Section 319(h) – NPS Pollution Control Financial Assistance Program (FY 2026)
🏛 Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
✓ Free, no account · Source: Illinois GATA Catalog (CSFA) · Last verified Aug 17, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations implementing nonpoint source (NPS) pollution control projects in Illinois. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, government agencies, universities, and other entities working on water quality improvement projects. Projects must address documented water quality impairments in Illinois surface or groundwater resources caused by NPS pollution. Activities include best management practice (BMP) implementation, watershed-based planning, monitoring, and outreach efforts. Projects aligned with Illinois EPA-approved watershed plans or TMDL implementation plans receive higher priority. Funding ranges from $50,000 to $1,500,000, with cost-sharing required.
⚖️ Cost sharing / matching required — applicants must contribute their own funds.
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Program description
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) is seeking proposals for nonpoint source (NPS) pollution control projects (Projects) to prevent, eliminate, or reduce water quality impairments to Illinois’ surface and groundwater resources. The Illinois EPA receives federal funds from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) through Section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act (CWA) (33 U.S.C. § 1329(h)) to help implement the Section 319(h) Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Financial Assistance Program (a.k.a. Section 319(h) Grant Program) (https://epa.illinois.gov/topics/water-quality/watershed-management/nonpoint-sources/grants.html).
NPS pollution is caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground. As the runoff moves, it picks up and carries away natural and human-made pollutants, finally depositing them into lakes, rivers, wetlands and even our underground sources of drinking water. It has been determined that over 60% of the (national) documented water pollution problem can be traced to nonpoint sources.
The Section 319(h) Grant Program prioritizes Projects addressing Illinois waters for which NPS pollution is a significant cause of water quality impairment. Assessment information for Illinois’ waterbodies can be found in the most recent Integrated Water Quality Report and Section 303d List (https://epa.illinois.gov/topics/water-quality/watershed-management/tmdls/303d-list.html).
This NOFO will give higher priority to projects that implement components of an Illinois EPA-approved watershed-based plan (WBP) (https://epa.illinois.gov/topics/water-quality/watershed-management/watershed-based-planning.html) or an Illinois EPA-approved Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Implementation Plan (https://epa.illinois.gov/topics/water-quality/watershed-management/tmdls.html). These Projects can include best management practice (BMP) implementation, environmental monitoring, social indicator monitoring, and outreach efforts. Individual BMPs, treatment systems or outreach efforts not identified in a WBP or TMDL Implementation Plan are eligible for funding but will not be prioritized as highly as those Projects specifically identified in an Illinois EPA-approved WBP or TMDL Implementation Plan.
Examples of project types and BMPs that have been, or could be, funded through the Section 319(h) Grant Program-Watershed-Based Plan Implementation and Other Activities are listed below. The list is not all-inclusive, and inclusion of a Project, activity, or BMP does not equate to an automatic eligibility for funding under the NOFO.
Eligible Section 319(h) Grant Program Project types include:
o Implementation of NPS components of an Illinois EPA-approved watershed-based plan (WBP)
o Implementation of NPS components of an U.S. EPA-approved Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Implementation Plan
o Best Management Practice (BMP) Implementation
o Development of a watershed-based plan
o Update of an existing watershed plan
o NPS Information and/or Outreach Programs
o NPS Technical Assistance (planning and/or implementation)
o Monitoring (environmental, social indicator, or data management) related to a Section 319 prospective project or projects, the project proposed in this application, or a project previously funded by a Section 319 grant.
All monitoring projects must have an Illinois EPA-approved Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) prior to the beginning of the monitoring. Monitoring cannot commence without an Illinois EPA approved QAPP.
Information on types of BMPs can be found on the Section 319 Program website at: https://epa.illinois.gov/topics/water-quality/watershed-management/nonpoint-sources/faqs.html
For additional information on watershed-based planning, please refer to Appendix C of the Nonpoint Source Program and Grants Guidelines for States and Territories (April 12, 2013) (https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-09/documents/319-guidelines-fy14.pdf) and the Guidance for Developing Watershed Action Plans in Illinois (Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, 2007) (https://epa.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/epa/topics/water-quality/watershed-management/documents/watershed-action-plan-guidance.pdf).
For watershed-based plans, the applicant must describe the expected outcomes of the Project in terms of watershed-based planning NPS pollution control for surface and/or groundwater quality improvement. The long-term outcomes are the important changes that are to be set in motion or supported by the Project. These changes may be environmental or social and may be expected to appear on different time scales. Watershed-based plan areas must be a minimum 5,000 acres to qualify for funding.
Applicants may apply for more than one project.
Partial funding may be offered if sufficient funds are not available to fund an entire application. This grant award is utilizing federal pass-through funds. The federal pass-through funds are received from U.S. EPA and distributed by Illinois EPA under Section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act. Illinois EPA expects to award a total of $5 million. This includes a total of up to $500,000 for watershed-based planning (with a minimum score of 68), $250,000 for Education and Information projects (with a minimum score of 72), $150,000 for Monitoring projects (with a minimum score of 72), and $3,700,000 for BMP projects (with a minimum score of 67). Illinois EPA has the option to award all $5 million to BMP projects if no Watershed Planning, Education and Information and/or Monitoring projects meet the minimum score. The actual amount depends upon the final U.S. EPA budget approved by Congress and the allocation awarded to Illinois by U.S. EPA.
The Section 319(h) Grant Program is a reimbursement program. The Grantee must perform the work, pay Project costs, and submit an invoice with supporting documentation before Illinois EPA will reimburse 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.
The Illinois EPA may elect to partially fund an application by funding discrete portions or phases of the Project scope of work. This could be due to ineligible (e.g., proposed monitoring without a draft QAPP) or low priority components identified in the application or inadequate funds available to complete the entire Project.
The Section 319(h) Grant Program may provide up to 60% of the approved Project costs. The remainder, normally 40% is the responsibility of the Grantee and constitutes the match. The Grantee must document the required match at, or before, the time of invoice for reimbursement. Match may include money spent or in-kind services utilized to complete the approved Project tasks. Match cannot be federal funds or funds used to match another federal program. Match can be provided by the Grantee, sub-contractor, or Project partners (e.g., State programs, private foundations, landowners). A Grantee may match greater than 40%.
If an applicant wants to use a grant from another funding agency as match, the applicant should check with that funding agency issuing the grant to ensure that it may be used as match for the Section 319(h) Grant Program. The following applies when using other grants to match the Section 319(h) Grant Program:
• The matching grant scope of work must directly satisfy a portion of the Section 319(h) Grant Program scope of work
• The date that the Grantee incurs costs for the matching grant must fall within the effective and expiration dates of the Section 319(h) Grant Program grant agreement
• The costs incurred under the matching grant must be eligible according to the Section 319(h) Grant Program criteria Federal Assistance Listing: 66.460. Administered by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency via the Illinois GATA Catalog of State Financial Assistance (CSFA 532-60-0378).
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Completed application form (NOFO-specific)
- Project narrative describing NPS pollution problem and proposed activities
- Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) if monitoring is proposed
- Detailed budget with cost-sharing documentation
- Evidence of watershed plan or TMDL alignment (if applicable)
- Letters of support from partner agencies or organizations
Program contact
- 👤 Jeff Edstrom
- 📧 epa.bowgrants@illinois.gov
- 📞 217-782-3362
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 66.460 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$9,206,000
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$9,006,000
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$8,625,200
-
$8,618,400
-
$6,930,000
-
$6,621,200
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$6,355,270
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$6,337,200
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$6,331,400
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$5,523,976
Top States by Funding
- CA 3 awards $26.2M
- AR 7 awards $23.0M
- TX 6 awards $21.0M
- FL 3 awards $19.3M
- NC 5 awards $19.0M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
FAQ
Who can apply for Section 319(h) funding?
Nonprofits, government agencies, universities, and other organizations implementing water quality projects in Illinois can apply. Individual BMPs or outreach efforts are eligible, though those in approved watershed plans are prioritized.
What types of projects are eligible?
Eligible projects include BMP implementation, watershed-based plan development or updates, TMDL implementation, monitoring, technical assistance, and outreach. All monitoring must have an approved Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) before starting.
When is the deadline?
The deadline for FY 2026 is September 16, 2026. Check the Illinois EPA website for future funding cycles and any rolling acceptance periods.
How competitive is this funding?
Projects addressing Illinois EPA-approved watershed plans or TMDL implementation plans are prioritized. Projects addressing documented water quality impairments have stronger applications.
What is the funding range?
Awards typically range from $50,000 to $1,500,000. Cost-sharing is required; the specific match percentage should be verified with the Illinois EPA.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Align your project with an Illinois EPA-approved watershed-based plan or TMDL implementation plan for higher priority. Check the 303d List to identify impaired waters in your target area.
- Develop a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) before proposing any monitoring activities. Illinois EPA approval of your QAPP is mandatory before monitoring begins.
- Secure cost-sharing commitments early. Document in-kind and cash contributions from partners to strengthen your budget narrative and demonstrate community support.
- Focus on water quality impairments caused by NPS pollution rather than point sources. Explain how your BMPs or activities directly reduce specific pollutants identified in your watershed.
- Include outreach and social indicator monitoring alongside BMP implementation. Programs addressing behavior change and community engagement tend to score well.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Projects fail to align with Illinois EPA-approved watershed plans or TMDL implementation plans, missing the priority funding criteria. Applicants underestimate the cost-sharing requirement or fail to document matching funds adequately. Monitoring projects proceed without a pre-approved Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP), making the entire proposal ineligible.
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