EPA Announces $3.5 Million in Grant Funding to Help Tribes Restore and Protect Local Waterbodies
WASHINGTON — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking applications from Tribes for a total of approximately $3.5 million in new competitive grant funding under Clean Water Action Section 319. Funding from the agency’s 319 grant program helps improve water quality in local waterbodies by reducing nonpoint source pollution—contaminants that can be carried from urban, suburban, and rural landscapes and deposited into waterways. This available grant funding builds on the success of previous grantees who have documented water quality improvements across more than 16,300 miles of rivers and streams and over 230,000 acres of lakes since 2009.
“EPA is committed to working government-to-government with federally recognized Tribes to help strengthen their water resources,” said EPA Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water Caitlin McHale. “EPA’s 319 grant program has a track-record of success, leveraging non-federal dollars, and implementing tangible and real-world projects that improve water quality. With millions in new funding available, Tribes will be able to accelerate clean water progress to benefit current and future generations.”
The voluntary work done by grantees under EPA’s 319 grant program complements the agency’s regulatory and permitting authorities under the Clean Water Act to help ensure that all Americans can rely on clean and safe water. Projects funded by Clean Water Act Section 319 grants will reduce polluted runoff, also known as in nonpoint source pollution, which originates from many diffuse sources across the landscape. An analysis of successful nonpoint source water quality restorations estimated that for each Section 319 dollar invested in water quality projects, partners contributed an additional eight dollars.
Some examples of projects that would be eligible for this competitive Tribal funding, include planting streambanks, controlling erosion, installing livestock exclusion fences, addressing stormwater flow and developing watershed-based plans. Each eligible Tribe and intertribal consortia may apply for up to $175,000. EPA expects to select approximately 20 projects for awards. The 2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is available on grants.gov and application packages must be submitted by November 9, 2026.
EPA will host an informational webinar on the 2026 Tribal Competitive NOFO on September 17. Registration and other webinar details, as well as access to the NOFO, are available on EPA’s Tribal Section 319 Grants webpage.
Information about past funded projects under the Tribal competition is available online in EPA’s Tribal NPS Projects Mapper.
Learn more about EPA’s national Tribal Nonpoint Source Program.
Background
Under Clean Water Act Section 319 all states, territories, and over 200 eligible Tribes receive grant money annually to help support their NPS management programs. Visit EPA’s website to learn more about success stories from this grant funding.
This year, EPA is providing a total of more than $175 million in Section 319 grants. The Tribal portion of that funding is split into two components – a base grant and a competitive NOFO. Tribal base grants in 2026 total $10.5 million, with the remaining $3.5 million to be awarded under the 2026 NOFO.