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Contact Information: James Roe, Division of Water, 502-564-3410

Grants totaling $3.1 million are available for projects that help cleanup polluted streams, rivers, lakes and groundwater and for projects that protect water resources. The grants are for watershed restoration projects and for watershed implementation plan development as well as for other projects that reduce and prevent runoff pollution.

Runoff pollution, also known as nonpoint source pollution (NPS), is the No. 1 contributor to water pollution in Kentucky, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the impaired rivers, streams and lakes in the state. Runoff pollution occurs when water runs across the land and carries sediment, nutrients, pesticides, metals and animal and human waste into streams, rivers and groundwater.

The Kentucky Division of Water (DOW) administers the federal NPS grants, which are funded through Section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act. The funds are provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and can be used to pay for up to 60 percent of the total cost for each project; a 40 percent nonfederal match is required.

The DOW gives priority to projects involving watershed-based plan development and implementation in impaired waters, as well as protection of Special Use Waters (e.g., cold water aquatic habitat, exceptional waters, state wild rivers and federal wild and scenic rivers) with identified threats.

To be considered for this competitive 2011 funding, a project proposal form must be submitted by Feb. 4, 2011. The DOW NPS staff will review the project proposals and rank them according to eligibility and priority criteria to determine if they warrant further consideration and formal applications. Grant applications will be accepted by invitation only from entities identified through the proposal process.

The project proposal form, along with supporting documents, can be found at http://water.ky.gov/Funding/Pages/NonpointSource.aspx. Proposals may also be submitted throughout the year for NPS program staff review and consideration for a future grant cycle.

If you have questions, contact Jim Roe at 502-564-3410 or James.Roe@ky.gov.