205(j) Water Quality Management Planning Grant

The 205(j) Grant Program is a federally funded program administered in North Carolina by the state Department of Environment and Natural Resources Division of Water Quality. Limited competitive funding is available to regional Councils of Government (COGs) for water quality management planning efforts. Funds are allotted by the state in accordance with section 205(j) of the federal Clean Water Act. The act states that the grants are to be used for: Water quality management and planning, including, but not limited to:

(A) Identifying most cost effective and locally acceptable facility and non-point source measures to meet and maintain water quality standards;

(B) Developing an implementation plan to obtain state and local financial and regulatory committments to implement measures developed under subparagraph A;

(C) Determining the nature, extent, and cause of water quality problems in various areas of the state.

Federal and state identified priorities are given in the request for proposals. This is a competitive grant application process that usually occurs in or around May of each year. No match is required but is preferred. 

Funded 205(j) Projects:

Fiscal Year 2011

Project Title:  Stormwater Infrastructure Mapping Tow of River Bend
Recipient:  Eastern Carolina Council
Amount:  $14,459
Description:  To map the stormwater infrastructure for the Town of River Bend. Will help the town to better manage stormwater, flood control, sediment and erosion control to improve water quality in the Trent River (Neuse River basin).

Project Title:  High Country Regional Water Quality Initiative
Recipient:  High Country Council of Government
Amount:  $50,000
Description:  To make site-specific plans and guidance for stormwater treatment best management practices and streambank restoration including the development of geodatabases critical to the effort. The plans will be for 19 towns in the COGs seven counties and include watersheds in the Catawba, French Broad, New, Watauga and Yadkin river basins.

Project Title:  Land Use Regulations Within the Black River Watershed of Sampson County
Recipient:  Mid-Carolina Council of Government
Amount:  $21,760
Description:  To develop land use regulations to reduce pollution from stormwater runoff in the Black River watershed (Cape Fear River basin).

Project Title:  Dan River Basin Restoration Analysis and Strategy
Recipient:  Piedmont Triad Council of Government
Amount:  $29,050
Description:  To collect environmental, economic and recreational data from North Carolina, Virginia and USEPA regional offices to identify restoration priorities in the Dan River sub-basin of the Roanoke River basin. A report and a website will be created as part of the project.

Project Title:  Davidson County Citizens for Improving Stream Health (DC FISH)
Recipient:  Piedmont Triad Council of Government
Amount:  $15,743
Description: To provide support for Davidson County Citizens for Improving Stream Health (DC FISH) for outreach, education, the identification of groups to receive training for StreamWatch monitoring of impaired waterways and conduct stream clean-up events (Yadkin River basin).

Project Title:  Upper Neuse River Basin Water Quality Monitoring Plan
Recipient:  Triangle J Council of Government
Amount:  $28,659
Description: To develop a long-term water quality monitoring program for the Upper Neuse River sub-basin (Neuse River Basin).

Project Title:  Upper Cape Fear River Basin Restoration and Conservation Analysis and Strategy
Recipient:  Triangle J Council of Government
Amount:  $40,316
Description: To collect environmental, economic and recreational data on the upper Cape Fear River basin to determine priority watersheds for restoration and conservation. A report and a website will be created as part of the project.

Project Title:  Watershed Planning and GIS/Data Management
Recipient:  Western Piedmont Council of Government
Amount:  $6,393
Description: To produce a low-cost internal method for developing watershed action plans including identification of priorities, database resource updates, and the adaptation of an existing watershed plan (Catawba River basin).

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

Project Title:  Neuse River Basin Comprehensive Water Management Study
Recipient:  Triangle J Council of Governments
Amount:  $40,350
Description:  Conducting a comprehensive water management study of the Neuse River Basin; including development of data for a comprehensive, long range water quantity and water quality plan that includes wastewater discharges, water withdrawals and considers assimilative capacity.

Project Title:  Tar-Pamlico River Basin Water Quality Project
Recipient:  Upper Coastal Plains Council of Governments
Amount:  $41,709
Description:  Developing a uniform methodology for tracking agricultural land conversions and review/revision of local government land use ordinances to include more green and low-impact strategies.

Project Title:  A Water Resources Management Planning Initiative for the French Broad River Basin in NC
Recipient:  Land-of-Sky Regional Council of Governments
Amount:  $26,108
Description:  Proposing to:  1) to identify and increase awareness of water resource management issues and needs within the Basin; 2) to increase communication, coordination, and collaboration among local, regional, state, and federal water resource management agencies and non-profit organizations and  3) to develop strategies to address identified water management issues and needs.

Project Title:  Development of a Catawba River Basinwide Water Education and Awareness Program for Water Efficiency, Conservation and Drought Preparation and Response
Recipient:  Western Piedmont Council of Governments
Amount:  $28,698
Description:  Creation of an education and awareness program concerning water efficiency, conservation, and drought management and preparedness.  This project is proposed as a component of a more comprehensive water management plan for the region which would include water quality, quantity, and assimilative capacity issues.

Project Title:  Jordan Lake Nutrient Reduction Strategy
Recipient:  Piedmont Triad Council of Governments
Amount:  $40,480
Description:  Conduct an assessment of the local government's nutrient reduction capabilities and develop a Nutrient Reduction Sourcbook featuring potential programs, policies, projects, and partnerships. (View Piedmont Nutrient Reduction Sourcebook.)

Project Title:  Interconnectivity/Sustainability/Stewardship Alliance for the Middle & Lower Cape Fear River Basin
Recipient:  Cape Fear Regional Council of Governments
Amount:  $22,255
Description:  Create an alliance of municipal, county, and public water suppliers in the Middle & Lower Cape Fear and facilitate development of a cooperative water management plan.

Project Title:  Yakin-Pee Dee River Basin Restoration Strategies Initiative
Recipient:  Centralina Council of Governments
Amount:  $51,100
Description:  Identify and catalog regional watershed conservation and restoration needs, as well as, recommend specific restoration planning efforts for top-priority local watersheds.

Project Title:  Roanoke River Basin Bi-State Commission and North Carolina Roanoke Rive Basin Advisory Committee Activity and Project Development Operational and Coordination Support Project
Recipient:  Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments
Amount:  $34,760
Description:  The North Carolina and Virginia Roanoke River Basin Advisory Committees and the Roanoke River Basin Bi-State Commission were created by the North Carolina and Virginia legislatures in 2003.  Their purposes included addressing bi-state issues of water quality, quantity, assimilative capacity, developing policy recommendations and supporting coordination between the states.  This proposal provides support for the planning activities to achieve the legislative intent of these committees and commission.

More information on DWQ's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 205(j)/604(b) Grant is located here.

Fiscal Year 2008

Project Title: Ararat River Corridor Greenway Plan
Recipient: Northwest Piedmont Council of Governments
Amount: $10,000
Description: Conduct stakeholder meetings to identify and prioritize properties along the Ararat River for incorporation into the Ararat River Greenway.

Project Title: A Stormwater Education Project: Use a Car Wash Kit
Recipient: Northwest Piedmont Council of Governments
Amount: $10,980
Description: Develop a stormwater education program targeting schools, churches, and other non-profit groups that use charity car washes to raise money for projects.

Project Title: Watershed Management Plan for the Town of Newport
Recipient: Eastern Carolina Council
Amount: $8,280 Description: Partner with the Town of Newport to develop a Watershed Management Plan for the town.

Project Title: Goose and Crooked Creek Watershed Partnership Building
Recipient: Centralina Council of Governments
Amount: $15,128
Description: Creation of a "friends" organization for the Goose and Crooked Creek watersheds in Mecklenburg and Union Counties.

Project Title: Little Alamance Restoration Alliance
Recipient: Piedmont Triad Council of Governments
Amount: $21,523
Description: Creation of the Little Alamance Creek Restoration Alliance to address the 303(d) listed Little Alamance Creek Watershed problems.

Fiscal Year 2007

Project Title: Sinkhole Education
Recipient: Eastern Carolina Council of Governments
Amount: $11,805
Description: Educating citizens of Onslow County on water quality issues related to various types of sinkholes.

Project Title: Formation and On-going Work of the Stakeholders for the Rich Fork Creek Local Watershed in Region G
Recipient: Piedmont Triad Council of Governments
Amount: $22,930
Description: Identify and mobilize stakeholders, provide a structure to facilitate ongoing stakeholder participation, and initiate outreach activities to build awareness and facilitate planning meetings.

Project Title: Cartoogechaye Creek Municipal Watershed Assessment
Recipient: Southwestern Commission
Amount: $5,500
Description: Riparian survey upstream of the intake for the Town of Franklin drinking water supply - component of a larger watershed assessment being completed by the Little Tennessee Watershed Association.

Project Title: Town of Sparta Stormwater Bioretention Cell Construction and Wetland/Wetpond Design - Demonstration
Project Recipient: High Country Council of Governments
Amount: $63,036
Description: Design an educational and demonstrative bioretention cell and wetland/wetpond project.

Fiscal Year 2006

Project Title: Education Demonstration Project: Rainwater Harvesting and Stormwater Management System; City of New Bern's Recreation & Parks Department Maintenance Shop
Recipient: Eastern Carolina Council of Governments
Amount: $14,482
Description: Set up a stormwater educational demonstration project.

Project Title: Educating Region P Governments on the Universal Stormwater Management Program (USMP)
Recipient: Eastern Carolina Council of Governments
Amount: $14,998
Description: Develop an education program for the citizens and elected officials in nine counties of the Universal Stormwater Management Program.

Project Title: A Stormwater Education Project: Train the Trainer
Recipient: Northwest Piedmont Council of Governments
Amount: $14,295
Description: Train new instructors that will create and implement a stormwater runoff communications campaign targeted to Hispanics.

Project Title: Stormwater Education & Pollution Prevention Project
Recipient: Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments
Amount: $10,000
Description: Assist the Town of Nashville in meeting the requirements of the NPDES Phase II stormwater program.