up for grant notifications