DEQ Opens Grant Applications for Water Quality Projects

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is seeking grant applications from nonprofit organizations and government entities for approximately $1.5 million in funding for nonpoint source pollution reduction projects. The deadline for eligible applicants to submit draft applications is February 20, 2026. 

 

Nonpoint source pollution is the largest cause of water quality impairment in Montana’s lakes and streams, and typically comes from diffuse sources associated with land uses such as agriculture, forestry, urban and suburban development, and runoff from abandoned mine sites. Common pollutants include sediment, nutrients, pathogens and toxic metals. In lakes, streams and wetlands, these pollutants can cause harm to aquatic life and can make the water unsafe for human recreation and consumption. 

 

DEQ monitors water quality in Montana's lakes and streams and identifies waters that are impaired. Nonpoint source grant funding is one way that DEQ helps improve impaired waters across Montana. Projects that have received grants in the past include efforts to remove mine waste from streambanks, restore wetlands and native vegetation along streambanks, and collaborate with farmers and ranchers to implement best management practices to improve stream health. 

 

Applications will be accepted for on-the ground projects and capacity building or education/outreach projects. On-the-ground projects must address nonpoint source pollution and implement activities or practices identified in a locally developed watershed restoration plan or Tribal nonpoint source plan. Capacity building and education/outreach projects should help increase organizational capacity, assist with watershed planning, or address nonpoint source pollution through education and outreach efforts. Additional funding is available for on-the-ground projects that contribute to reducing the prevalence of documented harmful algal blooms (HABs) downstream and associated economic risk. 

 

Projects will be funded in the range of $10,000 to $300,000 per project and a minimum of 10% of the total project costs must be matched with non-federal funds. Each year, DEQ focuses a portion of available funding on specific watersheds. This targeted approach maximizes the cumulative impacts of water quality restoration projects within a watershed. Up to $750,000 of the total available funding may be allocated to projects located in the Lower Shields Focus Watershed or National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI) Watersheds. 

 

For more information about eligibility, to download application forms and instructions and to view past applications, review the Nonpoint Source Project Funding information on DEQ’s website. You can also find the draft Montana Nonpoint Source Management Plan available for public review and