Tribal Water Quality Programs

Funding Opportunties for Water Programs

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Clean Water Act (CWA)

• §104(b)(3) provides limited financial assistance for a variety of water quality projects. Some previously-funded examples include the development of a watershed monitoring program, water quality standards, or nonpoint source (NPS) pollution control programs. Funding is generally quite limited, and, as a Region 6 policy, targeted toward Tribes and Pueblos that do not have any of the more in-depth programs listed below.
  
  
• §106 assists Native governments in developing the methods to plan, establish, and maintain a fundamental program for the assessment and protection of water resources. CWA §518 requires that a Tribe request and receive Treatment in the Same Manner as a State prior to receiving any funds under this program.

• FY 2008 Tribal Guidance
  • Request For Applications and Work Plans, FY 2008 (PDF) (441KB, 13pp, About PDF). Document includes links to websites and other related documents on the Region 6 website.

  ** DUE DATE for grant applications and/or work plans: Tuesday, April 15, 2008

• §319(h) provides assistance to Tribes and Pueblos to address Nonpoint Source (NPS) pollution issues on their lands. This program also requires Treatment in the Same Manner as a State authorization prior to receiving funds.

• Planning Handbook
• Previous Years' Guidance
  
  
• Wetland Protection Development Grants (WPDG) - This program 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 as it relates to wetlands.
  
  • Guidelines from EPA Headquarters

Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)

• Public Water Supply Supervision Program - provides assistance for Native American water system operation and management training, and technical assistance (circuit rider) projects to develop, expand, or carry out a program for training persons for methods and occupations involving the public health aspects of providing safe drinking water as authorized by the Safe Drinking Water Act §1442, 42 U.S.C. 300j-1 on Indian Lands in Region 6.

Helpful Links and Resources

• EPA American Indian Environmenal Office (AIEO)
• Region 6 Application Information
• Water Quality Standards on Tribal Lands (EPA national site)
• Region 6 Tribal Water Quality Standards Program
• Inter-Tribal Environmental Council (ITEC)
• Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN)
• National Tribal Environmental Council (NTEC)

George Craft
Tribal Coordinator
Water Quality Protection Division
214-665-6684