RDG Planning Grants

Eligible Applicants:

• Cities, counties, or other political subdivisions (e.g. conservation district, irrigation district, school district, water/sewer/solid waste district)
• Tribal governments in Montana
• Divisions of state government (departments, agencies, boards, commissions)

Eligible Project Types:

The RDG Program funds planning for the following project types:

1. Reclamation ($75,000):  Projects that repair, reclaim, and/or mitigate environmental damage to public resources from non-renewable resource extraction (mining, hazardous waste, and oil and gas).
2. Drought Management Plan ($50,000): Development of a drought management plan for a watershed or region of the state. Drought management plans must identify drought mitigation projects to implement.
3. Drought Mitigation Project Planning ($50,000): Planning for specific projects that address drought across a watershed, as the main purpose of the project. The project must be identified in an existing plan such as a drought management plan or a watershed management plan that ties the need for the project to the watershed or region.
4. High Hazard Dams ($75,000):  High hazard dam (Montana Dam Safety Act, MCA 85-15-106) projects that will mitigate damage to natural resources as a result of failure.  Planning grants must clearly demonstrate natural resource benefits.
5. Channel Migration Zone (CMZ) Mapping ($75,000):  Channel migration zone (CMZ) mapping projects that plan for large-scale flood assessment or other natural resource benefits to a watershed or region of the state. Projects must identify the natural resource needs of the area and include prioritization of projects benefiting natural resources. 
6. Other Crucial State Need ($50,000):  Projects that meet a crucial state need must prevent or eliminate severe and unacceptable damage to natural resources or capture extraordinary public benefit that would otherwise be lost.  They must have a regional, watershed, or statewide importance.  Public benefit from this type of project must directly relate to natural resources. 

Examples of Planning Projects include:

• Planning activities that lead to RDGP project grant application
• Site assessment, sampling and project design
• Feasibility or design studies 
• Groundwater Investigation 
• Research or technology demonstration 
• Grant writing RDGP Project Grants 

Grant Amount 

Grant amount determined by project type:  

• Reclamation  - $75,000
• Drought Management Plan -  $50,000
• Drought Mitigation Project Planning - $50,000
• High Hazard Dams - $75,000
• Channel Migration Zone (CMZ) Mapping - $75,000
• Other Crucial State Need - $50,000

How to Apply 
Please see our Program Guidance.  Submit applications through the online grant management system:  grants.dnrc.mt.gov 

Application Materials: 

• Program Guidance 
• Application Instructions (word) (pdf)
• Budget Table 1 
• Budget Table 2 
• Authorizing Statement 
• Environmental Checklist - See our Training and Education Page 

Application Review and Award 
DNRC solicits, evaluates, and ranks each application.  Funds are awarded based on rank and available funding.