National Estuary Program Watersheds Grants

The National Estuary Program Watersheds Grant Program is administered by Restore America’s Estuaries, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection and restoration of bays and estuaries across the United States. While the program is supported through funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Restore America’s Estuaries manages the grant as a competitive subaward program. The initiative is designed to address urgent and emerging environmental challenges affecting estuarine ecosystems within the 28 designated National Estuary Program areas established under the Clean Water Act. The program’s primary objective is to support projects that generate measurable, on-the-ground improvements to estuarine health. Funded activities must align with EPA-approved Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plans and focus on priority issues such as habitat loss, nutrient pollution, and ecosystem degradation. Projects are expected to produce quantifiable environmental outcomes, including restoration of habitats, reduction of pollutants, and enhancement of ecological resilience. The program emphasizes innovation, including nature-based solutions and green infrastructure, as well as collaborative partnerships that strengthen local capacity. Funding can be used for a wide range of project-related expenses, including personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual services, travel, and indirect costs, provided they comply with federal cost principles. However, certain restrictions apply. Funds cannot be used for land acquisition, standalone research projects, or purely educational initiatives without an implementation component. All funded work must occur within one or more of the designated NEP estuary boundaries, although supporting activities such as analysis may occur elsewhere. Eligible applicants include a wide range of non-federal entities such as state and local governments, tribal organizations, nonprofit organizations, and academic institutions. For-profit entities and federal agencies are not eligible to apply directly but may participate as project partners. The program encourages partnerships and community engagement and allows organizations to submit multiple applications within defined limits. Applicants must demonstrate alignment with local estuary priorities and provide clear documentation of project feasibility and impact. The application process consists of two competitive stages. Applicants must first submit a Letter of Intent through an online portal. Following review, a subset of applicants is invited to submit full proposals with detailed project plans, budgets, and supporting documentation. Applications are evaluated by an independent panel based on criteria such as project impact, feasibility, team qualifications, and alignment with program priorities. Key deadlines include a Letter of Intent deadline in November and an invitation-only full proposal deadline in January. Award decisions are typically announced in February, with project agreements finalized in late winter or spring. Projects must be completed by the end of 2027. Awards generally range from 200000 to 500000 dollars and require a non-federal match of 30 percent of the requested amount unless a waiver is approved. Applicants are encouraged to engage with program staff through webinars and one-on-one consultations prior to submission. The primary contact for inquiries is Suzanne Simon at Restore America’s Estuaries. Additional requirements include development of a Quality Assurance Project Plan, adherence to federal procurement standards, and ongoing reporting throughout the project period. The program is structured to support impactful, collaborative, and innovative efforts that improve the long-term health of estuarine systems.

Emphasize measurable environmental outcomes, strong partnerships, and alignment with NEP priorities