Overview
This page is intended to guide users through the watershed proposal process.
We highly recommend that you review all of the sections before submitting your watershed project proposal.
Friends of the Cheat published a Watershed Project Implementation Guide, supported by AGO funding.This guide describes in detail, successful methods and procedures used to implement watershed projects. The focus is on AMD projects; however it is useful for all types of watershed project.
In 2014, USEPA revised its §319 program guidance. In late 2016 USEPA required that all mining remediation construction projects include a contingency plan (CP). This requirement is effective as of March 2017 - it includes projects going to construction in 2017.
You should discuss your proposal with the Basin Coordinator in your region prior to any submissions. LOIs and full proposals are accepted from September 30 - March 31.
The deadline for submitting the full workplan for your watershed project proposal is May 1. AGO proposals have no specific deadline; they depend on availability of funds
and the announcment can be made at anytime during the federal fiscal year.
The NPS Program emphasizes management strategies and programs to address nonpoint pollution problems.
These management programs are balanced between two priorities. One is to implement, on a statewide basis, the overall NPS Program,
which includes technical and financial assistance, staff, planning and educational efforts. These efforts are funded through nonpoint funds.
A second is narrower and involves targeting specific watersheds to improve degraded water quality. This funding is referred to as watershed project funds.
This is designated for specific projects intended to restore impaired watersheds to water quality standards. All projects must follow USEPA guidelines
established for the use of §319 funds.
Before project grants can be approved a watershed based plan (WBP) must developed through local stakeholder involvement. Projects within a watershed must be
designed to implement the plan. The WBP will identify all the partnerships, projects, funding sources, follow-up monitoring, and timelines. WBPs can be based
on a watershed strategy, a TMDL (or both), and more clearly defines the specific responsibilities of each stakeholder group in implementing efforts to restore
a watershed to compliance with water quality standards. The ultimate goal of §319 WBPs and projects is to remove the imparied water body (however it was listed)
from the 303(d) list. Once your plan and all of its projects are complete your organization must work closely with WVDEP's NPS Program, TMDL Program and WAB to
evaluate the stream for de-listing
All grant recipients must have a FEIN, DUNS and a W-9 (Tax payer ID number), and be able to verify that the appropriate accounting, procurement and purchasing procedures,
as well as other business and organizational standards (e.g. board of director charter, budget documents, meeting minutes etc.) are in place. We use a financial history
checklist to verify the capacity of an organization to manage federal grants.
See Also
-
Is The Stream Restored?
When a watershed based plan (WBP) is complete or nearly so, it must be determined if the targeted stream(s) within the WBP are restored.
-
Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)
A Total Maximum Daily Load is a plan of action used to clean up streams that are not meeting water quality standards.
-
Watershed Based Plans
Development of a watershed based plan is the key step in the efforts to restore our rivers and streams from the impacts of nonpoint sources of pollution.
-
Water Quality Standards
The Clean Water Act required states to develop water quality standards to protect all water uses and to designate uses for each waterway.