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Funding Cycle 2 Notice of Intent to Award 

The application window for Funding Cycle 2 closed on May 4, 2026, and nine grant applications have been selected for awards totaling $1,447,647.88.  Please see the Notice of Intent to Award for the official list of selected grant projects.  

Grant Overview     

FY25 Budget Proviso 55.24 and FY26 Budget Proviso 55.21 (DES: Dam Repair Assistance) have made $3 million in state funds available to provide cost-sharing grants to correct dam deficiencies identified by SCDES for High and Significant Hazard potential dams regulated under the Dams and Reservoir Safety Act.    

Contract and Procurement Opportunities  

Grant recipients may use this webpage to advertise solicitations for bids when competitive sealed bidding is required by the grant’s procurement requirements. Each time a new solicitation is posted to the Contractor Opportunities webpage, it will be announced in SCBO along with the location on the SCDES website where details regarding the solicitation can be found. The Department’s assistance in posting solicitation is only available in cases where an award agreement has been fully executed. 

Funding Cycle 3 Notice of Funding Opportunity: Coming Soon!

The SCDES Dam Safety Program expects a 3rd Funding Cycle will be confirmed following passage of the FY27 State Budget.  SCDES Dam Safety will provide more information to all dam owners who are signed up to receive Dam Safety Program grant announcements sent out via e-mail, as well as on this webpage. 

Funding Cycle 2 Notice of Funding Opportunity Documents:   

  • Attachment A – Dam Repair Assistance Grant Application Form D-25-0005 (Revised April 2026) 
  • Attachment C – Milestones Worksheet Template – Non-Construction Projects (Excel version available upon request)   
  • Attachment D – Milestones Worksheet Template – Construction Projects (Excel version available upon request)   

Questions?     

E-mail DESresponse@des.sc.gov and the Dam Safety Program staff will provide assistance.         

In order to be considered eligible for funding under this grant program, a dam must:    

  • Be regulated by the SCDES Dam Safety Program;    
  • Have a “High” or “Significant” Hazard Potential Classification on date of application (see “Hazard Potential Classification” in Definitions) of; and    
  • Have either:    
  • A SCDES Condition Assessment Rating on date of application of “Poor” or “Unsatisfactory” (see “Condition Assessment Rating” in Definitions section of the NOFO), OR     
  • A Dam Safety Deficiency identified by an Engineer (“Dam Safety Deficiency” and “Engineer” under Definitions section of the NOFO)     

 If your dam did not receive a Condition Assessment Rating of “Poor” or “Unsatisfactory,” your dam is not necessarily ineligible. For example, if you are able to provide evidence of a Dam Safety Deficiency identified by an Engineer for a dam with a “Fair” Condition Assessment Rating but meeting all other eligibility requirements, then the application may be eligible for funding.      

The following types of dams are not eligible for funding:       

  • Dams exempt from state regulation under the Dams and Reservoirs Safety Act and Regulations; and,     
  • Low Hazard Potential dams (see “Low Hazard Potential” in Definitions).       

A map of all SCDES state regulated dams is also available for reference. 

Funding Cycle 1 Grant Recipients  

The application window for Funding Cycle 1 closed on September 2, 2025, and five grant applications have been awarded grant funding totaling $717,307.03. Please see the SCDES Dam Repair Assistance Grant Recipient List for the summary of selected grant projects.    

Please be aware the Q&A document applied to Funding Cycle 2 and answers are subject to change for future funding cycles. The Dam Safety Program has made available a Q&A document with grant-related questions received during the grant webinar and subsequent Q&A periods and corresponding SCDES answers to said questions. All potential applicants are strongly encouraged to review this Q&A document as they prepare their grant applications.  Only questions that are general in nature have been addressed – specifics of individual dams and grant applications have not been included. Please note that during the open application period, Dam Safety Program staff are not permitted to answer additional grant-related questions, and updates to the Q&A document have ceased. Applicants should refer to the NOFO document if they have questions about this grant opportunity, including eligibility, the application process, and grant management.