U.S.-British Columbia Transboundary Watershed Grant Program

U.S.-British Columbia Transboundary Watershed Grant Program is sponsored by EPA. Supports monitoring and reduction of transboundary mining pollution in U. S.

-British Columbia transboundary watersheds.

U.S.-British Columbia Transboundary Watershed Grant Program | US EPA U.S.-British Columbia Transboundary Watershed Grant Program EPA announces $1. 7M for transboundary watershed grants (August 27, 2025) EPA has announced eight organizations will receive $1,749,700 through the Transboundary Watershed Grant Program to monitor and reduce transboundary mining pollution in U.S.-British Columbia transboundary watersheds.

See below for more information. Read EPA's press release . In November 2024, EPA released a notice of funding opportunity for entities interested in conducting planning, coordination, and monitoring activities in transboundary watersheds that originate in the Province of British Columbia (B.

C.) with existing or proposed mines that impact (or could impact) U.S. waters. The funds for this action are authorized under Public Law 118 HR 4366 issued from EPA's Office of International and Tribal Affairs.

Through PL-118 HR 4366, Congress specifically directs EPA to "continue and expand its work coordinating with federal, state, local, and Tribal agencies to monitor and reduce transboundary mining pollution in the Kootenai watershed and other U.S.- British Columbia transboundary watersheds."

Applications were required to address at least one of the following core elements that comprise a comprehensive transboundary watershed program: Monitor, assess, and report on baseline conditions and status/trends over time in transboundary waters. Monitor, assess, and report on human health and ecosystem health. Participate in regulatory processes, including regulatory processes in Canada and British Columbia.

Participate in international watershed policy discussions. Implement regulations related to transboundary mining pollution. The application period closed on January 17, 2025.

In the summer of 2025, EPA awarded grants totaling $1,749,700 to five Tribal and three state governments. This inaugural round of grants is part of a larger effort by EPA’s Office of International and Tribal Affairs, Region 8, and Region 10, to address existing or potential water quality impacts from active and legacy mining activities in Canada's Province of British Columbia.

The goals of EPA’s transboundary watershed program are to monitor, assess, document, and reduce transboundary mining pollution originating in B. C. In pursuing these goals, EPA seeks to foster coordination among federal, state, and Tribal agencies to develop the capacity of all levels of government to develop and/or refine effective, comprehensive programs for transboundary watershed protection and management.

For this grant program, the term transboundary watersheds includes waterbodies that have existing or proposed mining activities in B. C. that impact (or could impact) U.S. waters.

These waterbodies flow into the U.S. in the states of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, and/or Washington. EPA's Office of International and Tribal Affairs will monitor and administer funds for the Transboundary Watershed Grant Program. Funds were reprogrammed to Region 8 and Region 10 to support transboundary mining work, and all funding decisions will be coordinated with the Office of International and Tribal Affairs prior to award.

EPA worked with the selected applicants to negotiate grant workplans and budgets before finalizing awards. The program has received a second year of funding and will be incrementally funding the awards later in 2025.

In August 2025, EPA announced the following eight organizations will receive $1,749,700 through EPA’s Transboundary Watershed Grant Program to monitor and reduce transboundary mining pollution in U.S.-British Columbia transboundary watersheds. Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Initial funding amount: $274,962 Promote Tribes' engagement in the Elk/Kootenai International Joint Commission and Canadian regulatory processes.

Monitor, assess, and report on aquatic life and water quality trends in the Kootenai watershed to include three years of monitoring water quality, macroinvertebrates, and periphyton in two similar watersheds with contrasting mining histories (Kootenai and Flathead).

Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska Initial funding amount: $267,713 Three-year period to advance the Tribes' existing water quality database and monitoring program in four transboundary watersheds. Improve coordination of knowledge sharing. Produce a comprehensive “state of the watersheds” report that would summarize the health of Alaska-B.

C. transboundary watersheds, risks for B. C.

mining operations, and opportunities for improved monitoring and multinational governance. Initial funding amount: $260,673 Continued execution of an existing monitoring plan in the Kootenai watershed and participation in the Elk/Kootenai International Joint Commission and Kootenai Watershed Group.

Monitoring includes collecting and analyzing water chemistry, periphyton, and fish tissue over three years that will support trend analyses and inform International Joint Commission Governance Body and Study Board efforts. Ketchikan Indian Community Initial funding amount: $264,084 Conduct four years of water quality monitoring in the Salmon River transboundary watershed in coordination with U.S. Geological Survey.

The Salmon River is a remote watershed with an operating mine in British Columbia that requires extensive travel and field logistics for monitoring. Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation Initial funding amount: $262,171 Conduct water quality monitoring in multiple transboundary watersheds in partnership with the Upper Similkameen Indian band, Washington State Department of Ecology, and U.S. Geological Survey.

Support Upper Columbia United Tribes in developing their Tm̓xʷúlaʔxʷ Academy while participating in conferences/workgroups, to include the annual Transboundary Mining Conference, the new Transboundary Mixed Ownership Program, and Elk/Kootenai International Joint Commission meetings.

Idaho Department of Environmental Quality Initial funding amount: $243,482 Enhance existing monitoring and assessment program(s) in the Kootenai watershed to support the development of a selenium Total Maximum Daily Load. Continue and strengthen engagement in transboundary agency coordination efforts, particularly with the Elk-Kootenai International Joint Commission.

Monthly water quality monitoring is proposed for six consecutive years.

Alaska Department of Fish and Game Initial funding amount: $126,615 Collect biological data and sediment element profiles on four transboundary rivers (Taku, Stikine, Unuk, and Salmon) in Southeast Alaska to document baseline trends of biological communities (whole-body juvenile Dolly Varden and periphyton) and sediment concentrations for comparison with existing data sets.

Data from this project would expand upon past monitoring efforts conducted by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, and British Columbia.

Montana Department of Environmental Quality Initial funding amount: $50,000 Support the Montana Department of Environmental Quality's increased level of engagement with the Kootenai International Joint Commission Governance Body and Study Board, British Columbia’s regulatory processes, and Elk Valley Area-Based Management Plan development.

Complete Clean Water Act 303(d) methodology and beneficial use assessments in the Kootenai watershed. The application period closed on January 17, 2025 ( view grant opportunity on Grants. gov ).

Below are answers to questions provided during the grant application process. Frequent Questions About EPA's Transboundary Watershed Grant Funding Opportunity (pdf) (355. 03 KB, Updated December 12, 2024) Answers to common questions about applying for EPA Transboundary Watershed Grants.

For questions about EPA's Transboundary Watershed Grants, please contact Tyler Chatriand ( chatriand. tyler@epa. gov ), 206-553-1982.

Contact Us about EPA Grants to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem. Last updated on December 18, 2025