The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Chesapeake Bay Program is looking to team up with an organization to help award and administer nearly $8 million in targeted watershed grants to reduce non-point source nutrient pollution in the bay watershed.

Applications must be received by EPA by April 25.

The request for proposals outlines a cooperative agreement EPA will award to an organization whose mission is to support bay watersheds in reducing excessive nutrients through cost effective approaches. Public-private partnerships and market-based approaches, including nutrient trading, are two effective methods.

The cooperative agreement will allow the organization selected to serve as an intermediary to advertise, select, and manage a competitive watershed grants program with $7,936,000 in grant funds for 2005. The organization selected will also provide technical support to sub-grantees, monitor their progress, and report on results and lessons learned.

The targeted watersheds grant program is a competitive grant program designed to protect and restore water resources through a holistic watershed approach to water quality management. The intermediary organization can award sub-grants to states, watershed organizations and non-profit organizations to improve water quality through a sustainable watershed approach.

EPA plans to award the cooperative agreement by July 1.

Questions about the program should be sent to Theresa Martella by email to Martella.Theresa@epa.gov .

3/11/2005