South Carolina public organizations such as state agencies, local governments, public universities, soil and water conservation districts, regional planning commissions, watershed organizations, and nonprofit organizations, are eligible to receive these grants.

Proposals for Watershed Plan Development Grant funding must address and/or protect ambient surface water pollutants that can impact source water for drinking water systems. Target watersheds must be located in South Carolina and contain a public drinking water intake or source water. Such watersheds can be identified by using SCDES's Watershed Atlas. If selected, applicants are expected to develop and submit a nine-element watershed plan which must be reviewed and approved by SCDES before project close. Please see the following links for more information about the watershed plan expectations.

Selected projects will be funded 100% by monies provided to SCDES by USEPA’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund set-aside for Source Water Protection. However, additional consideration will be given to proposals which show supplementary funds leveraged for watershed plan development.

Your Watershed Coordinator can help you learn about, develop, and implement watershed plans. For more information about low-interest rate loans, visit the State Revolving Fund website.

To be added to the Watershed Plan Distribution List to receive email notification of all Request for Applications release information, application details, and program announcements, please send your email address to Shea McCarthy, Shea.McCarthy@des.sc.gov.

• 2025 Watershed Plan Request for Proposals
• Watershed Plan Development Grant Flyer
• SCDES Guide to Developing Watershed Plans