Section 604(b) – Water Quality Management Program for Qualified Areawide Planning Agencies (FY 22)
🏛 Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
Can you apply?
This grant is for designated Areawide Planning Agencies (APAs) and other entities selected by Illinois EPA to implement water quality management plans.
Eligible recipients include established APAs within Illinois EPA's system, soil and water conservation districts, regional planning commissions, and metropolitan planning agencies. These organizations must work on approved projects within their designated planning areas.
Funded activities include watershed-based plan development, technical assistance for pollution control, environmental monitoring, and public education about water quality. All projects must align with Illinois' Water Quality Management Plan or Nonpoint Source Management Program.
This is a 100% federally funded program with no matching funds required. Illinois EPA distributes Section 604(b) Clean Water Act pass-through funds from the U.S. EPA.
This grant is for designated Areawide Planning Agencies (APAs) and other entities selected by Illinois EPA to implement water quality management plans.
Eligible recipients include established APAs within Illinois EPA's system, soil and water conservation districts, regional planning commissions, and metropolitan planning agencies. These organizations must work on approved projects within their designated planning areas.
Funded activities include watershed-based plan development, technical assistance for pollution control, environmental monitoring, and public education about water quality. All projects must align with Illinois' Water Quality Management Plan or Nonpoint Source Management Program.
This is a 100% federally funded program with no matching funds required. Illinois EPA distributes Section 604(b) Clean Water Act pass-through funds from the U.S. EPA.
Program description
Illinois EPA’s Section 604(b) Water Quality Management program grant (a.k.a. Section 604(b) Grant Program) is designed to implement the Illinois Water Quality Management Plan (WQMP) and Illinois’ Nonpoint Source Management Program (Illinois EPA, 2013). Grant funds are used to determine the nature, extent, and causes of point and nonpoint source (NPS) water pollution; develop water quality management plans; develop technical and administrative guidance tools for water pollution control; develop preliminary designs for best management practices (BMPs) to address water quality problems; implement administrative water pollution controls; and educate the public about the impact and importance of water pollution control.
Examples of water quality management program projects and activities that have been funded through the Section 604(b) Grant Program are listed below. The list is not all-inclusive, and inclusion of a project or activity does not equate to an automatic eligibility for funding under the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
• Development of a watershed-based plan (WBP);
• Update of an existing watershed plan or WBP;
• Technical assistance for point or NPS water pollution control;
• Environmental and social indicator monitoring to help document the need for water pollution control; and
• Education and outreach to promote awareness and implementation of activities that may help to restore degraded waters or protect waters from degradation due to point or NPS pollution.
Section 604(b) funds awarded under this NOFO are to be allocated to designated Areawide Planning Agencies (APA) established with the Illinois EPA to receive funds in furtherance of the Areawide Water Quality Management Plans (AWQMP) within the APA designated planning areas, and other entities as selected by the Illinois EPA in support of its role as the responsible entity for the Illinois WQMP, for work which has been approved through U.S. EPA as the source of the award funds through the Clean Water Act Section 604(b) Water Quality Management Planning Grant Award (C6-99591120).
This is a 100% funded program. Match funding is NOT required. See funding breakdown listing in the Funding Information section of this NOFO. This grant award is utilizing federal pass-through funds received from U.S. EPA and distributed by Illinois EPA under Section 604(b) of the Clean Water Act. Illinois EPA will award a total of $579,398 of federal funds, distributing this amount across four (4) awards to the APAs, and other entities as selected by the Illinois EPA in support of the WQMP, as established with the Illinois EPA to receive pass-through funds through the federal Illinois EPA FY22 604(b) Grant (C6-99591120).
The Areawide Planning Agencies, and other entities, and the federal funds they shall be receiving as pass-through awards through this NOFO are as follows:
Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP)
Total Award – $326,500.00
FY22 604(b) BASE funding – $109,500.00
FY22 604(b) BIL funding – $217,000.00
Greater Egypt Regional Planning and Development Commission (GERPDC)
Total Award – $109,500.00
FY22 604(b) BASE funding – $109,500.00
Southwestern Illinois Metropolitan and Regional Planning Commission (SIMAPC)
Total Award – $43,398.00
FY22 604(b) BASE funding – $43,398.00
Kane DuPage Soil and Water Conservation District
Total Award – $100,000.00
FY22 604(b) BASE funding – $100,000.00
This is a reimbursement program. The Grantee must perform the work, pay project costs, and submit invoice(s) with supporting documentation before Illinois EPA will compensate the Grantee for any approved eligible costs. Illinois EPA shall only make reimbursements to the Grantee and shall reimburse the Grantee no more frequently than monthly.
Intergovernmental Review
This funding opportunity is subject to Executive Order 12372, “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.” Federal Assistance Listing: 66.454. Administered by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency via the Illinois GATA Catalog of State Financial Assistance (CSFA 532-60-0376).
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Details
This grant is for designated Areawide Planning Agencies (APAs) and other entities selected by Illinois EPA to implement water quality management plans.
Eligible recipients include established APAs within Illinois EPA's system, soil and water conservation districts, regional planning commissions, and metropolitan planning agencies. These organizations must work on approved projects within their designated planning areas.
Funded activities include watershed-based plan development, technical assistance for pollution control, environmental monitoring, and public education about water quality. All projects must align with Illinois' Water Quality Management Plan or Nonpoint Source Management Program.
This is a 100% federally funded program with no matching funds required. Illinois EPA distributes Section 604(b) Clean Water Act pass-through funds from the U.S. EPA.
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- Project proposal describing water quality activities aligned with WQMP or NPSMGP
- Detailed project budget and cost breakdown
- Invoice(s) with supporting documentation for reimbursement
- Proof of designated APA status or Illinois EPA approval letter
- Timeline and work schedule for project completion
Program contact
- 👤 Jeffrey Edstrom
- 📧 epa.bowgrants@illinois.gov
- 📞 217.782.3362
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 66.454 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$4,753,000
-
$3,682,000
-
$3,397,000
-
$3,080,000
-
$2,901,985
-
$2,541,000
-
$2,424,000
-
$2,387,000
-
$2,202,000
-
$2,147,000
Top States by Funding
- NY 3 awards $11.8M
- IL 6 awards $7.7M
- CA 3 awards $7.7M
- NJ 8 awards $7.5M
- MI 6 awards $7.3M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Designated Areawide Planning Agencies (APAs), soil and water conservation districts, regional planning commissions, and other entities approved by Illinois EPA. Your organization must be established within the Illinois EPA system.
What types of projects can be funded?
Watershed-based plan development, updates to existing plans, technical assistance for pollution control, environmental monitoring, and public education about water quality impacts.
Is cost-sharing required?
No. This is a 100% federally funded program with no matching funds or cost-sharing requirements.
How are funds distributed?
Illinois EPA awards funds as pass-through grants from the U.S. EPA under Clean Water Act Section 604(b). Funds are allocated to specific designated APAs and selected entities.
How is reimbursement handled?
This is a reimbursement program. Your organization performs the work, pays costs upfront, then submits invoices with documentation to Illinois EPA for reimbursement.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Confirm your organization is a designated Areawide Planning Agency or approved entity with Illinois EPA before applying.
- Align your project proposal with Illinois' Water Quality Management Plan or Nonpoint Source Management Program priorities.
- Document all project costs carefully since reimbursement requires detailed invoice and supporting documentation submission.
- Build timeline flexibility into your budget; Illinois EPA reimburses no more frequently than monthly.
- Demonstrate clear connections between your water quality activities and point or nonpoint source pollution reduction goals.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applicants from organizations not designated as APAs or pre-approved by Illinois EPA submit proposals that don't meet eligibility requirements. Projects poorly aligned with the state's Water Quality Management Plan or that lack clear water pollution reduction outcomes get rejected. Inadequate documentation of costs or poor budget tracking creates reimbursement delays and complications.
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