Grants
 

The following is a list of some grants, with a brief explanation that can be applied for.  The website is located on the bottom of each description, for further information.  If you are aware of any additional funding sources, please let us know.

Arizona Department of Water Resources

The Arizona Department of Water Resources oversees the Rural Water Initiative.  This Initiative fund was established to assist Rural Arizona Watershed Partnerships with funding projects and studies pertaining to the understanding, planning, management, and enhancement of water supplies in Rural Arizona.  Funding is authorized annually by the State Legislature.  Requests for proposals from Watershed Partnerships are called for on July 1 and must be received by August 1 of each year when funding is available.  Watershed Partnerships include local stakeholders and representatives of resource and regulatory agencies active in the area.  

For additional information, please visit www.azdwr.gov

Arizona Water Protection Fund

This Fund, which is administered by the director of ADWR and the State Land Commissioner, is earmarked for supporting projects that will enhance riparian areas. The authorizing legislation calls for "a coordinated effort for the restoration and conservation of the water resources of this state. This policy is designed to allow the people of this state to prosper while protecting and restoring this state's rivers and streams and associated riparian habitats, including fish and wildlife resources that are dependent on these important habitats (Title 45, Chapter 12)." Like the Rural Water Initiative Fund, the Arizona Water Protection Fund is funded by the State Legislature.  Grant proposals are due into ADWR by the second Wednesday in June of each year when funding is available. 

For further information, please refer to www.awpf.state.az.us

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality oversees the Water Quality Improvement Grant Program. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) Water Quality Improvement Grant Program allocates money from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to interested parties for implementation of nonpoint source management and watershed protection. The distribution of grant funds from EPA is provided pursuant to Section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act and administered by the ADEQ Water Quality Division.

ADEQ uses these federal funds to implement on-the-ground water quality improvement projects to control nonpoint source pollution. Nonpoint source pollution is polluted runoff from many different sources and remains the nation's largest source of water quality problems. Nonpoint source pollution occurs when rainfall, snowmelt or irrigation runs over land or through the ground, picks up pollutants and deposits them into rivers, lakes and coastal waters or introduces them into ground water. Agriculture, forestry, grazing, septic systems, recreational boating, urban runoff, construction, physical changes to stream channels and habitat degradation are potential sources of nonpoint source pollution. Projects must focus on improving or protecting water quality within the state of Arizona.  

For further information regarding the 319 (h) grant, please visit www.azdeq.gov/environ/water/watershed/fin.html

Arizona Game and Fish Department

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission Heritage Fund expends monies for conservation of sensitive wildlife and sensitive wildlife habitat in accordance to sub-program percentages as specified in Title 17, Chapter 2, Arizona Revised Statutes, Article 6 (amended November 7, 1990).  The following sub-programs comprise the Heritage Fund Program:

• ·    IIPAM (Acquisition)

• ·    IIPAM (Excluding Acquisition)

• ·    Urban Wildlife

• ·    Habitat Evaluation

• ·    Public Access

• ·    Environmental Evaluation

  For further information regarding the Heritage Fund, please refer to www.azgfd.gov and click under Other Programs

Environmental Protection Agency

This Federal agency has numerous funds with relation to water.  Some of those funds are:

American Heritage Rivers Initiative- provides help to communities to restore and revitalize waters and waterfronts, integrating the economic, environmental and historic preservation programs and services of federal agencies to benefit communities engaged in efforts to protect their rivers.

Drinking Water and Groundwater Protection Programs- a collection of information about efforts to educate and communicate about water issues.

Wastewater Management- access a range of programs contributing to the well-being of our nation's waters and watersheds.

Water Efficiency- EPA's water efficiency program, Water Alliances for Voluntary Efficiency (WAVE), publications and related water conservation information.

Water Quality Standards, Criteria and Methods- this program is responsible for developing sound, scientifically defensible standards, criteria, advisories, guidelines, limitations and standards guidelines for the Office of Water.

Watershed Management- this program encourages solutions to water quality and ecosystem problems at the watershed level rather than at the individual waterbody or discharger level.

Wetlands Program- encourages and enables others to act effectively in protecting and restoring the nation's wetlands and associated ecosystems.

National Estuary Program- information about this effort to protect and restore the health of estuaries while supporting economic and recreational activities.

Nonpoint Source Pollution Control- access information about polluted runoff and exchange information about methods for reducing the affects of this environmental issue.

Clean Lakes Program- information about the quality of America's lakes and technical resources for management of lakes.

For further information regarding EPA water project and program funds, please visit www.epa.gov

Turner Foundation

The objective of the Turner Foundation is to protect rivers, lakes, wetlands, aquifers, oceans and other water systems from contamination, degradation, and other abuses.  The priorities for the Turner Foundation are:

• ·    To strengthen the advocacy, outreach and technical capabilities of organizations addressing the protection of water systems.

• ·    To stop the further degradation of water-dependent habitats from new dams, diversions and other large infrastructure projects.

• ·    To reduce wasteful water use via conservation.

• ·    To promote allocation of water specifically for environmental purposes, including habitat restoration and fish and wildlife protection.

• ·    To support efforts to improve public policies affecting water protection, including initiatives to secure pollution prevention and habitat protection.

• ·    To reduce pesticide use.

• ·    To strengthen the advocacy, outreach and technical capabilities of organizations addressing the disproportionate use and locating the toxic materials in poor and rural areas.

For further information, please refer to www.turnerfoundation.org

Some additional websites for possible grants:

U.S. Department of Agriculture - Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Program (NRCS)
http://www.usda.gov/

U.S. Department of the Interior - Land and Water Conservation Fund Grants to States (NPS)
http://www.doi.gov/

The Charles A. and Anne Morrow Lindbergh Foundation
http://www.lindberghfoundation.org/

Philip Morris Companies, Inc.
http://www.philipmorris.com/philanthropy

Ben & Jerry’s Foundation
http://www.benjerry.com/foundation

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program
The Partners for Fish and Wildlife program creates, restores and protects wildlife habitat on private, Tribal, county, and other non-federal lands. Partners funds can only be used for the on-the-ground projects and must benefit a Federal trust species such as endangered species, waterfowl, shorebirds, or migratory birds.

For further information, please contact:

Marty Jakle, USFWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife Coordinator
2321 West Royal Palm Road, Suite 103
Phoenix, AZ 85021-4951
602-242-0210 ext. 213