This agreement is to fund the state of michigan's water quality management planning program to improve impaired water and protect unimpaired waters across the state by conducting planning that informs…

The Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 awarded the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy $1.851 million on October 1, 2025, under the Water Quality Management Planning program (CFDA 66.454) to improve impaired water and protect unimpaired waters across the state through water quality management planning that informs Clean Water Act implementation.

The recipient will conduct water quality derivation activities including literature searches, data compilation and analysis, technical summaries, and updates to water quality criteria tables; perform chemical evaluations of emerging contaminants; process targeted monitoring requests; and support the development or update of nine-element watershed management plans. Under Clean Water Act Section 205(j)(3), the recipient will pass through at least 40 percent of funding to regional or interstate watershed management planning agencies selected through a request for proposals process. Sub-recipients will develop or update nine-element watershed management plans using the FY25 funding.

Two sub-recipients have been identified to date. The Chippewa Luce Mackinac Conservation District received a sub-award on July 30, 2026, to develop the Charlotte River Watershed Management Plan Phase II. The Branch County Conservation District received a sub-award on June 29, 2026, for Little Swan Creek Watershed Planning.

The award period runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2030, with all work performed in Michigan. Funding is provided under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

This agreement is to fund the state of michigan's water quality management planning program to improve impaired water and protect unimpaired waters across the state by conducting planning that informs and supports implementation of clean water act programs. In accordance with clean water act section 205(J)(3), unless a waiver request is approved by EPA, the recipient will jointly develop workplans with and passthrough at least 40% of funding to regional or interstate watershed management planning agencies. This agreement is supported by funding provided under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) (PL 117-58). Activities:the activities to be performed include the following water quality management planning activities (1) the derivation of water quality values (literature searches/reviews, data compilation and analysis, preparing technical summaries, and updating water quality criteria tables), (2) chemical evaluations of emerging contaminants, (3) targeted monitoring request planning and processing, and (4) the development of nine element watershed management plans or updated existing plans, carried out by passthrough recipients. Subrecipient:passthrough recipients will use FY25 604(B) funding to develop nine element watershed management plans or update existing plans. Passthrough recipients will be selected from a request for proposals (RFP). Outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include (1) chemical evaluations of emerging contaminants, (2) targeted monitoring request planning and processing, and (3) the development of nine element watershed management plans or updated existing plans, carried out by passthrough recipients. The expected outcomes include (1) supporting michigan egle support staff time communicating with and assisting entities, reviewing documents, and managing grant agreements, (2) address statewide and regional questions about water quality, and (3) prepare local stakeholders to implement projects to restore and protect priority watersheds. The intended beneficiaries include community members across the state of michigan.