319(h) Grants

319(h) Grants is sponsored by Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE). Offers funding to reduce or eliminate water quality impairments associated with nonpoint source pollution in Maryland.

319(h) Grants In Maryland Accessibility Information Chesapeake Bay WIP Local Partners Engagement Nonpoint Source​ Program [(§319(h)] §​319(h) Grant: Reports and Project Summaries (leaving MDE) §319(h) Grants In Maryland – Key Information For Seeking Funds Now seeking applications for funding assistance.

Please note, for state fiscal year 2027, communities located in an area without a watershed-based plan may be eligible for this funding. Please contact MDE to determine if you qualify. ​ All proposals are due by September 30​, 2026 at 11:59 EST .

Authority and Administration Under the Federal Clean Water Act Section §319(h) (leaving MDE), grant funds are available to reduce or eliminate water quality impairments that are associated nonpoint source pollution. In Maryland, the §319(h) Grant Program is administered by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE).

Entities Eligible for Funding​ In Maryland, the opportunity for §319(h) funding is offered to local and State entities including county and municipal agencies, Soil Conservation Districts, State agencies and State institutions of higher learning, private firms, and nonprofit organizations. Projects may include subcontracts for private firms and nonprofit organizations for consulting, engineering, construction and other tasks.

Project managers must ensure they have the capacity in grant management and funding, as §319(h) funding is a reimbursement style grant in Maryland which requires funding to be produced by the recipient prior to receiving grant money. Justification of capacity must be included in the proposal, and MDE may request further documentation or have additional oversight to ensure project completion if a project is selected.

Applications for FFY2027 funding will be accepted beginning at 8AM on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, through 11:59PM on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. Applicants will be notified of selection status in late October/early November 2026. Funding for the approved FFY2027 projects will be available October 1, 2027.

Proposals will be ranked based on how well each meets the goals and requirements stated in the request for proposal (RFP) . Selected grant funds will be offered to the highest ranking projects. ​ If you have questions, contact Maryland's §319(h) Program at (410) 537-4437 or §319(h) Grant funds can pay for planning, design, construction, monitoring and analysis.

However, the majority of §319(h) Grant funding in Maryland is intended for implementation of projects that will: Reduce or eliminate water quality impairments listed in the Maryland’s List of Impaired Water (303(d) List), particularly in watersheds where Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) have been approved; and Result in quantifiable or measurable improvements in water quality and habitat, including, pollutant load reductions for impairments addressed in TMDLs or identified in the 303(d) List.

Search for Maryland 319(h) Grant Projects - Public Information In National EPA “GRTS” Database (leaving MDE website) Typically, a prerequisite for §319(h) funding of implementation projects (any project involving in-the-ground construction) is EPA acceptance of a watershed plan. Acceptance is based on meeting EPA’s criteria for watershed-based plans ( Federal Register 10/23/03, page 60659 ).

In Maryland, watershed plans are reviewed using a spreadsheet created by EPA Region 3 . By downloading this spreadsheet and using its elements as a guide while drafting a watershed plan, the likelihood of EPA acceptance can be improved. For guidance on developing a watershed plan see, EPA's " Handbook for Developing Watershed Plans to Restore and Protect Our Waters ".

Watersheds In Maryland Eligible for §319(h) Grant Implementation Funding Below are watershed plans that EPA have accepted. There are multiple links for each watershed. The webpage link provides local information and documents (leaves MDE website).

The download links (PDF) provide a copy of the document (remains in MDE website). Please note, some of the files are large and may take some time to download.

Aaron Run – ( Download – PDF)​ Antietam Creek – ( Download – PDF) ​ Assa​woman Bay (conditional)​ - ( Download - PDF) Casselman River – ( Download – PDF) Corsica River – ( Download 2004 plan – PDF or 2012 report/goals revision - PDF) Lower Jones Falls – ( Download – PDF) Middle Gwynns Falls - ( Download Volume 1 or Monocacy River, Lower – ( Download – PDF) Sassafras River – ( Download – PDF) Spring Branch – ( Download – PDF) Tidal Back River – ( Download – PDF) Upper Back River – ( Download​ – PDF) Upper Choptank River – ( Download – PDF) Upper Jennings Run​ - ( Download - PDF) Maryland's ​§31​9(h) Nonpoint Source Pr​ogram 2025​ Annual Report​ ​ Maryland's §31​9(h) Nonpoint Source Pr​ogram 2024​ Annual Report​ Maryland's §319(h) Nonpoint Source Program 2023​​ Annual Report​ ​​​​ Maryland's §319(h) Nonpoint Source Program 2022​​ Annual Report​ ​ Maryland's §319(h) Nonpoint Source Program 2021 Annual Report​​ Older reports available upon request Other Useful Links and Funding Sources Water Quality Restoration​ ​ DNR Coastal Zone Management (Leaving MDE Website) NPS Outreach Toolbox (Leaving MDE Website) Coastal Bays Program (Leaving MDE Website) Corsica River Targeted Initiative Annual Report 2005-2011 If you have questions, contact Maryland's § ​319 Program at (410) 537-4437 or We're available on the following channels.

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