Funding priorities vary depending on the grant type. In general, strong projects will be specific, well-thought out, and include specific details. Applicants should strive to describe their projects richly, but concisely.

The ranking sheets in Appendix A of the DNR Surface Water Grant Applicant Guide present the criteria ranking teams will use to assign funding priority to the applications submitted for consideration for a Surface Water Grant.

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s eligibility requirements.

As a baseline threshold for eligibility, applicants must:

• Be an eligible organization
• Submit their pre-application by September 15, applications are due November 15
• Request a determination of project eligibility by September 15

Additional prerequisites vary depending on the grant type. For more information, please see the DNR Surface Water Grant Applicant Guide.

Click on the next section to learn more about the matching requirements for this funding opportunity.

The minimum percentage of the total project costs required as grantee match is determined by the grant category. All planning grants provide a 67% cost share, while all management grants are shared at a rate of 75%.  In other words, for the following grant categories, the minimum grantee match requirements are:

• Education & Planning 33%
• Management 25%

SWE Grants have a 33% grantee match requirement.  To be eligible to receive a $5,000 SWE Grant award, the total project costs must be $7,462.69 (=$5,000/33%).  The state share is the $5,000 grant and the local share is $2,462.69 (=$7,462.69-$5,000) as grantee match.

All sources of grantee match, including donations, must be identified in the grant application. Eligible grantee match may include:

• Eligible costs paid with funds generated by local, non-DNR state or federal agencies, foundations, businesses, private individuals, or nonprofit organizations.
• Donated eligible costs (e.g., donated equipment, volunteer labor, supplies or construction materials, professional labor, etc.).

Click on the next section to learn more about the eligible costs for this funding opportunity.

Funds can be used for a wide variety of projects related to surface water, under one of two general categories:

• Education and Planning – these projects help communities understand surface water conditions, determine management goals, and develop strategic management plans
• Management – these projects protect and improve water quality and aquatic habitat and prevent and control aquatic invasive species. Some projects require an approved recommendation in a management plan to be eligible for funding.

Ineligible costs:

• Costs not directly associated with or necessary for the implementation of the project, as determined by the department

Click on the next section to learn more about this funding opportunity’s project timeline.

Projects must be completed within a year of the grant award.

Click on the next section for this funding opportunity’s application deadline and forms.

By May 1 of each year, the applicant should establish their eligibility for grant funding by submitting Grant Eligibility Application Form 8700-380* and supporting documentation to their regional environmental grant specialist. The environmental grant specialist has the right to review an organization’s eligibility at any time, and it is best to confirm your eligibility before you apply for a grant. If you are thinking about applying for a grant, contact your local lake, streams or AIS biologist as early as possible.

Every applicant must submit a project pre-application via email by September 15. The pre-application is essentially a draft of the surface water grant application (Form 8700-284)*.

Between September and October, the regional biologist will work with you to refine and finalize your application. During this period, the complete application and all supporting documentation, e.g., authorizing resolution, project maps, letters of support, lab forms, etc., must be submitted. Your local biologist will review your pre-application; you may be required to attend a pre-application scoping meeting prior to the final application deadline by 11:59 p.m. on November 15.

*One method to resolve PDF problems such as the [Please wait…] error is to use IE mode in Microsoft Edge Chromium. Another option is to save a copy of the file to your device for offline use, then open the file with Adobe Reader. For more PDF troubleshooting tips, please click here. 

Click on the next section to access the Contact Information for this funding opportunity.

If you would like to confirm your organization’s eligibility for grant funding, contact:
your regional environmental grant specialist

For technical assistance in developing a project, contact:
your regional Lake, Streams or AIS biologist

For information on the surface water grant program, email:
DNR Surface Water Grant Program

For general information on DNR grant programs, contact:
CFA Bureau staff