Funds support projects to improve the waters of Tennessee

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture is now accepting grant proposals for projects that will help improve water quality statewide by reducing nonpoint source pollution.
“As we all try to be good stewards of our natural resources, we look to our partnerships to help make great strides in our conservation and water quality efforts,” Agriculture Commissioner Jai Templeton said. “We encourage organizations and agencies to apply for these grants to continue to build on our past success.”

Nonpoint source pollution is soil, urban runoff, fertilizers, chemicals and other contaminants that degrade surface and groundwater quality. The Nonpoint Source Program was created in 1987 as part of the Clean Water Act and provides funding to states to stop nonpoint source pollution.

Local governments, regional agencies, public institutions, private nonprofit organizations and other state agencies are eligible to apply for these federal dollars administered by TDA’s Water Resources office. Highest priority is given to projects that seek to make measurable improvements to waters impaired by nonpoint source pollution. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation assesses water quality. You can see a list of impaired waters online: http://www.tn.gov/assets/entities/environment/attachments/wr_wq_303d-2014-final.pdf

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. Other priorities for funding include water quality related educational projects, projects that reduce urban runoff, and projects that aim to protect threatened waters.

The FY 2017 Request for Proposals is posted online: http://www.tn.gov/assets/entities/agriculture/attachments/FY2017_319_RFP.pdf. For more information, contact Sam Marshall with TDA’s Nonpoint Pollution Program at 615-837-5306 or sam.marshall@tn.gov.