Geographic Programs - Chesapeake Bay Program Signatory Implementation and Monitoring Grants

The Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure and unique as North America's largest and most biologically diverse estuary. The EPA's Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) awards annual grants to signatory jurisdictions of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement to support activities to restore and protect the Chesapeake Bay. Current signatories of the Watershed Agreement include the District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. These grants are generally awarded non-competitively to signatories through allocation formulas provided in program guidance. Under this program, EPA awards two types of grants: 1) jurisdiction implementation grants, which support a signatory jurisdiction�s efforts to advance progress toward meeting commitments under the Watershed Agreement and subsequent amendments; and 2) monitoring grants, which support assessment of changes to water quality and living resources over time. More information regarding the Chesapeake Bay Program and the Watershed Agreement can be found at https://www.chesapeakebay.net/.

Funding criteria is provided in annual program guidance located at: https://www.epa.gov/grants/chesapeake-bay-program-grant-guidance.

Under Section 117(e)(1)(A) and 117(e)(1)(B), respectively, signatory jurisdictions applying for implementation and monitoring grants must commit to a 50 percent (1:1) cost share. Projects funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) may receive a waiver of the cost matching requirements, subject to the approval of the EPA Regional Administrator.

Fiscal year 2025: EPA continued to award non-competitive grants to signatory jurisdictions of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, including additional investments made available as a result of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Examples of activities funded include but are not limited to: development of local Watershed Implementation Plans (WIPs), implementation of best management practices (BMPs), training and technical assistance for local service providers and implementation partners, collection and analysis of BMP and water quality data, municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) and concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) permitting and inspections, development of compliance assurance manuals and plans, and trend analysis of nutrient and sediment loads in tidal and non-tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay.