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Funding for Nonpoint Source (NPS) Related Projects

Now Accepting Applications for 319(h) Funding

The Utah Division of Water Quality is  accepting applications for Federal 319(h) grants. We anticipate funding to be available by August 2026.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides funding to the State of Utah under Section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act. The Utah Division of Water Quality (UDWQ) uses this funding to support voluntary, on-the-ground projects that reduce nonpoint source pollution and implement watershed plans. Applicants must demonstrate a 40% cost share in order to qualify for funding.

Funding Priorities

Projects should support one or more of these goals:

  • Promoting voluntary action to reduce pollution. Voluntary action is a key part of the 319 program. The program prioritizes projects that promote voluntary action to reduce pollution, such as projects to educate farmers about best management practices or to provide technical assistance to businesses to help them reduce their pollution, or the implementation of best management practices.
  • Supporting innovative approaches to pollution control. The 319 program is committed to supporting innovative approaches to pollution control. The program prioritizes projects that use new technologies or practices to reduce pollution, such as projects to use bioretention to filter stormwater runoff or floodplain restoration to improve water quality.
  • Protecting sensitive watersheds and downstream communities. The 319 program prioritizes projects that reduce pollutant loads in areas where water quality degradation may significantly impact downstream users, drinking water sources, agricultural water supplies, recreation areas, or key aquatic habitats. Projects that address runoff in headwaters, riparian corridors, and other sensitive areas are encouraged in order to prevent downstream impacts and improve overall watershed resilience.
  • Addressing climate impacts on water quality. The 319 program prioritizes projects that improve climate resilience, such as projects to protect wetlands or to restore riparian buffers.
  • Building capacity for watershed management. Watershed management is a collaborative approach to managing water resources that takes into account the entire watershed, from the headwaters to mainstem rivers, or lakes. The 319 program will prioritize projects that build capacity for watershed management, such as projects that provide staff support for watershed restoration efforts, educational initiatives, and watershed plan development.

Eligible Project Types

Below is a non-exhaustive list of the types of projects that the 319 program generally funds:

  • Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) – (e.g., irrigation efficiency, nutrient management, livestock exclusion fencing, cover crops, and other activities intended to improve water quality)
  • Stream and Riparian Restoration Projects – (e.g., bank stabilization, floodplain reconnection, riparian buffer establishment)
  • Urban Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Projects – (e.g., bioretention cells, permeable pavement, low-impact development retrofits)
  • Small Animal Feeding Operation Waste Management Improvements
  • Onsite Wastewater (Septic) System Improvements – (with priority for hardship assistance or systems impacting impaired waters)
  • Watershed Planning and Effectiveness Monitoring – (e.g., 9-element watershed plans, data collection to measure project effectiveness)
  • Education, Outreach, and Stakeholder Engagement
  • Technical Assistance and Capacity Building – (e.g., engineering support, watershed group coordination, project design)
  • Innovative Demonstration Projects or Pilot Technologies

Projects are strongly encouraged to be part of a coordinated, watershed-scale effort, and in most cases a watershed plan accepted by the Utah Division of Water Quality needs to be in place.

Geographic Focus

Project funding will be prioritized based on the Nonpoint Source Priority Watershed map, and in watersheds where partners have developed 9-element watershed plans. A project does not need to occur within a priority watershed to qualify for funding, however projects that benefit priority areas will receive additional scoring points.  

Funding Availability

Due to uncertainty in precise funding levels, we are using the FFY 2025 319 allocation of $869,257 as our estimate of available funding. 

An additional $100,000 in unallocated from FFY 2025 funds is also available during this funding cycle.

Actual funding and award amounts may change depending on the final federal allocation from Congress.

Applications will be accepted through our online application. The application can be used for all project types, including on-the-ground implementation, technical assistance, and information and education. Be as specific as possible in your application. Include your ability to document project effectiveness through monitoring before, during, and after project implementation.This is a competitive application process applications this year will be scored based on their location in a Nonpoint Source Priority Area. See the Nonpoint Source Area map. Watersheds have been categorized into tiers with Tier 1 being highest priority and Tier 3 being lowest priority. Waters not within tiered areas are still eligible for funding, but may be scored lower.

Application Form

Application Review Process

Once your application has been received, a multidisciplinary review team with the Utah Division of Water Quality and other partnering agencies will score and rank all of the projects. Not all applications will receive funding. Funding will be allocated according to project ranking. Partial funding for projects is possible in order to maximize the benefit of this program across the state.

Resources

Key Dates

  • January 9, 2026 (11:59 PM) – Application deadline
  • January 23, 2026 – Project selection announced
  • March 1, 2026 – Final project implementation plans due
  • August 1, 2026 – Grant agreements finalized 

FY2025 State Nonpoint Source Projects Approved for Funding

The Utah Division of Water Quality is pleased to announce the approval of FY2025 projects. The Utah Division of Water Quality received 55 applications with a total request of $3,096,346.57. A total of 31 projects were awarded funding.

Contact

Paul Burnett ([email protected])
Nonpoint Source Program Coordinator

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