Watershed Assessments for the National Water Quality Initiative in Western Massachusetts | USDA NRCS MA EQIP 21 NOFO0001047

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS MA EQIP 21 NOFO0001047

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Massachusetts is offering a competitive, discretionary grant opportunity to fund watershed assessment planning work that supports the National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI) carried out through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The goal is to bring in qualified partners who can produce formal watershed assessment plans that NRCS and local stakeholders can use to target and prioritize water quality improvements. Funding will be provided through cooperative agreements, which generally means the recipient and NRCS are expected to coordinate during the project rather than operating in a fully hands-off grant arrangement.

NRCS has a total of $100,000 available under this notice and anticipates making up to two awards. The maximum award amount (ceiling) is $100,000, and applicants can request up to $50,000 per watershed assessment. In practical terms, an applicant may propose to complete one assessment for $50,000 or propose to complete both assessments for the full $100,000, depending on capacity and approach. NRCS is specifically looking for organizations that already have expertise in developing watershed assessment plans and, importantly, can use the watershed assessment template provided in the funding opportunity materials. That template requirement is a key eligibility and competitiveness factor because it signals NRCS wants consistent, comparable products that align with NWQI and EQIP planning needs.

Two specific HUC12 watersheds in western Massachusetts are the focus of this funding. The first is the South River watershed (HUC12 code 10802030501), located primarily in the towns of Ashfield and Conway, Massachusetts. The second is the Upper Manhan River watershed, described as the Headwaters to North Brook (HUC12 code 10802010608), located primarily in the towns of Westhampton and Southampton, Massachusetts. Proposals should be centered on producing assessment plans for one or both of these defined watershed areas, using the HUC12 boundaries as the planning unit.

A wide range of applicant types are eligible, reflecting NRCS interest in partnering across government, academia, tribal entities, and the nonprofit sector. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; and nonprofit organizations with IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). The program is listed under CFDA number 10.902, and the funding activity category is associated with agriculture, environment, and natural resources, which aligns with NWQI water quality priorities and EQIP’s conservation implementation framework.

The opportunity was created on February 22, 2021, and applications were due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on April 23, 2021. NRCS also set a formal question period: questions about the notice of funding opportunity could be submitted until April 7, 2021, with responses intended to be posted on Grants.gov about two weeks before the application deadline. The official funding opportunity number is USDA NRCS MA EQIP 21 NOFO0001047, and the sponsoring agency is the Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Overall, this funding opportunity is designed to pay for the up-front assessment and planning work needed to identify water quality concerns, likely sources and pathways of pollutants, and priority areas for conservation practices in two targeted western Massachusetts watersheds. By supporting the development of standardized watershed assessment plans that fit NRCS’s template and NWQI objectives, the program aims to strengthen the pipeline from watershed diagnosis to on-the-ground EQIP conservation actions that measurably improve water quality.

• The Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Watershed Assessments for the National Water Quality Initiative in Western Massachusetts" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.902.
• This funding opportunity was created on Feb 22, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 23, 2021 Proposals must be received by 1159 p.m. Eastern Time on April 23, 2021.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for USDA NRCS MA EQIP 21 NOFO0001047

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