Current Tribal Section 319 Grant Information
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Overview
Tribes and Nations are eligible to receive Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 319 grant funding to implement EPA-approved NPS programs. As required under the CWA, Tribes must be approved for treatment in a similar manner as a state (TAS) and have an EPA-approved NPS assessment report and NPS management program to receive Section 319 funds. Each year, an eligible Tribe may apply for a base 319 grant that support their NPS management program, and they are eligible to compete nationally for additional 319 funds (competitive 319 grants) to implement on-the-ground projects to restore and protect their waters.
FY26 Eligible Tribes/Nations: List of Tribes Eligible for Clean Water Act Section 319 Base and Competitive Funding for FY2026 (pdf)
See below for current information on application deadlines, eligible Tribes and additional guidance.
Base Grants
Effective FY23, the EPA will award Tribal CWA Section 319 base grants according to the table below. The revised base grant allocation formula outlined in Achieving Greater Equity in the Nonpoint Source Program Through FY23 Section 319 Grant Allocations (pdf) replaces the formula within the current Tribal guidelines linked below.
| Total Tribal Land Area (square miles) | # Tribal CWA §319 Grantees in FY25 | Base Grant Funding Amount |
0 – 2 i.e., Less than 2 sq mi | 69 | $45,000 |
2 – 50 i.e., Equal to or greater than 2 sq mi AND less than 50 sq mi | 71 | $50,000 |
50 – 500 i.e., Equal to or greater than 50 sq mi AND less than 500 sq mi | 48 | $55,000 |
500+ i.e., Equal to or greater than 500 sq mi | 31 | $70,000 |
Section 319 base funds may be used for a range of activities that implement the Tribe's approved NPS management program including: hiring a program coordinator; conducting NPS education programs; providing training and authorized travel to attend training; updating the NPS management program; developing watershed-based plans; and implementing watershed-based plans and on-the-ground watershed projects.
Proposed base 319 grant work plan deadlines vary by EPA Region. Please contact your EPA region for more details.
Competitive Grants
In addition to awarding Section 319 base grants (described above), each year the EPA's National NPS Program solicits applications via a national competition from 319-eligible Tribes and intertribal consortia to implement on-the-ground projects to manage NPS pollution. Competitive 319 grants may be used to develop and/or implement watershed-based plans and other on-the-ground projects that will result in significant steps towards solving NPS impairments on a watershed-wide basis. Tribal applicants may request up to $125,000 in federal Section 319 funds through this competition. In recent years, the EPA has awarded approximately $2.5 million/year in federal 319 funds under this solicitation, depending on Agency funding levels. Please note that applicants must submit applications via grants.gov.
The FY26 Competition has not yet been announced. The NOFO will be posted here and on grants.gov with a 75 day application period in early 2026.
Selected Projects Summaries:
Submitting Tribal 319 competitive grant project information to EPA:
Beginning in FY2022, as a condition of receiving a Tribal Section 319 competitive grant Tribal grantees are required to submit project information to EPA that will be entered into the EPA's 319 Grants Reporting and Tracking Database (GRTS). This information is due 90 days from the grant award date. Required project information includes a project description, NPS categories of pollution and pollutants to be addressed, proposed BMPs, anticipated environmental outputs and outcomes, project location, project budget information, and project partners contributing to project implementation.
GRTS Tribal Competition GRTS User Guide (pdf)
Tribal 319 competitive grantees have two options for providing project information to EPA:
- Option 1: Fill out the Excel-based form (link below), then email this form to your EPA Regional Tribal GRTS lead.
GRTS Tribal Data Entry Form (xlsm)
- Option 2: Create a GRTS user account, then create a new project page for your competitive grant project in the database. Get started.
The Tribal Competitive Project Mapper is now available! The project data entered into GRTS by Tribal NPS Programs is now viewable in an interactive map format.