Clean Rivers Program

Clean Rivers Program is sponsored by Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Collects and assesses surface water quality data and provides a public forum for managing water quality in each Texas river basin.

We consider grants to be awards in the form of financial assistance—including federal cooperative agreements—made to eligible entities that will derive a primary benefit from assistance of the granting agent. These grants may be attained through a competitive or non-competitive applications process.

Assistance may be in the form of money, property, or other financial assistance paid by us to carry out a program according to state and federal rules, requirements, and guidance. Grants Awarded from State Funds Regional Solid Waste Grants Program Purpose: Solid waste management activities and various local and regional projects that help implement solid waste management plans, in accordance with Section 361.

014 of the Texas Health and Safety Code. Recipients: Regional and local governments View more information about the Regional Solid Waste Grants Program . Purpose: Collect and assess surface water quality data and provide a public forum for managing water quality in each Texas river basin, in accordance with Section 26.

0135 of the Texas Water Code. Recipients: 12 river authorities, one water district, one federal agency, and one council of government View more information about the Clean Rivers Program .

Continuous Water Quality Monitoring Network Purpose: The TCEQ continues to expand and improve the Continuous Water Quality Monitoring Network (CWQMN) for collecting data needed to assess water quality, support TMDL development and implementation, manage water resources, and other purposes. However, the TCEQ has resource constraints that limit what can be accomplished by TCEQ alone.

Those interested in partnering to establish new CWQMN sites are encouraged to download the CWQMN Pre-Proposal Form. Recipients: Pre-Proposals will be evaluated by a TCEQ panel familiar with the project river basin.

The TCEQ will consider the data need and expected use, the availability of instruments to monitor the water quality parameter of concern, and the availability of in-kind resources for deployment, operation, maintenance, and/or data validation when evaluating project proposals. The TCEQ will evaluate each proposal submitted but may or may not determine to develop and deploy the proposed project.

View more information about the Continuous Water Quality Monitoring Network . Purpose: Implement federally approved Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plans developed to protect and restore the health and productivity of Galveston and Coastal Bend bays and estuaries while supporting continued economic growth and public use. Implementation is achieved with local partnerships and stakeholder involvement.

Recipients: Local non-profit organizations, cities, counties, universities, and other state agencies View more information about the Bays and Estuaries . Purpose: Cooperative agreements with eligible local air pollution programs under Health and Safety Code, Section 382. 0622 to respond to air-related complaints and conduct investigations.

Recipients: Select cities Local Government Planning Activities to Reduce Ozone and Particulate Matter Air Pollution (Rider 7) Purpose: Projects to inventory emissions, monitor pollution levels, and model air quality that are most useful for the State Implementation Plan .

Recipients: Local governments in affected counties that meet federal health-based air quality standards for ozone and/or fine particulate matter pollution Air Quality Research Program Purpose: Support scientific research related to Texas air quality by funding projects in the areas of emissions inventory development, atmospheric chemistry, meteorology and air quality modeling.

Recipient: University of Texas Center for Energy and Environmental Systems Analysis View more information about Air Quality Research Program Air Quality Research Grants Purpose: Projects to support or improve emissions inventories, modeling, and other activities necessary for Texas’ State Implementation Plan development and improvement.

Recipients: Universities, private organizations, and local governments View more information about Air Quality Research Grants Purpose: Coordinates and implements a regional air quality monitoring network in the North Texas area, created in response to Senate Bill 527 of the 82nd Texas Legislature.

Recipient: North Texas Commission View more information about North Texas Monitoring Grants for Vehicles and Equipment that Emit Fewer Emissions Purpose: Reduce air emissions by offering grants to replace or repower older vehicles and equipment, purchase or lease vehicles that use alternative fuels, install stations that provide alternative fuels, and study new technologies that reduce emissions.

Grant programs include the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP) and the Texas Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Program (TxVEMP). Recipients: Eligibility criteria vary by the grant. In general, those who are eligible include individuals, corporations, organizations, governments, governmental subdivisions, governmental agencies, business trusts, partnerships, associations, or any other legal entity.

View more information about Grants for Vehicles and Equipment that Emit Fewer Emissions . Texas Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) Grant Program Purpose: The Texas LEPC Grant Program is an opportunity for LEPCs to receive grant funds to help implement the requirements of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA).

Recipients: Texas Local Emergency Planning Committees View more information about Texas Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) Grants . Grants Awarded from Federal Funds Section 106 Water Pollution Control Grants Purpose: Assist in administering programs for the prevention, reduction, and elimination of water pollution, including programs for the development and implementation of groundwater protection strategies.

Prevention and control measures supported include permitting, development of water quality standards and total maximum daily loads, and water quality monitoring. Subrecipients: Universities, river authorities, councils of government, state agencies, and non-profits Nonpoint Source (Section 319) Grants Purpose: Develop and implement watershed-based plans (Watershed Protection Plans or Total Maximum Daily Load Implementation Plans).

The Texas Nonpoint Source Management Program is required under Clean Water Act (CWA), §319(b). This management program outlines Texas' comprehensive strategy to protect and restore water quality impacted by nonpoint sources of pollution. Nonpoint source pollution comes from rainfall runoff, snowmelt, atmospheric deposition, and other means that carry pollutants to rivers, lakes, coastal waters, and groundwater.

To be eligible for funding, a project must address the objectives, goals and/or priorities identified in the Texas Nonpoint Source Management Program. Subrecipients: Universities, river authorities, council of governments, counties, cities, conservation districts, and local non-profits View more information about Nonpoint Source (Section 319) Grants .

Purpose: Review permits and projects for conformance with the State of Texas Water Quality Management Plan, develop and maintain the Water Quality Management Plan, and develop and administer contracts for designated planning agencies that support watershed planning and public education and outreach. Subrecipients: Councils of governments and local non-profit organizations.

Section 105 Air Monitoring Grant Purpose: Each year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides TCEQ with designated federal Section 105 air grant funds to be awarded to eligible local air pollution control programs for air monitoring activities.

TCEQ utilizes interlocal contracts to disburse these funds to the local air programs and oversee the monitoring and data management/data reporting activities associated with this funding. Subrecipients: Select cities.