Animas River Gorge near Durango, CO. Division of Wildlife. Pete Walker, Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Photo Taken: 5/3/2004.
Wetlands Project Funding - The Colorado Wetlands for Wildlife Program is a voluntary, collaborative, and incentive-based program to restore, enhance and create wetlands and riparian areas in Colorado. Funds are allocated annually to the program. Projects are recommended for funding by a Parks and Wildlife committee with final approval by the Director. Competitive grant funding opportunities for wetland/riparian restoration, enhancement and creation are available! The application deadline is Tuesday, July 10, 2018. For more information go to Wetland Project Funding.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) WIFA Funding – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of approximately $5.5 billion in credit that could finance over $11 billion in water infrastructure projects through the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program. Prospective borrowers seeking WIFIA credit assistance must submit a letter of interest by the deadline. Due July 6, 2018. More information available HERE.
Department of Interior WaterSMART Grants: Water Marketing Strategy Grants – Through the WaterSMART Water Marketing Strategy Grants, reclamation provides cost-shared financial assistance to states, tribes, and local governments to develop water marketing strategies to establish or expand water markets or water marketing activities between willing participants, in compliance with state and Federal laws. This funding opportunity supports collaborative planning efforts to develop water markets that will proactively address water supply reliability and increase water management flexibility. Due July 17, 2018. More information available HERE.
EPA Wetland Program Development Grants—Application Close Date Varies by Region – Wetland Program Development Grants (WPDGs) provide eligible applicants an opportunity to conduct projects that promote the protection, management, and restoration of wetlands. States, tribes, local governments, inter-state associations, and inter-tribal consortia are eligible to apply for the Regional WPDG Request for Proposals. More information available HERE.
NOT-FOR-PROFIT ACID MINE DRAINAGE WATERSHED COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT PROGRAMS (WCAP) - Department of the Interior, Office of Surface Mining, Funding Opportunity S18AS00003, 2018. Funding is available to assist local 501(c)(3) status organizations and groups that undertake local acid mine drainage (AMD) reclamation projects to improve the water quality of AMD-affected streams. The priorities and technical focus for this announcement are to restore streams affected by AMD to a level that will support a diverse biological community and provide recreational opportunities for the public. WCAP is designed to be partnered with other funding sources to assist groups such as small watershed organizations to complete local AMD reclamation projects. Estimated total program funding is $1.5M, and about 25 awards are anticipated. The closing date for applications is August 31, 2018. http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=300194
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Water Quality Planning Design and Engineering Grants. These grants provide money to small communities to help cover costs associated with the State Revolving Fund pre-application requirements. Grants require a 20 percent match from the applicant. Planning grant applicants must complete the prequalification form and attend a pre-application meeting. Design and engineering grant applicants will be considered by project needs assessment submissions by approved disadvantaged communities. For more information CLICK HERE.
The Nature Conservancy is working to promote environmental education through the creation of Nature Works Everywhere gardens. The core principle behind the Gardens program is that gardens model conservation science on a relatable scale. The program empowers students and teachers to work together to create and implement their own solutions to environmental challenges in their communities. Grants of up to $2,000 will be awarded to support projects that implement green infrastructure to address local environmental challenges. These include access to healthy food, air quality, heat island effect, climate change, and storm water collection. Through the program, young people will work as social innovators to help their communities through project design and implementation. Link to Complete RFP.
Colorado's Water Plan Grant Opportunities: The purpose of the Water Plan Grant funding is to make progress on the critical actions identified in the Colorado’s Water Plan (CWP) and its Measurable Objectives. All applications will be assessed based on funds available for a particular CWP Measurable Objective category. The Board will select projects, programs and activities to fund from applications that have the best opportunity to make progress on the CWP’s Measurable Objectives or critical actions. The CWCB staff reserves the right to negotiate with successful applicants to modify the scope and budget of their project to better meet the CWP objectives in light of fund availability. CWCB staff will evaluate applications and recommend projects to the CWCB Board for final approval at its regularly scheduled Board meetings. Learn more HERE.
The National Water Quality Initiative will work in priority watersheds to help farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners improve water quality and aquatic habitats in impaired streams. Natural Resource Conservation Service will help producers implement conservation and management practices through a systems approach to control and trap nutrient and manure runoff. Qualified producers will receive assistance for installing conservation practices such as cover crops, filter strips and terraces. More Details HERE.
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), provided through the Natural Resource Conservation Service, is a voluntary conservation program that helps agricultural producers in a manner that promotes agricultural production and environmental quality as compatible goals. Through EQIP, agricultural producers receive financial and technical assistance to implement structural and management conservation practices that optimize environmental benefits on working agricultural land. EQIP applications are accepted on a continuous basis, however, NRCS establishes application "cut-off" or submission deadline dates for evaluation, ranking and approval of eligible applications. EQIP is open to all eligible agricultural producers and submitted applications may be considered or evaluated in multiple funding pool opportunities. To learn more CLICK HERE.
The Colorado Water Conservation Board Water Supply Reserve Account (WSRA) Program provides grants and loans to assist Colorado water users in addressing their critical water supply issues and interests. The funds help eligible entities complete water activities, which may include competitive grants for: Technical assistance regarding permitting, feasibility studies and environmental compliance; Studies or analysis of structural, nonstructural consumptive and nonconsumptive water needs, projects or activities; and structural and nonstructural water projects or activities. For more information click HERE.
Colorado Water Conservation Board Water Efficiency Grant Program. The Water Efficiency Grant Program provides financial assistance to communities, water providers, and eligible agencies for water conservation-related activities and projects. Eligible entities, as well as state and local governments and agencies, can receive funding to develop water conservation and drought plans, implement water conservation goals outlined in a water conservation plan and educate the public about water conservation.
Types of Water Efficiency Grants available - Click on programs below for more information about each and how to apply:
- Water Conservation Planning Grants: For water providers seeking to develop or update their water conservation plans.
- Water Conservation Implementation Grants: For water providers implementing water conservation plan goals and programs identified in locally adopted and CWCB-approved water conservation plans.
- Drought Mitigation Planning Grants: For water providers or state and local governmental entities developing drought mitigation and response plans.
- Water Resource Conservation Public Education and Outreach Grants: For agencies seeking to promote the benefits of water resource conservation through public education and outreach.
Tamarisk Coalition has a list of riparian restoration funding opportunities maintained by the Tamarisk Coalition. For list click restoration funding opportunities.