Nonpoint Source Water Pollution Control Grants ("319")

Purpose

DEP administers Nonpoint Source (NPS) grants to help communities make progress restoring or protecting waters named as NPS Priority Watersheds. Nonpoint Source Priority Watersheds List

NPS grants are available to:

1. Implement a watershed-based plan.
   A DEP-accepted and active (i.e. not expired) plan is a prerequisite to be eligible to submit a proposal for an implementation grant. List of DEP-accepted active and expired plans with the respective plan expiration dates
2. Develop a watershed-based plan.
   A plan provides assessment and management information and describes actions needed to restore NPS-impaired water bodies or protect water bodies threatened by NPS pollution.

Grants for projects are funded with monies provided to DEP by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under Section 319(h) or Section 604(b) of the Clean Water Act.

Annual Request for Proposals

Annually in March, DEP issues a request for proposals (RFP) and application for NPS Water Pollution Control Projects.

Maine Division of Procurement Services Grant RFPs

NPS Management Program Annual Reports

Annual reports summarize activities and accomplishments of DEP's NPS program. It includes brief (2 page) summaries of completed NPS water pollution control projects.

Annual Reports

Guidelines and Resources for Grant Recipients

Files are in PDF format unless otherwise noted. Free Adobe Acrobat Reader

NPS Grant Administrative Guidelines and Forms
NPS Grant Administrative Guidelines (DOC) Outlines procedures to help grantees and DEP administer agreements for NPS projects. Frequently used forms:

• Invoice (reimbursement); msword fill-in format; pdf fill-in format
• NPS Site Report; msword fill-in format; pdf fill-in format
• Pollutants Controlled Report; msword fill-in format; pdf fill-in format
• MBE/WBE Utilization Report; msword fill-in format; pdf fill-in format
• Progress Report - NPS grant; msword fill-in format

Other Watershed Project Tools and Guidance

• NPS Site Tracker Tool (DOC)is a spreadsheet with optional geo-location and photo tools to describe and keep track of the condition of NPS sites. Watershed groups may use it to efficiently accumulate information about NPS sites as part of ongoing watershed stewardship activities.
• Outreach Guidance for NPS Projects (PDF)
• Stream Survey Guidance for NPS Projects (PDF)
• Using Project Funds for Construction of BMPs at Road-related Sites-Guidance for NPS Watershed Projects (PDF)
• Stream Stressor Guide (PDF)

Program Quality Assurance

• 319 NPS Management Program Quality Assurance Program Plan (PDF)
• Maine Lake and Stream Watershed Survey Generic Quality Assurance Project Plan (PDF)
• Maine Stream Corridor Survey Generic Quality Assurance Project Plan (PDF)

Watershed-Based Plans

List of Watershed-based Plans (PDF)

Nine Element Watershed-based Plan - 3 examples

• East Pond Watershed-Based Management Plan (2018) (PDF)
• Phillips Brook Watershed Management Plan (2018) (PDF)
• Great Pond Watershed-Based Management Plan (2021) (PDF)

Lake Watershed-based Protection Plan - 2 examples

• Woods Pond Watershed-based Protection Plan (PDF)
• Great East Lake Watershed-based Protection Plan (PDF)

Lake Watershed-based Protection Plans Guidance (PDF)

Guidance for Updating Maine Watershed-based Plans (PDF)

Project Work Plans

Typical content and format of Department-approved workplan

• China Lake WBP Development Work Plan (DOC)
• Kennebunk River Watershed Plan Development Work Plan (DOC)
• Mare Brook WBP Development Work Plan (DOC)
• Trout Brook - Restoration Project Phase III Work Plan (DOC)
• Goodall Brook Restoration Project Phase II Work Plan (DOC)
• McGrath Pond and Salmon Lake Protection Project Phase IV Work Plan (DOC)

 

FMI: Alex Wong
Phone: 207-694-9533