Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Water Quality Planning

December 2011 —State Grant Program Funds Water Quality Improvement Projects
CARSON CITY, Nev. – The State has provided grant funding to improve conditions of Nevada’s watersheds and protect against nonpoint source water pollution. Nonpoint source pollution comes from diffuse sources such as storm flow from urbanized lands, agricultural fields, and highways.

The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) 319(h) Nonpoint Source Grant Program provided funds to qualifying counties, conservation districts, higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, and tribes. A total of $1,289,290 was awarded to 15 projects aiming to improve water quality, to educate Nevada’s citizens about nonpoint source pollution, and to complete watershed improvement plans aimed at reducing nonpoint source pollution impacts. Twenty-three proposals were received by NDEP which were reviewed by a Technical Advisory Committee and pared down in number as only 1 dollar was available for every 2 dollars requested. Projects are anticipated to result in measurable reductions in pollutants released to streams, rivers, and lakes. The purpose of these reductions is ultimately to make waters of the State swimmable, fishable, and otherwise fit for other recreational and beneficial uses, including drinking water use. Nonpoint Source Grant Program funds originate from a US Environmental Protection Agency grant pursuant to the Clean Water Act.

Contracts with NDEP require most 319(h) Grant Program projects to be completed in one to three years. Additional grant funding is expected to be made available to qualifying projects in July, 2012.

For any questions or more information, please contact Birgit Widegren, Supervisor, Nonpoint Source Program, Bureau of Water Quality Planning, Nevada Division of Environmental Protection at 775-687-9550 or bwidegren@ndep.nv.gov.

The following projects were selected for funding through the 319(h) Nonpoint Source Program:
• Carson Water Subconservancy District, Carson River Coalition Coordinator, $105,113
• Carson Water Subconservancy District, Environmental Education Coordinator, $97,774
• Carson Water Subconservancy District, Explore Your Watershed Environmental Education, $23,653
• Dayton Valley Conservation District, Middle Carson River Restoration, $150,000
• Carson Valley Conservation District, Carson River and Clear Creek Bank Stabilization, $100,000
• Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, TMDL Implementation--Private Parcel BMP Retrofit Program, $113,353
• Nevada Tahoe Conservation District, TMDL Implementation--Private Parcel BMP Retrofit Program, $95,000
• Nevada Division of Forestry, South Fork River Stabilization and Meadow Rehabilitation, $73,763
• Humboldt Watershed Cooperative Weed Management Area, Watershed Coordinator, $183,333
• Clark County Reclamation District, Floatable Trash Reduction Program, $72,500
• Clark County Reclamation District, NPS Environmental Education Program, $52,189
• Southern Nevada Water Authority, Pollution Reduction in Las Vegas Wash, $105,265
• The Nature Conservancy, Upper Amargosa River Restoration, $24,922
• City of Reno, Truckee River Watershed Education Toolkit, $49,810
• Sierra Nevada Journeys, Environmental Education Initiative, $42,615

The Federal Clean Water Act (CWA) section 319(h) provides grants to states to implement Nonpoint Source (NPS) Pollution Management Programs. CWA 319(h) grants are available for projects aimed at reducing, controlling and preventing nonpoint source (NPS) pollution, with the ultimate goal of improving water quality. A number of these projects use a watershed management approach and may involve public education, technology transfer or demonstration of innovative best management practices.

Originally, the focus of the CWA was to control and abate water pollution from point sources, such as industrial discharges and sewage treatment plants. After 15 years of considerable gains in controlling and reducing the pollution loads from these sources, not all water quality problems were resolved. Several studies and surveys have shown that the majority of the remaining impairments in water quality result from nonpoint source pollution. In 1987, Congress amended the CWA to focus greater national efforts on nonpoint sources. Since 1987, the CWA section 319(h) grants process has been coordinated through the NPS Pollution Management Program (NPS Program) in the Bureau of Water Quality Planning.

Request For Proposals describes our coordinated process for the allocation of CWA section 319(h) grants. Project proponents are directed to work with NPS Program staff prior to submittal of the final proposals to ensure proposals are complete.

Ongoing and past CWA section 319(h) projects can be viewed on our 319(h) Highlighted Projects webpage.