By Mike Finney

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is encouraging nonprofits, conservation districts, community organizations and homeowners associations to submit proposals for matching grant funds from the Community Water Quality Improvement Grants program.

Funding for projects in this cycle is expected to range from $25,000-$75,000. Projects recommended by the department for funding will be presented to the Water Infrastructure Advisory Council.

Applicants may submit up to two proposals per grant cycle. Guidelines and the application can be found here.

Community Water Quality Improvement Grants assist in implementing initiatives that boost water conditions on developed lands with specific watershed improvement plans. Projects selected for these grants must demonstrate innovative and sustainable methods and/or practices for water-quality improvements, with cost-effective and measurable results.

Eligible projects may include:

• Enhancement or restoration of water quality within an impaired watershed.
• Community stormwater management improvements in existing developments, in partnership with municipalities.
• Nonregulatory or voluntary plans involving pollution control, watershed-based restoration, whole-basin management preliminary assessments or community‐based stormwater permits.

Past projects that have received this funding have included a green roof installation; a living-shoreline installation and marsh enhancement to stop erosion; a stormwater retrofit project; stream bank restoration to reduce erosion and sedimentation; and floating wetlands in inland bays canals to improve water quality.

Proposals should be submitted to nps.grants@delaware.gov with “Community Water Quality Improvement Grants” in the subject line. Emailed proposals must be less than 10 megabytes and must be received by 4:30 p.m. Oct. 27.