Bay Journal

Targeted watershed grants program to fund efforts to control nonpoint nutrient sources

Look for the upcoming announcement of the new Chesapeake Bay Targeted Watersheds Grant Program. Earlier this year, Congress appropriated nearly $8 million to establish a pilot program in the Bay watershed to demonstrate innovative, sustainable and cost-effective approaches to control nonpoint sources of nutrients in the watershed.

In May, the EPA selected the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to apply under a cooperative agreement to manage the new Chesapeake Bay Targeted Watersheds Grant Program.

Approximately eight to 12 grants of up to $1 million are expected to be awarded on a competitive basis to eligible organizations, including nonprofits, universities, and local and/or state governments for selected projects that target and reflect the diverse settings, and sources, of nutrients that exist throughout the watershed.

The overall program goal is to expand the collective knowledge on the most innovative, sustainable and cost-effective strategies for reducing excess nutrient loads within specific tributaries to the Chesapeake Bay.

Specifically, the program seeks to:

• Support the implementation of water quality trading demonstrations and other market-based strategies to reduce nutrient loads to the Bay;

• Promote the development of innovative, cost-effective approaches to facilitate the adoption of Best Management Practices or those that identify and implement strategies to overcome existing barriers to the adoption of BMPs;

• Demonstrate and ground truth new BMPs or innovative technologies that would support their inclusion on the list of practices approved for use in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Model; and

• Foster the implementation and evaluation of the most effective BMPs or nutrient reduction measures contained in state Tributary Strategies within small watersheds.

Nonprofit organizations, universities, and local or state governments interested in applying are strongly encouraged to attend a free, one-day workshop that is expected to be offered Oct. 18 in Washington, D.C.

Information on the program can be found at: www.nfwf.org/targetedwatersheds.

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About Karl Blankenship

Karl Blankenship is editor of the Bay Journal and Executive Director of Chesapeake Media Service. He has served as editor of the Bay Journal since its inception in 1991. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

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