Nonpoint Source Implementation Grants (66.460)
Nonpoint Source Implementation Grants (Assistance Listing 66.460) is run by the Environmental Protection Agency. It awarded $595 million in 295 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $2.0 million per award on average. 1 funding opportunity is open or forecast now.
The typical award was $1.4 million. Half of the 295 awards fell between $308,867 and $2.9 million, and they ranged from $30,000 to $9.2 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$595 million
- Grant awards295
- Typical award$1.4 million
- Awarded in FY 2025$99.8 million
- Size rank334 of 1,823
- Type of assistanceFormula grants
Key findings
- Annual funding fell from $132 million in fiscal 2021 to $99.8 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 334th largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 65% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 43 states and territories.
What the program funds
To assist States, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands (hereinafter referred to as States), and qualified Indian Tribes and intertribal consortia in implementing EPA-approved Section 319 nonpoint source management programs. EPA's awards grants that implement a grant recipient's nonpoint source management program plan, particularly the development and implementation of watershed-based plans, focusing on watersheds with water quality impairments caused by nonpoint sources, which result in improved water quality in impaired waters. These watershed plans are a mechanism to coordinate monitoring and planning on a watershed basis and will build a foundation for effective implementation actions using federal and other funding. Nonpoint source implementation projects include best management practice (BMP) installation for animal wastes, sediment, pesticide and fertilizer control, a variety of other structural and non-structural practices, watershed planning, monitoring, watershed coordinators, technology demonstration, and a variety of education/outreach programs, among others.
Open opportunities
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
Eligible entities include States and qualified Indian Tribes and intertribal consortia who have approved nonpoint source assessment reports and management plans. To be qualified, Tribes must have treatment in a manner similar to a state (TAS) status for the 319 Program. Grants to States are awarded by formula. The State allotment is awarded to the agency in each State designated by the chief executive as the lead nonpoint source agency. The lead nonpoint source agency may distribute grant funds to other organizations in accordance with its work program, which is approved by EPA. Eligible Tribes are allocated a base allotment by formula; the remaining Tribal portion of the 319(h) appropriation is competed among qualified Indian Tribes and intertribal consortia. For certain competitive funding opportunities under this assistance listing, the Agency may limit eligibility to compete to a number or subset of eligible applicants consistent with the Agency's Assistance Agreement Competition Policy.
What the money can and cannot pay for
Funds are provided to eligible applicants to carry out nonpoint source projects and programs pursuant to Section 319 of the Clean Water Act as amended by the Water Quality Act of 1987. Requirements under Section 319(h) include: nonfederal matching funds of at least 40 percent of project cost (match is an overall grant requirement - the match requirement for an individual project may be waived and in-kind services may be used as match); maintenance of effort; grants may be used for financial assistance to individual persons in the case of demonstration projects only; annual reporting; and EPA determinations of adequate recipient progress before additional funding. Assistance agreement awards under this program may involve or relate to geospatial information. Further information regarding geospatial information may be obtained by viewing the following website: Geospatial Resources at EPA. This program makes Federal awards on a discretionary basis. A discretionary award means an award in which the Federal awarding agency, in keeping with specific statutory authority that enables the agency to exercise judgement (“discretion”), selects the recipient and/or the amount of Federal funding awarded through a competitive process or based on merit of proposals. A discretionary award may be selected on a non-competitive basis, as appropriate. For further information, please contact the Headquarters or regional office.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. 40 Nonfederal match of at least 40 percent of project or program costs is required except for grants to Indian Tribes, where following demonstration of financial hardship, the nonfederal match may be reduced to as low as 10 percent of project or program costs. States must also meet maintenance of effort requirements contained in statute. EPA awards grants to all eligible States and Tribes which apply for funding based on an allocation formula that the Agency developed. The allocation formula is described in the revised grant guidelines issued on May 4, 2024 and found at https://www.epa.gov/nps/319-grant-current-guidance Note, tribal base grant guidelines and annual Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) are found at: https://www.epa.gov/nps/tribal-nonpoint-source-program.This program has MOE requirements, see funding agency for further details. This program has MOE requirements and/or total allocations over $100 million.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines.
Award range and average, in the agency's words
States/Territories: $464,000 to $8,625,200/fiscal year; average $2,800,000/fiscal year. Indian Tribes: base grants $45,000 to $75,000/fiscal year; competitive grants up to $125,000/fiscal year. Ranges vary year-to-year based on size of appropriation (and also varies depending on number of applicants for grants to Indian Tribes or intertribal consortia).
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2025: Nonpoint Source implementation projects to be funded include BMP installation for animal wastes, sediment, pesticide and fertilizer control, urban runoff, and a variety of other structural and non-structural practices; watershed planning, monitoring, watershed coordinators, technology demonstration, and a variety of education/outreach programs, among others.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Nonpoint Source Implementation Grants (66.460) awarded $595 million across 295 grant awards, an average of $2.0 million per award.
Who usually wins
State and local governments received 98% of the money, tribes 2.2%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| State and local governments | 215 | $582 million | 98% |
| Tribal governments and organizations | 80 | $13.0 million | 2.2% |
By state
42 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| California | 33 | $48.4 million |
| Texas | 10 | $34.8 million |
| Illinois | 4 | $27.5 million |
| Florida | 4 | $26.2 million |
| Ohio | 5 | $25.2 million |
| Pennsylvania | 5 | $25.0 million |
| North Dakota | 6 | $20.1 million |
| Louisiana | 10 | $19.0 million |
| Indiana | 5 | $19.0 million |
| Iowa | 5 | $18.9 million |
| Arkansas | 5 | $16.6 million |
| Washington | 7 | $16.6 million |
| Georgia | 4 | $15.7 million |
| North Carolina | 4 | $15.6 million |
| Minnesota | 8 | $15.3 million |
| Kansas | 3 | $15.3 million |
| Oklahoma | 13 | $14.0 million |
| South Dakota | 5 | $13.5 million |
| Mississippi | 4 | $12.8 million |
| Nebraska | 5 | $12.6 million |
| Michigan | 6 | $12.5 million |
| Maryland | 5 | $11.5 million |
| New Mexico | 14 | $11.5 million |
| Montana | 11 | $11.1 million |
| Wisconsin | 5 | $11.1 million |
| Tennessee | 4 | $10.6 million |
| South Carolina | 7 | $10.5 million |
| Missouri | 5 | $9.6 million |
| West Virginia | 5 | $9.5 million |
| Virginia | 5 | $9.2 million |
| Colorado | 9 | $9.1 million |
| Idaho | 5 | $8.9 million |
| Nevada | 16 | $8.8 million |
| Arizona | 11 | $6.7 million |
| Hawaii | 5 | $6.5 million |
| Utah | 8 | $6.2 million |
| Connecticut | 5 | $6.0 million |
| Delaware | 5 | $5.8 million |
| District of Columbia | 5 | $5.4 million |
| Wyoming | 5 | $4.9 million |
| Massachusetts | 2 | $4.6 million |
| New Hampshire | 3 | $2.6 million |
| Oregon | 4 | $705,215 |