Nonpoint Source Program

DEQ provides funding each year to local watershed groups, conservation districts, educational institutions, and government entities to design and implement on-the-ground projects that reduce and prevent nonpoint source pollution. Increasingly, DEQ is focusing funding on projects that will restore natural processes (e.g., stream channel migration, floodplain connectivity, native riparian revegetation) and are likely to result in measurable improvements in water quality.

Applicant Eligibility

All applicants must submit draft AND final applications according to the schedule and instructions described in the Call for Applications. All applicants must register with the state's online platform eMACS to post questions and view responses and submit final, complete applications.

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be a governmental entity or a nonprofit organization. A governmental entity is a local, state, federal, or tribal organization that has been established and authorized by law. Nonprofit organizations need to have a tax-exempt declaration of 501(c)(3) from the Internal Revenue Service.
• Be registered with the Montana Secretary of State to do business in the state of Montana; have a current UEI number and be registered with the federal System for Award Management (SAM). Details are included in the Call for Applications.
• Have the necessary liability insurance, and be in compliance with the Workers Compensation Act.

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Project Eligibility

Projects must meet the following minimum requirements: 

• Address nonpoint source pollution.
• Implement actions or practices identified in a DEQ-accepted Watershed Restoration Plan, an EPA-approved Tribal Nonpoint Source plan, or implement practices consistent with recommendations in the current Montana Nonpoint Source Management Plan.
• Be completable within three years. (Note: In some instances, sponsors may be encouraged to apply for funding for design and permitting, and then come back and apply for funding for actual construction in a subsequent year.)
• On-The-Ground projects must restore and protect natural processes and conditions. Projects that address water quality impairments on Montana’s 2020 List of Impaired Waters are preferred. Projects may also address protection of waterbodies that are demonstrated to be healthy. 

Additional minimum standards and requirements are included in the Call for Applications.

The following activities are NOT eligible for funding: 

• Development of a Watershed Restoration Plan, exception made for Capacity Building projects.
• Activities that reduce or prevent discharges from a point source. 
• Projects whose primary purpose is to protect infrastructure from natural stream channel migration.
• Use of non-native plant species for revegetation.
• Rip-rap, except in instances where it is necessary to protect a new bridge or culvert designed to restore aquatic organism passage.
• Projects designed to address violations of state and federal law (e.g., projects that stem from a 310 violation or an Army Corps violation).
• Statewide education and outreach campaigns.
• Projects that result in a net loss of wetlands or wetland function.

Additional information is included in the Call for Applications.

All project applicants must thoroughly read the Call for Applications. To be eligible for funding, applicants MUST submit a draft application for DEQ's review and comment by 5pm on Friday, February 20, 2026. See timeline below for more details.   

2026 Application Materials:

• Call for Applications - 2026
  
  
• Appendix A - Grant Cycle
• Appendix B - Additional Program Requirements
• Appendix C - Project Examples
• Appendix D - Community Based Social Marketing Framework
• Appendix E - Scoring Sheets
• Appendix F - Application Forms and Budget Templates 
  
  • F1 – On-the-Ground Project Application Form
  • F2 - Supplemental Project Application Form
  • F3 - On-the-Ground Project Budget Template (download)
  • F4 - Capacity Building & Education Outreach Application Form
  • F5 - Capacity Building & Education Outreach Budget Template (download)
• Appendix G - Example Contract and Scope of Work Templates
  
  
• eMACS Registration Overview for Nonpoint Source and Wetland partners
• eMACS Vendor portal

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Funding Overview

Funding Sources:

United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Section 319 Grant Program and Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program; and the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Renewable Resource Grants program. 

Total Funding Available: Approximately $1,500,000 to distribute by October 2026.

Funding Distribution: 

• $750K to On-The-Ground projects located within a Focus Watershed. (Lower Shields River is the current DEQ Nonpoint Source Focus watershed; Camp and Godfrey Creeks and Shields River are NRCS National Water Quality Initiative watersheds)
• $750K (plus any unallocated funds from the Focus Watersheds) to On-The-Ground projects elsewhere in Montana, and to Capacity Building / Education and Outreach projects. 
• **NEW** Additional funding available for on-the-ground project applications that help reduce and prevent harmful algal blooms (HABs) downstream and decrease economic risk.
• No single project may receive more than $300k, but a single applicant may submit multiple applications if they have multiple projects.

Project Types:

On-the-Ground Projects:
Recommended Range for Funding Requests: $10,000-$300,000
Application Form: On-the-Ground Projects

Capacity Building / Education and Outreach Projects:
Recommended Range for Funding Requests: $10,000-$30,000
Application Form: Capacity Building / Education and Outreach Projects

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Match Requirements

A 40 percent match (cost share) is recommended; a minimum 10 percent match is required.  The match must be from non-federal sources (state, local, private), and may include in-kind donations of time and resources contributed to completion of the project.

Use the following formula to calculate the minimum amount of non-federal match for your project: ((grant funding requested)/.90) – (grant funding requested) = 10% required non-federal match. Use 0.60 in the formula to calculate the 40% recommended non-federal match.

The 2025 Call for Applications closed on March 28, 2025.

Funding Decisions and Applications:

2025 Funding Decision Summary Table (download)
2025 DEQ/Agency Review Panel Summary

On-the-Ground Projects | Lower Gallatin and Shields Focus Watersheds

• Montana Freshwater Partners - Bangtail Creek
• Trout Unlimited (Gallatin) - North Fork Spanish Creek
• Trout Unlimited (Shields) - Brackett Creek
• Trout Unlimited (Shields) - Canyon Creek

On-the-Ground Projects | Statewide

• Clark Fork Coalition - Grant Creek
• Clark Fork Coalition - Upper O'Brien Creek
• Evergreen Water and Sewer District - Septic Replacement 
• Gallatin River Task Force - South Fork Moose Tracks
• Montana Conservation Corps - Big Hole Watershed
• Montana Association of Conservation Districts - Ranching for Rivers Program 
• Montana Association of Conservation Districts - Water Quality Education & Outreach Mini-Grant Program
• Natural Resource Damage Program - Blacktail Creek
• Trout Unlimited - East Fork Cherry Creek

Capacity Building / Education and Outreach Projects

• Clark Fork Coalition - Central Clark Fork Watershed Restoration Plan Development
• Evergreen Water and Sewer District - Education and Outreach Project
• Gallatin River Task Force - Big Sky Water Conservation Program Marketing Campaign
• Lolo Watershed Group - Building Capacity for the Lolo Watershed Group
• Montana Association of Conservation Districts - Rolling Rivers Trailers Mini-Grant Program
• Montana Technological University - EcosySTEM Project

The Lower Shields River Watershed is the current DEQ Nonpoint Source Focus Watershed. 

A focus watershed is a HUC10 watershed area where the goal is to increase the capacity of local organizations, raise public awareness, and build momentum to generate significant and measurable progress toward reducing nonpoint source pollution.

The Lower Shields River Watershed will be eligible for approximately $500k annually of Federal Clean Water Act §319 grant funding for three funding cycles (in 2026, 2027 and 2028) and additional technical assistance from DEQ staff.

Focus Watershed applications were accepted until January 3, 2025.

Focus Watershed Application Review Notes

Focus Watershed Applications

• Wise River - Big Hole Watershed Committee
• Miller Creek-Bitterroot - Missoula Stormwater Utility
• Flathead River - Evergreen Water and Sewer District: City of Columbia Falls
• Lower Shields River - Montana Freshwater Partners

Reporting Guidance

• Nonpoint Source Grant Reporting Guidance
• Estimating the Value of Volunteer Labor
• Load Reduction Estimation Guide

Additional Resources

• Stream and Wetland Restoration Water Right Guidance by DNRC
• DEQ Education and Outreach Mini-Grant Program (administered by Montana Association of Conservation Districts)
• Other Watershed Funding Opportunities
• Projects Map

DEQ is seeking public comments on these draft plan documents through February 9, 2026:

• Draft 2026 Montana Nonpoint Source Management Plan 
• Appendix A: Best Practices
• Appendix B: Key Components of an Effective NPS Management Program Crosswalk
• Appendix C: Entities Addressing Nonpoint Source Pollution in Montana
• Appendix D: Protecting Groundwater Quality in Montana

Email comments to:

Each year, DEQ reports on nonpoint source program achievements and activities. Click on the links below to see copies of past Annual Reports.

• 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021, PDF version | 2022, PDF version |2023, PDF version | 2024, 2024 Accomplishments PDF

Every five years, Montana updates the state Nonpoint Source Management Plan to reflect new approaches and emerging priorities. The current Plan may be viewed by clicking on the links below.

• 2017 Montana Nonpoint Source Management Plan (body)
  • Appendix A: Best Management Practices
  • Appendix B: Key Components of an Effective NPS Management Program & Crosswalk
  • Appendix C: Water Quality Monitoring & Nonpoint Source Management
  • Appendix D: Total Maximum Daily Load & Watershed Restoration Plan Progress
  • Appendix E: Entities Addressing Nonpoint Source Pollution in Montana
  • Appendix F: Protecting Groundwater Quality
  • Appendix G: Section 319 Projects (2012-2016)
  • Appendix H: Watershed Funding Opportunities
  • Appendix I: Response to Public Comments

Nonpoint Source Pollution - Overview

• DEQ Nonpoint Source Program
• What is Nonpoint Source Pollution? Video Link (01:12) 
• General Nonpoint Source Pollution Information (EPA)
• Types of Nonpoint Source Pollution (EPA)
• Addressing Nonpoint Source Pollution - Using a Watershed Approach (EPA)

Nonpoint Source Pollution (NPS) Resources

• Montana Waters | Clearly Connected campaign materials and water quality resources
• Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) 
  
  • website (hab.mt.gov)
  • HAB fact sheet
  • HAB info card
  • HABs and Stock Ponds

• Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program
• Septic Systems: A Homeowners' Guide
• Septic & Well Care for Clean Water: Montana's Under Ground Comics
• Large Woody Debris 
• DEQ Pesticide General Permit and Best Practices
• Water Quality for Livestock
• Educational Lesson Resources

DEQ staff may be available to provide group presentations on a range of watershed topics. 

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Funding

DEQ provides limited funding for education and outreach projects through our Education & Outreach Water Quality Mini-Grants Program, administered by the Montana Association of Conservation Districts. 

Check out some of the education and outreach materials that the Mini-Grants Program helped fund:

Big Creek

Cramer Creek 

Deep Creek 

Jim Creek 

Meadow Creek 

Piper and Goat Creek 

Soda Butte Creek 

Swift Creek Watershed

Upper Sun River 

Montana DEQ encourages the development of locally-led Watershed Restoration Plans (WRPs) as a means of charting a path to improved water quality. In most cases, 319-funded projects need to implement practices identified in a DEQ-accepted Watershed Restoration Plan or acceptable alternative.
Watershed Restoration Plan (WRP) fact sheet

Nine Minimum Elements

Each Watershed Restoration Plan must address nine minimum elements.

• Identification of causes of impairment and sources of pollution.
• An estimate of the pollutant load reductions needed to achieve water quality standard
• A description of the nonpoint source management measures needed to achieve pollutant load reductions.
• An estimate of the technical and financial assistance needed to implement the management measures.
• An education and outreach component to encourage public participation in designing and implementing the management measures.
• A reasonable schedule for implementing the management measures.
• Milestones to gauge progress in implementing the management measures.
• Criteria for determining to what extent management measures are reducing pollutant loads and improving water quality over time.
• A monitoring plan for collecting the data necessary to evaluate improvements based on the criteria above.

Planning Tools and Guidance

The Environmental Protection Agency and other entities have developed tools to guide watershed restoration plan development.

• Handbook for Developing Watershed Plans to Restore and Protect Our Waters (EPA) - An extensive guide to watershed restoration planning.
• A QUICK GUIDE to Developing Watershed Plans to Restore and Protect Our Waters (EPA)
  - The “Readers Digest Condensed Version” of the EPA Handbook.
• EPA Region 5 Wetlands Supplement: Incorporating Wetlands into Watershed Planning (EPA) - Guide for incorporating wetlands protection/restoration into a WRP.
• Watershed Restoration Planning in Montana: An Introductory Guide (DEQ, SWCDM, Madison CD) - A guide based on the experiences of Montana entities that have written WRPs.
• Getting In Step: Outreach Series (EPA) - Website containing guidance for conducting watershed education and outreach.
• Watershed Academy (EPA) - Self-paced, online training modules and webcasts from national experts about a wide range of watershed management topics.
• Clean Water Act Information Center (DEQ) - DEQ website that provides access to the assessed and impaired waters lists, in searchable database and interactive map formats, as well as a large volume of other water-related information.