 |
Coastal Nonpoint Source Pollution Grant Program
The Coastal Nonpoint Source Pollution (Coastal NPS) grant program assists public and non-profit entities in implementing nonpoint source (NPS) pollution control efforts. Coastal NPS grant funding can be used for watershed- or subwatershed-scale NPS assessments, development of local planning tools, public education and outreach, design and/or implementation of Smart Growth and Low-Impact Development strategies for NPS control, and efforts to eliminate or manage pollution from septic systems and publicly owned marinas.
Coastal Nonpoint Source Grant Program Update
CZM does not anticipate making funding available through the Coastal NPS Grant Program in FY 2008.
Projects Funded through the Coastal NPS Grant Program
The Coastal NPS grant program funds the following types of projects:
- Assessment, identification, and characterization of NPS pollution sources
- Municipal capacity-building projects, including development of:
- Transferable tools for NPS control (model by-laws or ordinances, regulations, or guidance documents)
- Public education and outreach programs
- Innovative funding mechanisms for NPS control, such as stormwater utilities
- Design and/or implementation of Smart Growth and Low-Impact Development strategies for NPS control - for example, design of municipal parking lots to minimize impervious surfaces
- Design and/or implementation of demonstration projects using innovative best management practices (BMPs) for controlling nonpoint sources of pollution
- Identification, design, or implementation of BMPs for controlling boat waste discharges and NPS pollution from marinas
Coastal NPS Funded Projects Completed in June 2007 (FY 2007)
This year, CZM funded six projects that have recently been completed through the Coastal Nonpoint Source (Coastal NPS) Grant Program. The program funded $119,050 toward stormwater assessment and management, education, and boat discharge pumpout education. The projects ranged in scope from a drainage area assessment to stormwater bylaw workshops, each project helping communities to meet federal National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) requirements and to support clean waterways.
- By completing a thorough assessment of stormwater drainage in the Paines Creek and Stony Brook Watershed, the Town of Brewster is continuing to support valuable shellfish bed resources.
- Through a series of workshops, the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) worked with six communities to develop bylaws and rules and regulations to reduce stormwater volume, pollutants, and erosion, and to support sustainable development.
- The City of Medford, the Town of Franklin, and the Charles River Watershed Association examined through separate projects examined the feasibility of establishing stormwater funding mechanisms based on community demographics, stormwater budgets, and community surveys. All three projects will help communities fund important stormwater system operations & maintenance, implement Best Management Practices (BMPs), meet federal NDPES requirements and ensure that waterways are healthy and drinking water is clean.
- Salem Sound Coast Watch (SSCW) worked to support recreational beaches and shellfish resources by decreasing the amount of boat waste discharge. SSCW succeeded in increasing the visibility of pumpout stations on the North Shore, educating boaters about the effects of discharging waste in coastal waters, and facilitating discussions between marina owners, harbormasters, and the Coast Guard Auxiliary about reducing discharge in Salem Sound.
To view samples of successful applications for Coastal NPS funding, select the links below:
- Assessment Project - Duxbury, Kingston Bay Assessment, 2006 (PDF, 2.0 MB)
- Capacity-Building Project - North and South Rivers Watershed Association, Greenscapes Program, Phase II, A Regional Outreach Campaign, 2005 (PDF, 296 KB)
- Capacity-Building Project - Salem, Urban Stormwater and Low-Impact Development Model Ordinance and Best Development Practices Guidebook, 2005 (PDF, 253 KB)
For complete lists and descriptions of the projects that have been funded through the Coastal NPS Grant Program, click on the links below.
Past Coastal NPS Projects
Eligibility
The Coastal NPS grant program is open to Massachusetts public or non-profit organizations, including, but not limited to: cities and towns, regional planning agencies, watershed organizations, and public schools. Projects must be located within the boundaries of the Massachusetts coastal watershed (click here for eligible areas).
Grant Cycle
CZM will issue a Request for Responses (RFR) for Coastal NPS in the summer each year. When issued, the RFR, with an enclosed application, is posted on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Procurement Access & Solicitation System, at www.comm-pass.com.
In addition, pre-RFR informational meetings are held prior to the issuance of the RFR (typically in June) to discuss potential proposals. Potential respondents are encouraged to attend the Pre-RFR meeting, particularly since CZM can only offer general information to respondents while the RFR is posted.
Contact Information
If you would like to discuss a potential project, contact Jay Baker, Coastal Nonpoint Program Coordinator, at jason.baker@state.ma.us or (617) 626-1204. In addition, Jay Baker and CZM Regional Coordinators (see the CZM Region page for contact information) are available throughout the year to discuss project ideas and provide associated technical assistance.
More on Massachusetts Coastal Nonpoint Source Control Plan
Grants issued under the Coastal NPS Grant Program, as well as the Coastal Pollutant Remediation grant program (CPR), serve to implement portions of the Massachusetts Coastal Nonpoint Source Control Plan (PDF Version). The Plan includes measures to address nonpoint source pollution problems from each of the following sources: urban areas, marinas and recreational boating, agriculture, forestry, hydromodification, wetlands, and riparian areas. The primary goal of both of CZM's grant programs is to improve coastal water quality by reducing or eliminating nonpoint sources of pollution through measures and strategies consistent with the Coastal Nonpoint Source Control Program.
|
Boston, MA 02114