Drinking Water Source Protection Program

Water Supply Land Grant Program
GRANT ROUND ANNOUNCMENT

The Water Supply Land Conservation Grant Program allows the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services to make 25 percent matching grants to municipal water suppliers for the purchase of land or conservation easements critical to their water quality. These water supply lands must be currently unprotected and within the wellhead protection area for a groundwater source or within the source water protection area and within five miles of the intake of a surface water source.

DES currently has $1 million for this grant round and is soliciting eligibility applications for projects. Eligibility applications are due September 17, 2007. DES will notify eligible applicants by October 17, 2007 and final applications will be due November 30, 2007. Projects will then be ranked and applicants will be notified if they have been selected for funding.

The state grants must be matched 75 percent from local sources. These match sources can include donated land or easements that are also within the source water protection area, public funds, transaction expenses, or private funds. Also, there is a low interest loan fund available from DES that may be used to finance the match.

More information about these grants and application forms can be found at the DES website www.des.nh.gov/dwspp/acqui.htm or by contacting Holly Green at (603)271-3114 or hgreen@des.state.nh.us.

Please contact us if you interested in applying for this funding opportunity!