Nonpoint Source Program

§319 Grants

§319 grants are used for Nonpoint Program administration and Watershed projects. Watershed projects attempt to restore waters impaired by nonpoint pollution. Section 303(d) listings, TMDL development and NPS Management Plan priorities determine eligibility.

Note: §319 funds are reimbursable only; advanced payments are not allowed.

• §319 Program Overview
• §319 Watershed Project Grants
• §319 Additional Grant Opportunities
• §319 FAQ

§319 Success Story: Lamberts Run

Acid mine drainage (AMD) projects treat pollution from abandoned mines. Featured here is one of many project sites in the Lamberts Run watershed. This stream is a significant source of AMD to the West Fork River. In 2003 a watershed-based plan for Lambert Run was developed and approved. This allowed the partners to pursue two CWA section 319 grants. Since 2004 the partners have identified, assessed, designed and installed four passive treatment systems to remediate abandoned mine drainage. The partners plan to implement two additional projects to address remaining sources of loadings of metals to Lambert Run.

• AMD: Acid Mine Drainage
• Learn More About Lamberts Run
• EPA: West Virginia's Lambert Run Section 319 Success Story

About the Nonpoint Source Program

• Highlighted NPS Projects

  Examples of projects implemented and supported by §319 grant funding.

• NPS Management Plan

  Clean Water Act §319 guidelines require that all State NPS Programs revise their Nonpoint Program management plan every five-years. West Virginia's NPS Management plan was recently approved and can be downloaded here.

• NPS Program Annual Report

  The annual report provides a summary of program accomplishments from the previous year.

• Watershed Pilot Program

  The intent of WPP is to assist in managing and implementing §319 projects and improve watershed oganization sustainability.

Watershed Associations

Many citizens who care about their creek, streams, or rivers combine their powers to form watershed groups. They represent the interest of the community and the environment with a mission, goals, and a plan for implementing water quality improvement projects, enhancing habitat, developing recreational activities and informing their neighbors of the importance of watershed protection.

• Chesapeake Bay Program

  Since 1983, the Chesapeake Bay Program has led and directed the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. Bay Program partners include federal and state agencies, local governments, non-profit organizations and academic institutions.

• Stream Partners

  Stream Partners Program (SPP) is a cooperative effort amoung multiple West Virginia Agencies and is housed within the WVDEP's Division of Water and Waste Management.

Education and Outreach

The WVDEP's Division of Water and Waste Management administers many programs that provide direct services to the public.

• Project WET

  Project WET is an international, interdisciplinary water science and education program for educators of all sorts - public and private school teachers, water resource professionals, youth club leaders and many others.

• Save Our Streams

  The main pupose of WV Save Our Streams (SOS) is to encourage, train, and provide basic equipment to support volunteer monitoring.

Streams, Streambanks, & Stormwater

Monitoring is an essential component of stream restoration because it allows stakeholders to see what progress is being made, provides load reduction estimates and provides information on the types of restoration that can best achieve project goals.

• Stormwater Assistance

  WIB's Stormwater Team provides assistance for regulated and unregulated stormwater sites in the Potomac Basin.

• Streambank Monitoring

  Monitoring protocols that describe methods for monitoring and evaluating the success of restoation projects with the focus on streambank/channel restoration.

• Stream Permit Guidance

  This informational guide provides a brief overview of the various permits or certifications required before remedial work is conducted in and around West Virginia streams and wetlands.

Planning

• Quality Assurance Project Plans

  Guidance for developing a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) which integrates all technical and quality aspects of a project, including planning, implementation, and assessment.

• Watershed Planning

  Development of a watershed based plan (WBP) is the key step in the efforts to restore our rivers and streams from the impacts of nonpoint sources of pollution. The plans focus on addressing issues identified by the impaired streams list and TMDLs, with the ultimate goal of restoring the waterbody so it can meet water quality standards.

• Watershed Protection Plans

  A watershed protection plan (WPP) is a document designed to encourage current and future protection of water resources that are not impaired. However, these resources may be threatened by current/future nonpoint and other pollution sources, and if not mitigated, will likely become impaired.

Technical Guidance

• Best Management Practices (BMPs)

  Provided here are a variety of guides and resources related to best mangement practices (BMPs) supported by the NPS Program. Types include AMD, Agriculture, riparian buffers, natural stream design, wastewater, and urban and other guidance.

• Business Owners Packet for Single-Use Plastic Reduction

  This packet was created for business owners to view price comparisons of common takeout containers and cutlery (single-use plastics versus green replacements) and it lists the steps to take to reduce plastic and benefit their business.

• Homeowners Packet

  The packet provides information and tips on various problems affecting streamside homeowners and focuses on practical solutions.

• Operation and Maintenance of Passive AMD Treatment Systems

  The purpose of this manual is to encourage watershed groups to develop plans for the operation and maintenance (O&M) of all their projects and to gather resources to carry out those plans.

• Watershed Project Implementation Guide

  This guide describes the methods and procedures that Friends of the Cheat (FOC) use to implement watershed projects.

Additional Nonpoint Resources

• Watershed Improvement Branch

  WIB administers programs that educate, provide assistance, and plan and implement water quality protection, improvement and restoration projects.

• In Lieu Fee Mitigation

  In Lieu Fee (ILF) Program was initiated by DEP to provide an additional tool for achieving compensatory mitigation for unavoidable impacts to waters of the United States and state waters, including wetlands, streams and associated buffers.

• Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Reort

  The West Virginia Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report fulfills the reporting requirements under the federal Clean Water Act, Section 303(d) to provide a list of impaired waters and Section 305(b) to provide an overall assessment of West Virginia's waters to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

• Total Maximum Daily Loads

  A Total Maximum Daily Load is a plan of action used to clean up streams that are not meeting water quality standards. The plan includes pollution source identification and strategy development for contaminant source reduction or elimination.

• USEPA NPS Information

WVDEP-WAB Data

To learn more about water quality collected by WVDEP-WAB use this online tool for your queries.

Ambient Water Quality Data

Use this tool to query data from the Watershed Assessment Branch ambient stations.

Water Quality Report: Benthic

Benthic data collected by the WVDEP Watershed Assessment Branch.