Gulf Hypoxia Program
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides a historic $50 billion in funding for EPA to support states and Tribes investing in clean and safe water. For the first time, this funding will allow EPA to invest in strategies to improve water quality in the Mississippi River/Atchafalaya River Basin and the Gulf of America and reduce the hypoxia zone in the northern Gulf.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides a total of $60 million for actions that support the Mississippi River/Gulf of America Watershed Nutrient Task Force's Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan, with $12 million per year for five years.
Through the Gulf Hypoxia Program, Task Force member states, Tribes, sub-basin committees, and Land Grant Universities will have the resources to make significant progress toward reducing nutrient loads. These efforts will improve water quality in the Gulf and throughout the Mississippi River/Atchafalaya River Basin and track the results. Through improved water quality, communities across the basin will benefit from safer drinking water, protected fisheries, and a more stable economy. Partnerships will provide farmers and urban communities with a more resilient landscape and improved local water quality as they have the support they need to implement watershed plans and expand business plans to include conservation systems.
The funding levels for recipients of the Gulf Hypoxia Program are provided in the table below.
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Gulf Hypoxia Program Total Funding Levels
| FY 22-26 $ | |
|---|---|
| State Total | 50,729,393 |
| Each State | 4,227,449 |
| Eligible Tribes Total | 5,370,607 |
| Sub-Basin Committees Total | 1,200,000 |
| Land Grant Univ. Consortium Total | 600,000 |
| EPA 3% Set Aside | 1,800,000 |
| EPA 0.5% Inspector General Set Aside | 300,000 |
Supporting Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Gulf Hypoxia Program documents can be downloaded from the links below:
States
- Memorandum:
Gulf Hypoxia Program FY 25 State Implementation Memo (pdf)
(March 2025)
- This memorandum replaces and supersedes the EPA's July 20, 2024, Gulf Hypoxia Program FY 24 Guidance for State Cooperative Agreements Implementation Memo to provide direction that is consistent with the Administration's priorities.
- Memorandum: Gulf Hypoxia Program FY 22 State Implementation Memo (pdf) (June 2022)
- FY 22 Announcement of Program and State Cooperative Agreements – Read the press release
- Fact Sheet: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Gulf Hypoxia Program State Cooperative Agreements (pdf) (June 2022)
- Infographic: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Summary (pdf) (March 2022)
- State Cooperative Agreement Workplan Summaries: Gulf Hypoxia Program State Workplan Summaries (pdf) (March 2023)
- State Cooperative Agreement Workplans: First Gulf Hypoxia Program State Workplans (pdf) (April 2023)
- Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)
Tribes
Gulf Hypoxia Program Guidance for Tribal Cooperative Agreements and Consultation and Coordination
- Notification: Tribal Consultation and Coordination (pdf) (July 2022)
Tribal Cooperative Agreements - Read the press release
- Memorandum: Gulf Hypoxia Program FY 23 Tribal Implementation Memo (pdf) (December 2022)
- Fact Sheet: Gulf Hypoxia Program Tribal Cooperative Agreements Fact Sheet (pdf) (December 2022)
- Tribal Cooperative Agreement Workplan Summaries: Gulf Hypoxia Program Tribal Workplan Summaries (pdf) (November 2024)
Partners
Gulf Hypoxia Program Guidance for Sub-Basin Committee and Land Grant University Consortium Cooperative Agreements
- Memorandum: Gulf Hypoxia Program FY 23 Partner Implementation Memo (pdf) (May 2023)
- Partner Cooperative Agreement Workplans: Gulf Hypoxia Program Partner Workplans (pdf) (August 2024)
EPA will continue to update this webpage as projects get underway.