The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) is accepting grant proposals for projects that improve water quality and reduce or eliminate nonpoint source pollution.

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture Nonpoint Source Program (TN-NPS) is seeking project proposals for funding from a grant provided by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) under section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act.

The Nonpoint Source Program was created in 1987 as part of the Clean Water Act and provides funding to states to stop nonpoint source pollution. Nonpoint source pollution most often results from land runoff that picks up natural and man-made pollutants that get deposited into lakes, rivers and ground waters. That pollution can be excess nutrients, pesticides, sediment, pathogens, and other contaminants that degrade surface and groundwater quality.

Priorities

• The highest priority of the TN-NPS is to fund projects that target waters of the state assessed as impaired from nonpoint source (NPS) pollution and published in the most recent edition of the state’s List of Impaired Waters by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
• A second priority of the TN-NPS is to fund projects which focus on NPS education and training are also eligible to receive funding. Educational projects can attempt to have a broad, statewide effect on all citizens of Tennessee or can target a particular audience in ways they could reduce NPS pollution.

Who Can Apply?

Local (city/county) governments, interstate agencies, nonprofit organizations and institutions, colleges and universities, and agencies of state government are eligible to apply.

For more information, visit Tennessee Department of Agriculture.