Watershed Plan Development Grant | South Carolina Department of Environmental Services

Proposals for Watershed Plan Development Grants are being accepted through May 15, 2025. See more information on the Watershed Plan RFP page.

The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund provides set-aside funds for the development of watershed plans to address surface water pollutants impacting source water for drinking water systems. A watershed plan can enhance or augment a source water protection (SWP) plan in that it encompasses the entire watershed that impacts the supply source, as well as the delineated source water protection area. Once a watershed plan is in place, it becomes the guidance and framework for any water quality improvement activities in that watershed. Having a watershed plan in place opens up additional funding opportunities for Section 319 grants to implement nonpoint source-reduction projects identified in the watershed plan.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS:

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.

ELIGIBLE PROJECTS:

Proposals for SWP 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.

FUNDING INFORMATION:

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 RFP release information, application details, and program announcements, please send your email address to Shea McCarthy, Shea.McCarthy@des.sc.gov.

Is your organization developing a stormwater management plan, city resiliency plan, or other action plan? Consider addressing EPA's nine elements in your plan and, upon approval by SCDES, it could be an eligible watershed plan, opening funding opportunities including the Section 319 Grant. For more information or to submit your draft plan for SCDES review, contact your Watershed Coordinator.

Council on Environmental Quality's Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool maps disadvantaged communities that are overburdened and underserved.
Carolinas Integrated Sciences and Assessments can contribute climate change adaptation information to watershed planning efforts. Email Jory Fleming, fleminj6@mailbox.sc.edu or a generic organizational contact, cisa@sc.edu.
EPA's Climate Impacts on Water Quality describes adaptation strategies to address stormwater runoff, erosion and sedimentation, and harmful algal blooms.
EPA's Adaptation Actions for Water Quality inform and assist communities in considering possible ways to address anticipated current and future climate threats to contaminated site management.
EPA's Green Infrastructure for Climate Resiliency describes green infrastructure strategies to manage flooding, prepare for drought, reduce urban heat islands, lower energy demands, manage water, and protect coastal areas.
EPA has also compiled a key set of Climate Change Indicators related to the causes and effects of climate change.
FEMA's hazard mitigation assistance provides funding for eligible mitigation measures that reduce disaster losses.

SCEMD Hazard Mitigation Grant Program—funds implementation of long-term hazard mitigation measures after Presidential disaster declaration, including development of watershed plans with climate resiliency components
FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC)—funds pre-disaster development of watershed plans that address high-level future risks to natural disasters, fosters greater community resilience, and reduces disaster suffering
Climate Smart Communities Initiative--grants to advance community-based climate resilience efforts.
EPA Healthy Watershed Consortium Grants—created to accelerate and expand the strategic protection of healthy watersheds, including freshwater, estuarine, and marine ecosystems, across the United State