MassDEP has opened two watershed and water quality management grant programs for application.

Additional information can be found on MassDEP’s website: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/grants-financial-assistance-watersheds-water-quality

Section 604(b) Water Quality Management Planning Grant Program

• Summary: Section 604(b) of the Clean Water Act provides grants to determine the nature, extent, and causes of water quality issues and to develop plans to restore or protect water quality pursuant to the Clean Water Act and Massachusetts Surface Water Quality Standards. Awards will assist in the development of Watershed-Based Plans (WBP) – a holistic framework for watershed management that details impaired waters and the plan to address the source of the pollution causing the impairment.
• Eligible Entities: Regional planning agencies, council of governments, counties, conservation districts, cities and towns ,interstate organizations, federally recognized tribes and organizations with state-wide agricultural capacity building experience.
• Application Deadline: Wednesday, October 7, 2026
• Total Available: $1,800,000

Section 319 Nonpoint Source Implementation Grant Program

• Summary: Section 319 of the Clean Water Act provides grants for implementation projects that address the prevention, control, and abatement of nonpoint source (NPS) pollution. NPS pollution occurs when rainfall or melting snow picks up and carries away natural and human-made pollutants, such as fertilizers, herbicides, construction sediment, nutrients and bacteria from animal waste, and eventually deposits those pollutants into our lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters, and ground waters.
• Eligible Entities: any Massachusetts public or private organization: State and Federally Recognized Tribes, Regional Planning Agencies, Councils of Governments, Counties, Conservation Districts, Cities and Towns, other substate public planning agencies, and interstate agencies.
• Application Deadline: Wednesday, October 28, 2026
• Total Available: $2,500,000