Formula Grant 00I34100

DESCRIPTION:THIS AGREEMENT IS TO FUND THE STATE OF MONTANA'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 THE TOTAL SEC. 604(B) FUNDING ALLOCATION 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: A) TRACKING WATER QUALITY CHANGES B) SUPPORTING MONTANA'S VOLUNTEER MONITORING ACTIVITIES C) TRACKING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS TO INFORM FUTURE PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION ACTIVITIES D) SUPPORTING LOCAL WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PLANNING ACTIVITIES THAT WILL LEAD TO ON-THE-GROUND WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FUNDING IS REQUESTED TO PROVIDE SUBAWARDS TO LOCAL WATERSHED GROUPS, CONSERVATION DISTRICTS, AND OTHER ELIGIBLE ENTITIES FOR SUPPORTING PLANNING ACTIVITIES THAT WILL LEAD TO ON-THE-GROUND WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. THIS MAY INCLUDE DEVELOPMENT, REFINEMENT, OR UPDATING WATERSHED RESTORATION PLANS (WRP). FUNDING IS ALSO REQUESTED TO PROVIDE CONTRACTED SERVICES TO SUPPORT THE DIRECT IMPLEMENTATION AND CONTINUATION OF THE MONITORING PROGRAMS PERFORMED BY MDEQ AS DESCRIBED IN THE WORKPLAN. SUBRECIPIENT:FUNDING IS ALSO REQUESTED TO PROVIDE SUBAWARDS TO LOCAL WATERSHED GROUPS, CONSERVATION DISTRICTS, AND OTHER ELIGIBLE ENTITIES FOR SUPPORTING PLANNING ACTIVITIES THAT WILL LEAD TO ON-THE-GROUND WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. FUNDING WILL BE AWARDED THROUGH A COMPETITIVE PROCESS THAT EMPHASIZES OUTREACH TO LANDOWNERS IN IMPAIRED WATERSHEDS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF ACTIVITIES THAT RESTORE AND/OR PROTECT WATER QUALITY WHILE INCREASING RESILIENCE TO DROUGHT, FLOODING, AND CLIMATE CHANGE. SUBAWARDS TO ENTITIES WILL INCLUDE: 1. TRACKING WATER QUALITY CHANGES ACROSS MONTANA A PRIMARY FOCUS OF MONTANA'S CLEAN WATER ACT MONITORING PROGRAM WILL BE TO TRACK WATER QUALITY CHANGES OVER TIME. PROJECTS THAT MAY FIT INTO THIS OBJECTIVE ARE: - BASELINE OR TREND MONITORING IN AREAS WITH WATER QUALITY THREATS OR WHERE PROGRESS IS MADE WITH LAND, SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION IMPROVEMENTS - MONITORING AT STATE BORDERS - OTHER LONG-TERM MONITORING INITIATIVES 2. MONTANA VOLUNTEER MONITORING SUPPORT SYSTEM THIS FUNDING WILL BE PROVIDED TO SUPPORT THE CONTINUING DEVELOPMENT OF A STATEWIDE VOLUNTEER MONITORING NETWORK. FUNDS WILL BE DEVOTED TO BUILDING VOLUNTEER MONITORING CAPACITY AND STRENGTHENING THE DATA QUALITY OF INFORMATION ARISING FROM VOLUNTARY MONITORING EFFORTS ACROSS MONTANA. ENSURING DATA QUALITY WITHIN VOLUNTARY MONITORING EFFORTS WILL EASE INTEGRATION OF LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL MONITORING PROGRAMS WHERE OBJECTIVES ALLOW. WHEN VOLUNTEER WATER QUALITY MONITORING EFFORTS PRODUCE USEFUL AND CREDIBLE DATA FOR LOCAL, REGIONAL AND STATE OBJECTIVES, COST SAVINGS CAN BE REALIZED FOR ALL PARTNERS. IN THE LONG RUN, THIS PROGRAM WILL PROMOTE TRUST AND COOPERATION FOR STATE, REGIONAL AND LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS WHICH WILL ALSO SUPPORT A SMOOTH TRANSITION FROM WATER QUALITY MONITORING EFFORTS TO RESTORATION PROJECTS. UNDER THIS VOLUNTEER MONITORING SUPPORT SYSTEM, DEQ MAY FUND: 1. COMPONENTS OF THE MSU EXTENSION VOLUNTEER WATER QUALITY MONITORING PROGRAM HTTPS://WATERQUALITY.MONTANA.EDU/VOL-MON/INDEX.HTML 2. WATERSHED GROUPS' OR CONSERVATION DISTRICTS' BIG SKY WATERSHED CORPS MEMBERS OR WATERSHED COORDINATORS IF THE POSITION SUPPORTS VOLUNTEER MONITORING EFFORTS. 3. COOPERATIVE INITIATIVES WITH UNIVERSITIES THAT FIT MONTANA'S PROGRAM GOALS. OUTCOMES: THE ANT