TMDL Water Quality Restoration Grants
The Department receives documentary stamp funding for the
implementation of projects to reduce urban nonpoint source pollution
discharged to impaired waters. These funds are restricted to projects
that reduce pollutant loadings to water bodies on the state’s verified
list of impaired waters, to water bodies with a DEP proposed or
adopted TMDL, or water with a DEP proposed or adopted BMAP. These
funds are used for urban stormwater retrofitting projects undertaken
by local governments, water management districts, or other government
entities. All projects will require a minimum of 50% matching funds.
Priority for TMDL Water Quality Restoration Grant funds is given to
those projects that are ready for construction within the next six
months. Land acquisition, design, and permitting should be complete or
nearing completion at the time of grant application. While the
department will not fund these preliminary project elements, the cost
of these elements are eligible as matching funds. Most projects
will require storm event monitoring to document the project's
effectiveness in removing pollutants. All data will be entered into
the Florida BMP Data Base.
Projects will be evaluated, ranked, and selected for funding based
on the criteria found within the TMDL Water Quality Restoration Grant
Rule, Chapter 62-305, F.A.C. The criteria for project evaluation and
ranking include:
- Impairment status of the receiving water body
- Anticipated load reduction of the pollutants of concern
- Percentage of local matching funds
- Cost effectiveness of the project in terms of cost per pound
of pollutant removed per acre treated
- Inclusion of an educational component
- Whether the local government sponsor has implemented of a
dedicated funding source for stormwater management, such as a
stormwater utility
To apply for a grant, please submit your project on the
TMDL Water Quality Restoration Grant application form
(MSWord format - 305 kb).
Applications are continually accepted and projects are ranked in
March, July, and November. All applications should be submitted
electronically to Eric H. Livingston, Bureau Chief of Watershed
Restoration (eric.livingston@dep.state.fl.us),
phone 850/245-8430. Also, please be aware of other funding
opportunities through our Section 319 grant program and the State
Revolving Fund.
As part of the ranking and selection process, we use the cost
percentiles associated with previously funded projects. Each
year, the percentiles are updated and uploaded to the web page in
January. The current cost percentiles are available by
downloading the following two documents:
