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Chesapeake Bay Program
A Watershed Partnership

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The Chesapeake Bay Small
Watershed Grants Program
promotes community-based
efforts to develop and
implement conservation
strategies to protect and
restore the diverse natural
resources of the Chesapeake
Bay and its watershed.
The program provides grants
to local governments and
community organizations
working to improve the
condition of their local
watersheds while building
citizen-based resource
stewardship.
The program has been
designed to encourage the
sharing of innovative ideas
among the many
organizations wishing to be
involved in watershed
protection activities.
410 Severn Avenue, Suite 109 * Annapolis, Maryland 21403 • 410-267-5700 • toll free 800-YOUR-BAY
The Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed Grants Program
The Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed Grants Program strives to:
•	Support communities in developing and implementing watershed management plans;
•	Encourage innovative, locally-based programs or projects that improve water quality
and restore important habitats within the Chesapeake Bay basin;
•	Develop the capacity of local governments, citizen groups and other organizations to
promote community-based stewardship and enhance local watershed management;
•	Promote a greater understanding of the Chesapeake Bay and the interrelationship
between its health and the condition of local watersheds; and
•	Strengthen the link between communities and the Chesapeake Bay Program
Grants are modest, within a maximum level of support of $50,000. When combined with the
contributions of other partners, however, projects that make a measurable difference in
communities become possible. The program is designed to help local groups gain the
experience and technical expertise necessary to improve watershed protection in their
communities.
Over time, the combined efforts of groups throughout the entire Chesapeake Bay watershed
will have a significant effect on improving the health of the Bay ecosystem and the diversity of
life it supports. In addition to regular grants, the Foundation expects to award five Community
Legacy Grants of up to $100,000 to truly outstanding and innovative projects that will serve as
models to inspire others to undertake similar activities that protect and restore vital habitat and
improve local water quality.
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation administers the Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed
Grants Program in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Program. The program is authorized
under the Clean Water Act and the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Act. Primary funding is
provided by the EPA's Chesapeake Bay Program Office. Additional funding is also provided
by the USDA Forest Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the USDA
Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Unlike other
Foundation programs, matching funds are not a requirement of this program; however,
applicants are strongly encouraged to leverage the grant award with contributions from project
partners.
In 2006, the program is awarding over $2.6 million to 68 projects. In the past nine years, the
Small Watershed Grants Program provided $17.7 million to support 544 projects throughout
the Bay watershed. These grants have been used by recipients to leverage an additional
$50.7 million from other funding sources, resulting in over $67 million in support of local
community watershed restoration efforts since 1998.
The Chesapeake Bay Program is restoring the Bay through a partnership among the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency representing the federal government, the State of Maryland, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the
Commonwealth of Virginia, the District of Columbia, the Chesapeake Bay Commission, and participating citizen
advisory groups.
8/2006

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