Federal Funding Opportunities for Source Water Protection EPA United States Environmental Protection .Agency ------- §ource Water Protection Why Protect Sources of Drinking Water? Source water is untreated water from streams, rivers, lakes or underground aquifers that is used to provide public drinking water, as well as to supply private wells used for human consumption. Public utilities treat most drinking water before it enters the home. Protecting source water from contamination can reduce the cost of this treatment, as well as the risks to public health. Protection can also increase the public's confidence in their drinking water. Protecting sources of drinking water can also help meet other environmental goals: green space conservation, stormwater planning, management of nonpoint source pollution, brownfields redevelopment and protecting ecological systems and wildlife habitat. Funding Sources There is a variety of funding opportunities for implementing source water protection activities. Funding is available through programs that support education; land acquisition; agricultural best management practice implementation; urban, wetland and riparian forest buffer establishment, and many others. In This Document This document identifies federal programs that can be leveraged for source water protection. These include programs managed by the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Departments of Agriculture, Interior, and Housing and Urban Development. Levels and availability of funding may vary year to year. The Catalog of Federal Funding Sources for Watershed Protection lists many of these, and other programs, and is located at: cfpub.epa.gov/fedfund. Individual program websites are also provided in this document. Additional funding may be available through states. United States Environmental Protection Aaency The U.S. EPA offers funding for actions that can help protect sources of drinking water through the Safe Drinking Water and Clean Water Acts, Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act, Underground Storage Tank program and the Indian Environmental General Assistance Program. Brownfields Cooperative Agreements o Cleanups of contaminated land and water sources including landfills o Environmental workforce development and job training program o Community engagement and public outreach www.epa.gov/brownfields/grantjnfo/index.htm www.cfda.gov/ (program 66.818) Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) o Best management practices o Nonpoint and point source management o Forest management o Restoration of wetland and floodplain hydrology and vegetative cover o Treatment of wastewater o Land acquisition o Public outreach http://go.usa.gov/2K9z www.cfda.gov/ (program 66.458) Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) o Prevention of human exposure to harmful pollution o Improve water quality o Information, tools and technical assistance www.epa.gov/care/agreements.htm www.cfda.gov/ (program 66.035) Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) o Technical assistance o Wellhead Protection Program implementation, including land acquisition o Loans for purchases of property easements and land from willing sellers water.epa.gov/grants_funding/dwsrf/index, cfm www.cfda.gov/ (program 66.468) ------- Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund(LUST) o Leak prevention-inspections, operator training, and enforcement o Cleanup-oversee responsible party cleanups + some direct site assessments and cleanup on high priority abandoned sites www.epa.gov/OUST/ltffacts.htm https://www.cfda.gov/ program 66.805 Nonpoint Source Implementation Grants Clean Water Act Section 319 o Best management practices for nonpoint source control o Restoration of wetland and floodplain hydrology and vegetation o Treatment of urban and agricultural runoff o Reforestation o Public education about water issues o Administered by states, territories and tribes http://go.usa.gov/2K59 US map with links to state 319 programs: www.epa.gov/owow/NPS/where.html Indian Environmental General Assistance Program (GAP) o Tribal capacity building for environmental programs o Assistance with developing tribal environmental regulations o Public education about landfill management and water issues www.epa.gov/tp/aieo/gap.htm Pollution Control Program Grants Clean Water Act Section106 o Development of water quality standards o Ambient water quality monitoring o Advice and assistance to local agencies o Development of state ground water plans o Source water (including ground water) assessments o National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting and enforcement o Total Management Daily Load (TMDL) development o Training and public information http://go.usa.gov/2KXd www.cfda.gov/ (program 66.419) Case Studies New York: Pine Barrens Land acquisition protects recharge zone of County's sole source aquifer (CWSRF Funds) The ground water aquifer beneath the Pine Barrens of New York is the sole source aquifer for 2.6 million people in the region. Road construction, housing and commercial development have vastly reduced the rate at which water recharges the underlying aquifer. At the same time, water continues to be withdrawn at an increasing rate as population and commercial/industrial activity increase. Salt water intrusion can occur in coastal areas when recharge cannot keep up with withdrawal. An additional impact of increased development is that septic tank effluent can move through the porous soils of the Pine Barrens and reach the aquifer relatively untreated. The New York CWSRF program made a loan of $75 million to Suffolk County for land acquisition in the Pine Barrens Wilderness and Water Protection Preserve on Long Island. Land acquisition sets land aside from development. It is part of a larger plan by state, local and private organizations to protect the main recharge zone for Suffolk County's drinking Water. Link to factsheet: Protecting Drinking Water with Clean Water State Revolving Funds: www.epa.gov/owm/cwfinance/cwsrf/cwsrf8.pdf North Carolina: Southern Appalachian Mountains Education and land use management protect impaired watershed (319 Funds) The Mills River Watershed has four separate intakes on the River or its tributaries and supplies drinking water for more than 50,000 people. The "poor" biological rating for part of the Mills River placed the River on the state's 303(d) list of impaired waters. Pesticides and sedimentation appeared to be the cause. As a result of a variety of protection actions resulting in dramatic water quality improvements, the river has been delisted. Protection activities included the installation of agricultural best management practices, prevention of land conversion in the watershed, posting of four Water Supply Area Warning signs, erosion and sedimentation spill control, stormwater control and landowner education. The North Carolina Division of Water Quality supported the work with funding from a section 319 grant, the state's Clean Water Management Trust Fund, and additional EPA support to create land conversion inventories and hold meetings and workshops. epa.gov/owow/nps/Success319/state/nc_mills.htm ------- United States Department cf Agriculture The USDA offers a variety of conservation programs that can protect source water. For details on listed programs, visit any program's website or contact your local USDA Service Center at: offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app The Source Water Collaborative offers useful tips for partnering with USDA at: www.sourcewatercollaborative.org/swp-usda/ Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) o Establishes long-term, resource conserving cover on eligible farmland o Covers land within wellhead protection areas o Annual rental payments for 10-15 year contracts o May enroll environmentally desirable land with certain conservation practices at any time, including land within an EPA-designated public wellhead area Note: CRP general sign-up only during designated periods go.usa.gov/2Bte Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) o Restoration and maintenance of wetlands on agricultural land o Enrollment in 30 year to permanent easements go.usa.gov/2Bz5 Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) o Encourages agricultural producers to address resource concerns in a comprehensive manner by: • Undertaking additional conservation activities; • Improving, maintaining and managing existing conservation activities o Supplemental payment for the adoption of resource-conserving crop rotations o 5 year contract with 5 year renewal option go.usa.gov/2Vm4 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) o Implementation of conservation practices on agricultural lands and non-industrial private forest lands o Financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers through contracts up to ten years o Addresses natural resource concerns to improve soil, water, plant, animal, and air resources go.usa.gov/2BMd Link to EQIP's National Water Quality Initiative: go.usa.gov/2Be3 Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP) - an EQIP program o Agricultural water enhancement activities o Ground and surface water conservation o Water quality improvement go.usa.gov/2B6V Conservation Loan Program o Provides access to credit for farmers to implement conservation measures but do not have the "up front" funds available. o Funds can be used to implement a conservation practice approved by the NRCS, such as: • Reducing soil erosion • Improving water quality o Promotes sustainable and organic agricultural practices. o Provides loan limits up to $1,214,000 and 30 year repayment go.usa.gov/2Be9 Case Studies California: Southern Alameda Creek Agricultural producers protect water quality with AWEP funds The Southern Alameda Creek Ranch Water Quality Project is focused on water quality protection and habitat restoration through the partnership between Alameda County Resource Conservation District and Natural Resource Conservation Service to provide education, outreach and technical assistance in the watershed. Southern Alameda Creek drains to a drinking water reservoir serving 2.4 million people. Cattle ranch operations and construction were identified as some of the main sources of sediments, nutrients and pathogens impacting water. AWEP has proved a useful tool in targeting funds to 25 agricultural producers in the watershed, thereby better tailoring the funds to resource needs to protect and enhance water quality. AWEP funds helped offset the cost of a new well and solar pump to create an alternative water supply at a farm where the cattle had used Alameda Creek for water. The project will reduce sediment, nutrient, and pathogen loads into the creek. Potential AWEP projects include: ranch road improvements, gully repair, streambank stabilization, stockpond spillway repair, cross-fencing and water development to reduce livestock impacts to streams and wetlands, erosion-resistant creek crossings, and prescribed grazing and associated practices in overgrazed areas. Links to USDA Financial Assistance, including AWEP: www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/awep/ ------- New York: Wyoming County Ten farms apply conservation practices to protect aquifer and surface water sources using EQIP funds New York State is the third largest dairy state in the U.S. Within the State, Wyoming County has the largest number of dairy farms- approximately 60 large and medium dairy farms. Archway Cookies was once a major employer and Wyoming was affectionately known as the "milk and cookie" county. The County currently has about 10 farms working on projects funded by EQIP grants. The projects implement best conservation practices. For example, producers learn to use the right balance of fertilizers—a mix of farm-generated manure and commercial products. They practice erosion control using conservation tillage. They use crop rotation and cover crops, which maintain healthy soils and reduce erosion. The projects within aquifer recharge areas and near streams that feed surface water bodies are important contributors to source water protection. www.wcswcd.org/images/uploads/2009_Annual_ Report.pdf www.gflrpc.org/Publications/GenRiverActionStrat egy/appendix.pdf United States Department cf the Interior Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program o Protects the Colorado River as a source of water for drinking water and other uses for the western U.S through: • Best management practices • Restoration of floodplains and wetlands • Reforestation • Construction of water facilities • Leak prevention of salt wells www.cfda.gov/ (programs 15.509) www.usbr.gov/uc/progact/salinity/ North American Wetlands Conservation Fund (NAWCF) Grant Program These activities could be used to protect source water while benefiting waterfowl and migratory bird habitat: o Land acquisition o Restoration of natural hydrology o Establishment of wetlands habitat beneficial to waterfowl and migratory birds www.cfda.gov (program 15.623) www.fws.gov/birdhabitat/Grants/NAWCA/Act.shtm United States Department cf I < usiiiu and Urban Develcpment Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grants o Protect source water o Preserve open space and natural resources o Address stormwater management issues http://go.usa.gov/2KNe Additional Resources EPA Source Water Protection epa.gov/sourcewaterprotection Catalog of Federal Funding Sources for Watershed Protection cfpub.epa.gov/fedfund Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance www.cfda.gov A 4 ------- Office of Water (4606M) EPA 816-K-13- 001 April 2013 ------- |