Watershed Restoration and Outreach Grant Program

About the Program

Category: County Resiliency (Best in Category)

Year: 2017

The Department of Environmental Protection (MCDEP) established the Watershed Restoration and Outreach Grant program in 2015. The program created a mechanism for nonprofit 501©3 community organizations to reduce stormwater pollution and assist in meeting the County’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit requirement. The goal of the program is to promote initiatives that reduce pollutants and improve water quality in Montgomery County. The program is shaped by two core objectives: 1) Establishing sustainable environmental behavior change and 2) Improving local water quality. The County contracted with the Chesapeake Bay Trust (CBT) to administer the grant program which is funded entirely through the County’s Water Quality Protection Charge. All proposals are evaluated by a Technical Review Committee prior to being awarded. Grantees are given two years to complete their projects which consists of two project categories: a. Public Outreach and Stewardship - Projects that significantly engage residents in achieving water quality improvement through increased awareness and quantifiable behavior change. b. Community based Restoration - Projects that demonstrate runoff reduction and local water quality improvement on non-profit owned property. Priority is given to projects on non-profit property with large areas of imperviousness and where projects can demonstrate significant social influence.