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MassDEP outlines Section 604(b) grants to fund watershed planning
Summary
Megan Selby, the 604(b) grant coordinator, said the grants support watershed-based planning and work to identify causes of water-quality problems under the Clean Water Act and Massachusetts surface-water standards.
Megan Selby, the 604(b) grant coordinator, opened the presentation by summarizing the statutory purpose of the grants: "So, section 6 0 4 of the Clean Water Act provides grants to determine the nature, extent, and causes of water quality issues and develop plans to restore or protect water quality pursuant to the Clean Water Act and the Massachusetts Surface Water Quality Standards." Selby said the program will focus on watershed-based plans and EPA's nine required elements for impaired waters, and on alternative planning approaches for healthy waters.
The presentation emphasized that eligible work ranges from data gathering and assessment to modeling and best-management-practice (BMP) design. Selby noted that these activities are eligible on their own but are more competitive when paired with a formal watershed-based plan, which the agency will prioritize under the current funding round.
