Water Quality Assessment Grants
Water Quality Assessment Grants support local sponsors in monitoring and assessing water quality to identify watershed problems, understand pollutant sources, and guide future planning and implementation.
Funder: North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality
Due Dates: Rolling (Applications) | February 1, 2027 (Same-year sampling cutoff)
Funding Amounts: Average two-year grant under $20,000; 100% funding, no cost share required
Summary: Supports locally sponsored water quality monitoring and assessment to identify watershed problems and inform future planning and implementation.
Key Information: Projects must be led by an eligible local sponsor; funding is not awarded directly to individuals.
Description
Water Quality Assessment Grants are administered by the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (NDDEQ) through its Watershed Management and Nonpoint Source (NPS) programs. They support structured monitoring to confirm and quantify water quality concerns, identify likely pollutant sources, and understand the timing and conditions driving impacts. Concerns may include elevated nutrients, harmful algal blooms, or declining biological condition.
Assessment projects are typically the first phase of a larger watershed-based effort, providing the technical foundation for effective planning and implementation. NDDEQ staff help sponsors review existing data and develop a Sampling & Analysis Plan. Strong projects integrate assessment with watershed planning rather than assessment alone. Projects are strictly voluntary and non-regulatory; collected data will not be used for regulatory or enforcement purposes.
