Expanded grant project opportunities now include proactive projects as well as traditional restoration projects to address non-regulated pollution sources.

Applications are due Friday, Aug. 11, 2017

ADEQ officials announced today a request for applications for Cycle 20 Water Quality Improvement Grant (WQIG) Program funds. Cycle 20 grant opportunities newly offer proactive Watershed Preservation Grants (WPGs) in addition to traditional WQIGs to address non-regulated pollution sources.

Critical to the health of Arizona’s waters, ADEQ’s WQIG Program funds projects that address the leading cause of water quality impairment in the United States, nonpoint source pollution.

Traditional WQIGs fund projects to restore water quality that does not meet applicable standards, whereas new WPGs fund proactive projects to protect Arizona waters currently meeting standards, but where threats to water quality are documented.

“The $993,880 grant for the Horseshoe Draw project is an outstanding example of how our program supports community-based approaches to protect and restore Arizona’s waters,” said ADEQ Water Quality Division Director, Trevor Baggiore.

Completed last month, the Horseshoe Draw project will reduce sediment and pathogen transport (such as E. coli) to the San Pedro River by lessening erosion and lowering flood peaks. An ancillary, yet extremely significant project benefit, is the protection now provided for the area roadway and property, which previously was destroyed by flood waters.

Horseshoe Draw Project | View more >

Baggiore continued, “Central to the ongoing success of our Water Quality Improvement Grant Program is its competitive process that requires awardees to cover 40 percent of the total project cost. By extending Cycle 20 project opportunities to include proactive Watershed Preservation Grants, we now can maximize the benefits of on-the-ground water quality protections and improvements for Arizona’s community health, drinking water supplies, wildlife, fisheries and recreation."

To support applicants and facilitate this grant program, ADEQ is providing free grant application webinars (July 10 and July 14) during which ADEQ will walk participants through the WQIG Program and application process, as well as field specific questions.

The Cycle 20 grant application process requires completion and submittal of the full application packet to ADEQ no later than Friday, Aug. 11, 2017, at 3 p.m. MST, as well as a project proposal presentation to ADEQ. Grants will be awarded in early fall 2017.

ADEQ encourages interested parties to confirm their eligibility and apply for WQIG Program Cycle 20 WQIGs and new WPGs to continue to protect, restore and improve Arizona’s water quality.