State and Federal Funding Sources for Water Protection

In this episode, Holly Welch speaks with Kara Goodwin and James Kilgo about innovative funding options available for Source Water Protection, a proactive approach to safeguard drinking water quality, and the areas through which water travels. Goodwin works with regional, state, and local partners at the EPA to integrate Source Water Protection across environmental programs. Kilgo is a water protection specialist with the South Carolina Rural Water Association, with experience working with water utilities, forest landowners, and watershed-based planning. They discuss the current fiscal challenges facing water utilities and the growing urbanization of forest lands, explaining emerging funds that support greener infrastructure and partnerships to facilitate those projects, including the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. Music by Chuck Leavell. Produced by Lee Schneider. Executive Producer: Judy A. Takats.

Links to a list of funding sources mentioned in the episode are below, provided by the Southeastern Partnership for Forests and Water.

Five General Funding Hubs and Publications

1. Resources for Funding Source Water Protection - https://www.epa.gov/sourcewaterprotection/resources-funding-source-water-protection

2. Environmental Protection Agency Source Water Protection Funding Website - https://www.epa.gov/sourcewaterprotection/source-water-protection-funding

3. Water Finance Clearinghouse (online search tool) - https://ofmpub.epa.gov/apex/wfc/f?p=WFC%3A12

4. Environmental Finance Center - http://efcnetwork.org/

5, The Nature Conservancy Water Funds Research & Field Guide - https://waterfundstoolbox.org/getting-started/key-readings

Eleven Other Funding Links

!, EPA Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) - https://www.epa.gov/drinkingwatersrf

2. Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) - https://www.epa.gov/cwsrf

3. NRCS Funding Programs including RCPP - http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/financial

4. US Forest Service Funding Programs - Forest Legacy Grant Program - https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/private-land/forest-legacy/program

5. Landscape Scale Restoration Grant Program - https://www.fs.fed.us/managing-land/private-land/landscape-scale-restoration

6. USDA Conservation Funding Programs - https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/conservation-programs/index

7. US Endowment for Forestry and Communities Funding RFP’s - https://www.usendowment.org/grant-rfps/

8. The Conservation Fund - https://www.conservationfund.org/our-work

9. Network for Landscape Conservation Catalyst Fund - http://landscapeconservation.org/catalyst-fund/

10. Sustainable Forestry Initiative - Conservation Grants: https://www.forests.org/conservationgrants/

11. Community Grants - https://www.forests.org/communitygrants/