Press release posted by Department of Environmental Protection on 18 April 2026

As part of the Department of Environmental Protection’s (Department) Section 319 Nonpoint Source Management Grants Program, applications will soon be accepted for watershed planning and restoration grants.

Funded in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under section 319(h) of the Federal Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. § 1329(h)), the Department administers a grants program to fund watershed projects that are part of approved watershed implementation plans (WIP). The grants are designed to improve and protect this Commonwealth’s waters from nonpoint source pollution associated with agricultural activities, abandoned mine drainage (AMD), stormwater runoff, energy resource extraction, and streambank and shoreline degradation.

Eligible applicants include incorporated watershed associations, counties or municipalities, county conservation districts, council of governments or other authorized organizations including nonprofit organizations, educational institutions and municipal authorities.

The Department is focusing these grants on projects that reduce nonpoint source pollution in targeted watersheds with WIPs, especially projects that reduce nitrogen, phosphorous and sediment pollution from agricultural and stormwater runoff, along with AMD-related pollution from iron, aluminum and acidity. The Department is particularly interested in projects that implement effective best management practices (BMP) that reduce or eliminate stream impairments within WIP areas, leading to local water quality improvements.

Examples of eligible projects include existing WIP revision or updates; larger entities interested in supporting water quality monitoring efforts of local watershed groups through the administration of the new Tier III Monitoring Mini-Grant Program; and design, permit and construction of BMPs, including riparian forest buffers, streambank fencing, agricultural erosion and sediment control, and nutrient and manure management practices; animal waste storage systems, animal concentration area/animal heavy use area protection and barnyard runoff controls; design and construction of stormwater control measures; AMD treatment systems; and other projects that will reduce nonpoint source pollution in watersheds where streams are impaired.

Applications and all supporting documents must be submitted through the Commonwealth’s eGrants system at https://grants.pa.gov/Login.aspx.

Applications will be accepted beginning April 22, 2026,
through 4 p.m. on Monday, June 22, 2026.

Late submissions will not be considered

Interested applicants with questions may email RA-EP319grantfunding@pa.gov.

For more information on the Section 319 Nonpoint Source Management Grants Program, visit the Department’s website at https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dep (search ”319”).