TDA Offers Water Quality Grants to Local Groups
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Nonpoint Source Program (TDA-NPS) is seeking to partner with other agencies and organizations to fund projects that improve water quality and reduce or eliminate nonpoint source pollution.
“The purpose of the Nonpoint Source Program is to make a real difference in water quality by reducing sediment, nutrients and other pollutants,” said state Agriculture Commissioner Ken Givens. “This is a great opportunity for local governments and agencies to partner with the department in addressing water quality problems and to improve water stewardship in their area.”
Local governments, regional agencies, public institutions, private nonprofit organizations and other state agencies are eligible to apply for federal dollars administered by TDA-NPS. Priority is given to projects that seek to make measurable improvements to waters known to be impaired by nonpoint source pollution.
Nonpoint source pollution is soil, urban runoff, fertilizers, chemicals and other contaminants that come from many different sources and degrade surface and groundwater quality. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation assesses water quality and compiles a list of impaired waters. This information is described in that department’s 2004 303(d) List which can be found on the Web at www.state.tn.us/environment/wpc/publications .
Other priorities for funding include projects that implement an approved Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) in a watershed area, reduce urban runoff through the use of best management practices (BMPs), educate certain audiences about nonpoint source pollution issues, or generate a “Watershed-based Plan” for future BMP implementation.
The deadline for submitting grant proposals is Dec. 1. Proposals will be evaluated based on program goals and objectives, performance evaluation criteria and applicable EPA Nonpoint Source grant guidelines. The FY 2007 Request for Proposals can be found online at http://www.state.tn.us/agriculture/nps, or for more information call TDA’s Nonpoint Pollution Program at (615) 837-5306, or email non.point@state.tn.us.