Nevada Nonpoint Source Pollution Reduction 319(h) Grant

The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection Bureau of Water Quality Planning Nonpoint Source Branch is soliciting proposals through the Nevada Nonpoint Source Pollution Reduction 319(h) Grant Funding Opportunity. The program addresses nonpoint source pollution, which is caused when rainfall or snowmelt runoff mobilizes natural and human-made pollutants and carries them into lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands, and groundwater. Nevada's Nonpoint Source Program seeks to restore and protect water quality by strengthening partnerships, prioritizing impaired watersheds for restoration, protecting high-quality waters, and implementing actions that produce measurable reductions in nonpoint source pollutants. The opportunity is supported with federal Clean Water Act Section 319(h) funding. Funding is available for watershed-based planning and implementation projects that mitigate or protect waters from nonpoint source pollution. Eligible activities include development of watershed-based plans where plans do not exist, implementation of nine-element watershed-based plans or approved Alternative Plans, projects implementing the State Management Plan 2026-2031, and protection activities intended to prevent waters from becoming impaired. Implementation activities may include streambank stabilization, agricultural best management practices, Traditional Ecological Knowledge methods, low-impact development, rangeland improvements, conservation easements, and other protection methods producing pollutant-load reductions. Implementation proposals generally must fit within an EPA-accepted watershed-based plan or approved Alternative Plan or otherwise satisfy the specific planning requirements described in the solicitation. Activities associated with NPDES permit requirements, ambient impairment monitoring, general research or assessment, general education not tied to implementation, and general organizational operations are not eligible. NDEP anticipates up to approximately $900,000 in Section 319(h) funding for the opportunity, contingent on receipt of the FFY26 federal award. The solicitation anticipates supporting projects ranging from relatively small projects, illustrated at approximately $25,000 in federal funding, to large projects of up to approximately $500,000 in federal funding. Watershed-based planning proposals should target a one-to-three HUC 12 scale and have a maximum budget of $80,000. Implementation projects must provide a 50 percent non-federal match, meaning the requested federal 319(h) amount must be matched by an equivalent amount of non-federal funding. Watershed-based planning proposals are not required to provide the 50 percent match. Funds are reimbursable, so recipients must initially pay project costs and request reimbursement with invoices and proof of payment. The typical project period is up to three years, although longer periods may be permissible. Eligible applicants include federal, state, local, and tribal governments; interstate and intrastate public agencies; public and private nonprofit organizations, including 501(c)(3) organizations; and qualifying educational institutions. Proposals must include a Project Summary, Scope of Work, Project Outcomes, Project Schedule, relevant long-term operation and maintenance plans, contingency plans, a budget and budget justification, commitment letters, results of prior support when applicable, current and pending support, references or citations as applicable, and appropriate supporting appendices. The narrative is limited to 10 pages, excluding supplemental attachments such as engineering designs, maps, photographs, letters, and the budget. The completed 2026 Nonpoint Source GFO Budget Template must be submitted in Excel format as an attachment. Proposals are submitted by email to ndepnpsgrants@ndep.nv.gov. Applications are competitively reviewed by a Proposal Review Committee, with final subaward decisions subject to NDEP Administration and USEPA review. Implementation proposals are evaluated for alignment with a watershed-based or Alternative Plan, water quality benefit, assessment and measurable outcomes, long-term maintenance, stakeholder collaboration, cost effectiveness, added value, proposal quality and completeness, permitting, and outreach where included. Watershed planning proposals are evaluated for demonstrated need, alignment with the nine watershed-based planning elements, stakeholder collaboration, cost effectiveness, technical merit, transferability, and plan sustainability. Applicants should document measurable outcomes, implementation BMPs and estimated pollutant-load reductions where applicable, stakeholder commitments, realistic permitting needs, and justified costs. The solicitation was released at 12:00 PM PST on August 5, 2026. The cover page identifies a deadline of 5:00 PM PST October 9, 2026, while the operative Submittal Instructions on page 6 state that proposals will be accepted until October 16, 2026, at 5:00 PM PST. This internal deadline discrepancy should be verified with NDEP before relying on the later date. Applicant-support webinars are scheduled for August 10, August 13, August 31, and September 3, 2026. Award notifications are anticipated in late December or early January, followed by subgrant development that may require one to three months. Questions about applications, project ideas, or eligibility may be directed to Christian H. Fritsen at cfritsen@ndep.nv.gov or 775-687-9558.

Tie implementation work directly to an accepted WBP or Alternative Plan and clearly explain the resulting water-quality benefit. Provide measurable milestones, BMPs, and estimated pollutant-load reductions. Demonstrate long-term operation and maintenance capacity. Clearly document stakeholder roles and match commitments. Minimize administrative, overhead, and indirect costs and justify all expenses. Identify required permits in the narrative, budget, and schedule and allow sufficient permitting time. Ensure the proposal is complete and compliant because incomplete or noncompliant proposals may be returned without consideration.