To: State Agencies, Academic Institutions, Non-profit Organizations and Other Interested Parties

From: Tony Ramick, Agriculture Division Manager- Non-Point Source & Arkansas Unpaved Roads Program

Date: September 18, 2019

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture Division of Natural Resources (ADA-DNR), formerly known as the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission, will be accepting grant workplans for nonpoint source pollution (NPS) management projects until the close of business, Friday, January 17, 2020.  If you are not the individual responsible for making grant requests, please forward this to the proper individual in your organization.

Consideration will be given to project types in the following order:

• Best Management Practices (BMPs) implementation projects within a designated priority watershed, as defined by the 2018-2023 NPS Management Plan Update with an EPA accepted 9 element watershed management plan (WMP)
• Best Management Practices (BMPs) implementation projects within a designated priority watershed, as defined by the 2018-2023 NPS Management Plan Update OR with an EPA accepted 9 element watershed management plan (WMP)
• In-stream water quality monitoring projects that support or assist the development of a 9 element watershed plan, or capture results of implementation within a NPS priority watershed
• Outreach/education or planning projects within NPS priority watersheds that are a component of an EPA accepted 9 element WMP

Research projects are not eligible for funding.

All monitoring projects must include a task to enter the data collected into STORET or WQX database.

Only complete grant workplans will be accepted.  Furthermore, all grant workplans must identify a cause(s) and source(s) of nonpoint source pollution within the respective watershed’s project area.

A Grant Workplan at a minimum will consist of the following:

• the identified impaired waterbody or segment targeted and the Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) of the targeted watershed
• specific NPS constituent(s) defined to be controlled, reduced or abated
• a tracking mechanism to quantify results, specific timeline in which task or activities are to be completed
• estimated cost per task, complete budgets, justifications and financial audit requirements
• model, and/or methodology for estimating NPS pollution reduction, control or abatement (when applicable)
• justification of a reasonable expectation that water quality will be improved

Applying for a grant does not guarantee funding of the request.

Starting December 2, 2019 the NPS staff will be available to work with and advise applicants in the preparation of their Grant Workplans.

Workplan templates are available from the NPS staff or by calling (501) 682-1611.  Electronic submittal will be accepted provided such application is submitted in MS WORD 2010 or later format.

Workplans received after the close of business on January 17, 2020 will not be accepted.

Fluctuations in federal funding levels are anticipated and have been steadily declining each year.  ADA-DNR is not typically informed of EPA 319(h) allocation/funding levels until March or a later date.  Those workplans approved for funding by ADA-DNR and EPA should plan to have a start date of October 01, 2020.

ADA-DNR requires that section 319(h) grant recipients provide a minimum of non-federal match in the amount of 43% of the entire project costs.  In other words, for a project with a total cost of $100,000, the recipient will be required to provide $43,000 in non-federal funds or in-kind services.  The amount of federal funds available for our example grant would be $57,000.  Funds and services used as match shall not be utilized as match for any other federal grant program and shall not in any way be paid by federal funds.

Previously approved workplans, project descriptions, presentations, annual and final project reports may be reviewed at www.arkansaswater.org.  Should you have questions or need additional information contact the NPS staff.

NPS Staff:

Robbie Alberson – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  - (501) 682-3917

Allen Brown – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  - (501) 682-3902

Kevin McGaughey – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  - (501) 682-3908

Steve Stake – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  - (501) 682-3956