Surface Water Grant Program
Surface Water Grant Program supports communities and researchers with education, planning, restoration, and invasive species projects to protect Wisconsin’s lakes, rivers, wetlands, and watersheds.
Funder: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Due Dates: September 15, 2026 (Required pre-application) | November 16, 2026 (General final application) | May 1, 2027 (Organizational eligibility) | Year-round (Healthy Lakes & Rivers; AIS Early Detection & Response)
Funding Amounts: Over $6 million annually; category caps of $5,000–$200,000, with $500,000 annually for AIS Research & Demonstration; terms of 1–4 years
Summary: Cost-sharing grants support education, assessment, planning, restoration, monitoring, and aquatic invasive species prevention and control for Wisconsin surface waters.
Key Information: AIS Research & Demonstration requires a pre-proposal and an invitation to submit a full application.
Description
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ Surface Water Grant Program supports protection and restoration of Wisconsin’s lakes, rivers, wetlands, and watersheds. Education and planning grants help communities understand ecological conditions, build organizational capacity, assess water quality and aquatic life, establish management goals, and develop strategic plans. Management grants put protection and restoration actions into practice, including shoreland improvements, habitat restoration, ordinance development, and permanent land protection.
For researchers, supported work includes ecological assessments, applied management studies, and cooperative aquatic invasive species (AIS) research with DNR. AIS Research & Demonstration projects investigate ecological and economic implications of invasive species and evaluate innovative prevention, containment, and control techniques. Other AIS categories support monitoring, planning, early response, and management of established populations.
