Delaware nonprofit organizations, conservation districts, community organizations and homeowners’ associations can submit project proposals to be considered for matching grant funds from the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Community Water Quality Improvement Grants program, the department announced Tuesday.

Funding for grant award projects in this cycle is expected to range from $25,000 to $75,000. Projects recommended by department staff for funding through a competitive grant process will be presented to the Delaware Water Infrastructure Advisory Council.

Applicants may submit up to two project proposals per grant cycle. Project guidelines and the grant application can be found at de.gov/envfinance.

Community Water Quality Improvement Grants assist in implementing projects or programs that improve water quality on developed lands with specific watershed improvement plans and strategies. To receive a grant, projects must demonstrate innovative and sustainable methods, techniques 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
• Non‐regulatory or voluntary plans involving pollution control strategies, watershed-based restoration plans, whole basin management preliminary assessments, or community‐based stormwater permits.

Past projects that received Community Water Quality Improvement Grant funding have included green roof installation, living shoreline installation and marsh enhancement to stop erosion, stream bank restoration to reduce erosion and sedimentation and green stormwater improvements on Conwell Street in Seaford.

Grant proposals should be submitted by email to NPS.grants@delaware.gov with “Community Water Quality Improvement Grants” in the subject line. Emailed proposals must be less than 10 megabytes. All grant proposals must be received by the department by 4:30 p.m. Nov. 7.