Official Government Website

Nonpoint Source Subgrants in Idaho

DEQ offers two grant opportunities to address nonpoint sources (NPS) of pollution: Federal § 319 funds target a variety of nonpoint source projects while state funds address agricultural best management practices and are offered to a more limited audience. These grants are awarded annually on a competitive basis.

Federal § 319 Grants

Section § 319 of the Clean Water Act established a grant program under which states, territories, and tribes may receive funds to support a wide variety of nonpoint source pollution management activities. DEQ is the state agency responsible for administering this grant program in Idaho.

A successful § 319 grant request must focus on reducing pollutants and improving the water quality of lakes, streams, rivers, and aquifers. Funds may be used to address a variety of NPS management and prevention activities:

  • Agriculture (except those activities covered by a draft or final Idaho Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (IPDES) permit).
  • Urban stormwater runoff (except instances covered by a draft or final IPDES permit).
  • Transportation (except instances covered by a draft or final IPDES permit).
  • Silvicultural or forestry-related activities.
  • Mining (except those activities covered by a draft or final IPDES permit).
  • Ground water activities (to the extent identified by the state’s NPS management program, including source water protection efforts that involve regional collaboration or have the statewide application).
  • Hydrologic and habitat modification and related activities (including wetlands reconstruction).

State Agricultural Best Management Practices Grants

The Idaho Legislature provides additional appropriation dollars annually to increase pollution reduction efforts in Idaho. These State funds are to be used for the implementation of agricultural best management practices (BMPs) to help meet water quality standards in impaired water bodies in Idaho.

Application Process

In 2021, we moved to downloadable templates for the application and project budget. Those will be submitted via email. Instructions are in the accordion below.

Contact your local, regional office using the resources below for technical assistance.

Invoice Process

For projects awarded before 2021, continue invoicing using the online processes. Use the Federal Grant Invoicing and State Grant Invoicing links in the Resources box at the bottom of this webpage.

For Projects awarded after 2021, see the Invoice and Final Reporting Assistance for Grant Recipients link in the Resources box at the bottom of this webpage.

Please submit all invoicing materials to NPSGrants@deq.idaho.gov.

Application process video

Play Video

Invoicing process video

Important Dates and Other Information

This accordion will not appear on the screen

Annual application timeframe: March 15 – April 15

Details:

  • Eligible applicants include farmers and ranchers.
  • Eligible projects must target agricultural practices that improve water quality and meet the objectives of total maximum daily load requirements.
  • Applicants must target projects that are ready to implement.
  • Applicants must submit a completed work plan and budget, provided with the application material below.
  • Projects must involve multiple partners and leverage other funding sources.

Project contracts have eighteen-month implementation timeframes. The Basin Advisory Groups prioritize project proposals for funding.

Annual application timeframe: April 15 – July 15, 2023

Details:

Proposed projects that meet the following criteria are ranked higher for funding.

  • Applicants must target projects ready to implement management practices that reduce pollutant loads.
  • Eligible projects must target pollutants identified in total maximum daily loads and implementation plans.
  • Applicants must submit a completed work plan and budget, provided with the application material below.
  • Projects must involve multiple partners and leverage other funding sources

Project contracts have three-year implementation timeframes. The Basin Advisory Groups prioritize project proposals for funding.

  • Funds awarded to a project cannot exceed $250,000
  • 40% match required (based on the minimum total project cost)
    • NPS awarded funds/0.6)*0.4 = 40% minimum match requirement
  • Maximum Administrative Budget (not to exceed 10% of the grant award)

According to § 319(h)(12), administrative costs in the form of salaries, overhead, or indirect costs for services provided and charged against activities and programs carried out with the grant shall not exceed 10% of the grant award.

The costs of implementing enforcement and regulatory activities, education, training, technical assistance, demonstration projects, and technology transfer are not subject to this limitation. Activities, sub-awards, and projects that fall under the six exempted categories listed above are not required to track administrative costs for this provision.

  • Administrative (non-project specific)/Indirect cap calculation: 

           Example of the 10% cap on a NPS award of $20,000
           $20,000 *0.1 = $2,000 maximum

  • Monitoring, outreach, and education
  • The combined cost for monitoring and outreach, and education cannot exceed 10% of the awarded NPS funds
  • Include receipts for all costs with invoices submitted for reimbursement

Be prepared to justify your reimbursement requests with a timesheet if requested. 

The following instructions are for both State and Federal grant opportunities. 

  1. The application deadline is the end of the day for the application period.
  2. Download and fill out all fields in the application pdf.
  3. Download and fill out the budget template.
    • Optional resource: the NPS budget development tool can help plan a detailed budget.
  1. Email complete application materials to NPSGrants@deq.idaho.gov.
    • Title subject line as follows:  Title of project – the name of BAG reviewing your project (e.g., Boulder Creek Stabilization – Clearwater BAG)
    • Include the following:
      • Completed budget template
      • Completed application template
      • Maps, letters of recommendation, and supporting documentation.

State Grant

DateEvent
March 15 – April 15Call for State Agricultural Grant Application
June 1The regional and statewide rank of projects complete
July 1State funding available for distribution and contract development begins

Federal § 319 Grant

DateEvent
April 15 – July 15Call for Federal 319 grant Application
July-AugustApplication technical reviews and regional BAG meetings will hear presentations and rank.
October 31All regional BAG rankings completed
DecemberStatewide prioritization of projects by BAG chairpersons and final recommendation delivered to DEQ
July/AugustFunding becomes available in the following calendar year, and contract development begins.

This accordion will not appear on the screen

Contact your regional office for technical assistance.

Email NPSGrants@deq.idaho.gov for general inquires, and application and invoice submittals.

Nonpoint Source (319) Coordinator

Bonnie Yoshizaki
Bonnie.Yoshizaki@deq.idaho.gov
(208) 373-0439

ver: 3.5.1 | last updated:
Jump back to top of page button