CWA Section §106 Water Pollution Control Grants

CWA Section §106 Water Pollution Control Grants is sponsored by EPA Pacific Southwest (Region 9). This grant assists federally recognized Indian Tribes in EPA's Pacific Southwest (Region 9), including Hawaii, to develop institutional capacity to administer water quality programs and protect natural resources.

Tribal Clean Water Act Programs and Grants in EPA's Pacific Southwest (Region 9) | US EPA Tribal Clean Water Act Programs and Grants in EPA's Pacific Southwest (Region 9) EPA’s Pacific Southwest (Region 9) implements and enforces federal environmental laws in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, the Pacific Islands, and 148 Tribal Nations.

About Tribal Clean Water Act Programs and Grants CWA Section §106 Water Pollution Control Grants CWA Section §319 Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Program Grants CWA Section §104(b)(3) Wetlands Program Development Grants About Tribal Clean Water Act Programs and Grants in EPA's Pacific Southwest The objective of the Clean Water Act (CWA) is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation's waters.

CWA programs support monitoring, assessment, protection, prevention of polluted runoff in waterways and wastewater infrastructure. EPA's Region 9 Tribal Water Office manages all grants related to the Clean Water Act for over 100 federally recognized Tribes within Region 9. The Tribal Water Office also provides programmatic and technical assistance for water quality standards and for the CWA grant programs.

View CWA Project Officers . EPA Pacific Southwest (Region 9) Spring 2026 RTOC Meeting The Spring 2026 RTOC meeting will be in-person with virtual sign-in options. Please refer to the draft agenda for virtual meeting links and specific information about in-person meeting locations.

CWA Section §106 Water Pollution Control Grants Fort McDowell Indian Tribe water quality sampling at the Verde River funded through the Clean Water Act Section 106 program. To assist Federally recognized Indian Tribes develop institutional capacity to administer water quality programs and protect natural resources.

Eligible Activities ( not limited to this list ) Performing water quality monitoring and assessments Carrying out activities to meet the three reporting requirements (for more information, see below) Develop a monitoring strategy Submission of data is a WQX/STORET-compatible format Annual Water Quality Assessment Report Hiring qualified staff to identify and prioritize water quality issues Leasing/renting office space and purchasing water quality monitoring equipment and supplies Developing a Nonpoint Source Assessment Report and Management Program Plan Conducting studies related to water pollution control Implementing and enforcing water pollution control measures Developing and implementing ground water quality monitoring programs Developing Tribal-approved Water Quality Standards (WQS) Developing a 305(b) Report EPA typically awards grants between $40,000 and $200,000; first time applicants may receive grants for $40,000.

Federally recognized Tribes must be determined eligible to apply for CWA Section 106 funding before applying. Financial Assistance Eligibility Handbook for Tribal CWA Programs in the Pacific Southwest (pdf) This handbook is designed to assist Indian Tribes in EPA's Pacific Southwest (Region 9) with preparing applications for financial assistance eligibility for Clean Water Act Water Quality Planning and Protection Programs.

Guidance and Application Information EPA Region 9 FY26 CWA Section §106 Solicitation Notice (pdf) (597. 58 KB, December 22, 2025) EPA Pacific Southwest (Region 9) Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Clean Water Act Section 106 (CWA §106) Water Pollution Control Program solicitation notice for the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) grant cycle.

Note: Proposed Workplans and Budgets Due to Project Officers by February 2, 2026 Region 9 Tribal Water Section Grant Fact Sheets Managing the Quality of Environmental Data at EPA Region 9 Region 9 Tribal CWA §106 Workplan and Budget Template (xlsx) EPA Pacific Southwest (Region 9) Tribal Clean Water Act (CWA) §106 Workplan and Budget Template.

CWA Section 106 Tribal Guidance Water Pollution Control (Section 106) Grants Tribal Grants under Section 106 of the Clean Water Act Tribal Water Quality Accomplishments in EPA's Pacific Southwest (pdf) (2. 01 MB, 2006, EPA-909-K-06-001) Information about EPA Region 9's Tribal CWA Section 106 program, highlighting successful CWA Section 106 projects in the Pacific Southwest.

CWA 106 Reporting Requirements Managing and analyzing water quality data effectively is integral to the CWA Section 106 program. The program contains 3 reporting requirements that Tribes must fulfill while implementing their water quality programs: Follow these links to obtain detailed information about each reporting requirement.

Region 9 Clean Water Act 106 Reporting Requirements Water Quality Assessment Report Clean Water Act Section §319 Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Program Grants The purpose of the Nonpoint Source (NPS) Pollution Control Program is to assist Tribes develop and implement polluted runoff control programs that address critical water quality concerns at a watershed level. What is Nonpoint Source (NPS) Pollution?

NPS pollution - polluted runoff - occurs when rainfall, snow melt, or irrigation water runs over land or through the ground, picks up pollutants, and transports them into surface waters or ground water.

Major nonpoint sources of pollution include agricultural practices; unrestricted livestock grazing; poor siting and design of roads, highways, and bridges; forestry; urban runoff; abandoned mines; construction sites; channelization of streams; and hydromodification, such as building and maintaining dams and levees.

Eligible Activities ( not limited to this list ) Road stabilization/removal; Stream channel reconstruction; Low impact development projects/storm water management; Livestock exclusion fencing; Septic system rehabilitation; NPS ordinance development; Project monitoring (pre-project, during project, post-project); Development of a watershed-based plan; Training which assists the applicant in development NPS implementation projects; Staff time and materials towards implementing projects; NPS education and outreach relevant to successful implementation of NPS projects; and Post-wildfire restoration Funds are allocated based on Tribe’s land area.

For Tribes with less than 2 square miles, the base allocation is $50,000; for Tribes with 2-50 square miles, the base allocation is $55,000; for Tribes with 50-500 square miles, the base allocation is $60,000; and for Tribes with 500 square miles or greater, the base allocation is $75,000. Federally recognized Indian Tribes must be determined eligible to apply for CWA Section §319 funding before applying.

Financial Assistance Eligibility Handbook for Tribal CWA Programs in the Pacific Southwest (pdf) This handbook is designed to assist Indian Tribes in EPA's Pacific Southwest (Region 9) with preparing applications for financial assistance eligibility for Clean Water Act Water Quality Planning and Protection Programs.

Handbook for Developing and Managing Tribal Nonpoint Source Pollution Programs (pdf) This updated handbook provides guidance and practical templates for tribes interested in obtaining federal funds to manage nonpoint source pollution under section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act. It describes the 319 (h) grant process, and how to develop a nonpoint source assessment report and management program.

This version includes new tribal examples, and a section focused on the watershed-based planning approach. The final section includes resources for tribes related to program goals. Guidance and Application Information CWA §319 Tribal Base Grant Website Region 9 Tribal Water Section Grant Fact Sheets Success Stories: 2003 Tribal Nonpoint Source Program (pdf) (1.

25 MB, 2003, EPA 909-R-03-004) Tribal §319 Grant Program ) Grants for Your Region: Information Specific to EPA Region 9 CWA Section §104(b)(3) Wetlands Program Development Grants Successful Applicants for Wetland Program Development Grants in Region 9 EPA-Tribal Western Wetland Protection Workshop Materials Guide for Developing Tribal Wetland Management Programs The goals of EPA's wetland program include increasing the quantity and quality of wetlands in the U.S. by conserving and restoring wetland acreage and improving wetland condition.

In pursuing these goals, EPA seeks to build the capacity of all levels of government to develop and refine effective, comprehensive programs for wetland protection and management. The wetlands program development grant (WPDG) provides states, Tribes, local governments, interstate agencies, and inter-Tribal consortia an opportunity to carry out projects to develop and refine comprehensive wetland programs.

WPDGs provides eligible applicants an opportunity to conduct projects that promote the coordination and acceleration of research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, and studies relating to the causes, effects, extent, prevention, reduction, and elimination of water pollution. EPA typically awards between $50,000 to $350,000 per project grant.

Funding is dependent upon amount requested and the overall size and need of the project. Starting to think about developing a Tribal wetlands program? Experience with many Tribes and states have distilled a set of core elements, actions, and activities that together comprise a comprehensive wetland program.

EPA has summarized these common core elements, actions, and activities in the Core Elements of an Effective State and Tribal Wetlands Program Framework, also called the Core Elements Framework (CEF). The CEF describes in greater detail each of the four core elements that make up an effective state/Tribal wetland program.

The four core elements are: Monitoring and assessment Voluntary restoration and protection Each of these four core elements is comprised of several broad "actions" that if collectively carried out would complete that core element. In addition, each action is made up of several more specific "activities" which are the actual steps a state/Tribal/local government would carry out to achieve each option.

The four core elements, the set of development or refinement activities and the specific actions under the four core elements that are eligible for funding are listed at Wetland Program Development Grant . The full CEF can be found at Core Elements of an Effective State and Tribal Wetlands Program Framework . Some of the activities outlined in the full CEF are not eligible for the WPDG funding.

The CEF provides a menu of activities for wetland program development, regardless of whether such activities are eligible for WPDG funding. There are no eligibility requirements for Tribes except the Tribe must be federally recognized.

Region 9 Tribal Water Section Grant Fact Sheets National Wetlands Program Development Grants Website Grants for Your Region: Information Specific to EPA Region 9 Tribal CWA 319 Base Funding Proposals Tribal CWA 106 Funding Proposals Performance Partnership Grants CWA 106, CWA 319, and Wetland Program Development Grants (WPDGs) are all eligible to be combined into a single Performance Partnership Grant (PPG).

To find out more, visit the national PPG website and view the latest Best Practices Guide for Performance Partnership Grants with Tribes and Intertribal Consortia (pdf) 2025 Tribal Clean Water Act (CWA) Workshop 2021 Tribal Water Quality Standards Academy 2017 Tribal Clean Water Act Programs Workshop Tribal Consultation Resources Tribal Engagement Opportunities for Water Actions in EPA's Pacific Southwest (Region 9) (pdf) EPA Region 9 Water Division Tribal Consultation SOP (pdf) (200.

37 KB, December 2021) Tribal Consultation in EPA's Pacific Southwest WQX Nutrient Data Best Practices Guide Water Quality Certifications Water Quality Standards Tools Drought Planning Handbook Ambient Water Monitoring and Assessment: Resources and Tools This report illustrates the diverse work and accomplishments of Tribal NPS programs supported by §319, including spotlights on Pacific Southwest Tribal staff and projects contributing to NPS successes.

Technical Memo: Investigation of Abandoned Wells on Navajo Nation (pdf) (39. 82 MB, March 11, 2019) Tribal Water Quality Accomplishments in EPA's Pacific Southwest (pdf) (2.

01 MB, 2006, EPA-909-K-06-001) Clean Water Act Section 106 Tribal Guidance Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community streambank restoration and erosion control project funded through the Clean Water Act Section §319 program to reduce sedimentation by laying out rocks along the banks to hold down dirt.

Handbook for Developing and Managing Tribal Nonpoint Source Pollution Programs (pdf) Tribal Programs in the Pacific Southwest Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem. Last updated on May 27, 2026