Watershed Plan Development Grant
Forecasted
Watershed Plan Development Grant supports public and nonprofit organizations developing or updating South Carolina watershed plans to address surface water pollutants and protect public drinking water sources.
Funder: South Carolina Department of Environmental Services
Due Dates (Anticipated): March 2027 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: 2026 cycle: $200,000 total; no specified per-award maximum; 24-month projects
Summary: Supports development or updating of South Carolina watershed plans addressing surface water pollutants affecting public drinking water sources.
Key Information: Funding is for watershed planning, not implementation or a standalone Source Water Protection Plan.
Description
The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) administers this grant using EPA Drinking Water State Revolving Fund set-aside funding for Source Water Protection. It supports public and nonprofit organizations developing or updating watershed plans that protect drinking water sources, including surface water intakes and public water supply wells.
Plans must incorporate EPA’s nine required elements and provide a practical framework for future water quality improvements. Recommended Best Management Practices (BMPs) may include septic repairs, detention ponds, riparian buffers, wastewater system repairs, and conservation easements. Planning should emphasize interpreting existing data for implementation rather than extensive data analysis. An approved plan can open opportunities for Section 319 implementation grants and potentially reduced-interest Clean Water State Revolving Fund loans, but this award does not guarantee future implementation funding.
