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    The purpose of the Nonpoint Source Pollution (NPS) Grant Program is to provide financial assistance to projects which measurably preserve Montana's water resources. Projects must improve water quality or water quantity including stream flows and water storage in existing natural systems, such as riparian areas, floodplains, and wetlands.
    The next grant cycle will open on February 11th 2026. Please read the Program Guidelines before Applying. 
    NPS Program Guidelines (Link Coming Soon)
     
       

    Learn More

    Eligible Applicants:

    • Cities, counties, or other political subdivisions including: conservation districts, irrigation districts, and water/sewer/solid waste districts. 
    • Tribal governments in Montana
    • Divisions of state government (departments, agencies, boards, commissions)

    Eligible applicants for the Project Implementation Grants can also include non-governmental entities. 

    As defined in MCA 85-1-102(6)(a), "Private Person" means any individual, association, partnership, corporation, or other non-governmental entity.
    • Individuals/Private Person
    • Associations
    • Partnerships
    • Corporations

     

     

    Municipal Sewer Connections Grants 

    Project Implementation Grants 
    This grant opportunity is designed to offset or eliminate the cost of terminating individual or group septic systems and connecting into municipal sewer systems. The grant must directly offset costs for individual homeowners to connect. Projects must measurably eliminate or reclaim septic systems. NPS Project Implementation grants can fund on-the-ground projects that preserve water resources and provide benefits such as erosion reduction, water quality enhancement, and sediment reduction.

    Eligible Project Criteria 

    • Septic systems must be eliminated and reclaimed.
    • Grants to government entities must directly offset or eliminate costs for individual
      homeowners or businesses to connect.
    • Priority to connections projects that demonstrate septic risks to state waters.
    Example Eligible Project Activities
    • Stormwater system retrofitting, such as the design and installation of new stormwater control technology.
    • Stormwater reuse systems, such as rain gardens, rain barrels, constructed wetlands, vegetated swales, and filter strips designed to contain, treat and/or reuse stormwater that might otherwise carry pollutants to streams.
    • Streambank stabilization, stream channel and in-stream habitat restoration.
    • Wetland restoration, creation, or enhancement for the purpose of addressing NPS pollution.
    • Revegetation, such as Planting, protecting or reestablishing permanent vegetative cover in riparian or upland areas with the goal of reducing NPS pollution. Practice may include, but is not limited to seeding, sprigging, shrub planting, fencing to protect emerging or fragile vegetation, willow lifts, sod mats, overseeding, non-native plant removal, native plant reintroduction, riparian buffer creation, and replacement of annual plants with perennial vegetation.
    • Reestablishment of a stream's floodplain or reconnection to an abandoned floodplain, with the purpose of addressing NPS pollution. Practice may also include breaching, removal, or modification of dikes, levees, road bases, or railroad grades to allow streams to access or reestablish a floodplain.

    Grant Amounts 

    Municipal Sewer Connections Grants

    Project Implementation Grants 

    $100,000 per applicant

    No more than $5,000 per connection

    		 $50,000 maximum

    No match requirement for local governments.

    No match requirement for local governments.

    *Non-government entities must parodied a 50% cost-share. 

    Match Requirements

    DNRC Nonpoint Source Grants to a local government entity do not require financial match*. However, DNRC is required to evaluate each applications financial and technical feasibility which considers reasonable project costs and committed matching funds. Matching funds must be fully committed at the time of application.

    Ineligible Expenses

    • Program costs and/or indirect costs
    • Political lobbying or litigation
    • Land or property acquisition
    • Food or beverages
    • Activities that limit lawful access to property by (MCA-85-1-602(4))

    How to Apply 

    Submit applications through the online grant management system:  grants.dnrc.mt.gov 

    No application fees are required.

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

    Application Evaluation Criteria

    Municipal Sewer Connections Grants

    Project Implementation Grants 

    Renewable Resource Benefits:

    • Groundwater or surface water sampling data demonstrating evidence of septic pollution
    • Age or status (failing) of the septic systems that will be replaced
    • Number of septic connections/users
    • Water quality/value of the affected water source
    		 Renewable Resource Benefits:
    • Groundwater or surface water sampling data
    • Aquatic toxicity resolved
    • Water quality/value of the affected water source

    Public Benefits:

    • Human health and safety
    • Median Household Income of affected population
    • Potential water quality impacts to recreational water bodies (e.g., Is the water body on the 303d list by DEQ?)

    Public Benefits:

    • Human health and safety
    • Median Household Income of affected population
    • Potential water quality impacts to recreational water bodies (e.g., Is the water body on the 303d list by DEQ?)

    Financial Feasibility:

    • Financial feasibility considers the committed match in relation to total project cost. Committed cash match will receive a higher preference than uncommitted match or in- kind match.

    Financial Feasibility:

    • Financial feasibility considers the committed match in relation to total project cost. Committed cash match will receive a higher preference than uncommitted match or in- kind match.

    Technical Feasibility:

    • Quality of information in Preliminary Engineering Report (cost estimates, alternatives analysis, implementation plan and schedule, technical data)

    Technical Feasibility:

    • Quality of information in Preliminary Engineering Report (cost estimates, alternatives analysis, implementation plan and schedule, technical data)

    Public and Stakeholder Support:

    • Letters of commitment from the connections, minutes from town council meetings showing public comment and/or support.

    Public and Stakeholder Support:

    • Letters of commitment from the connections, minutes from town council meetings showing public comment and/or support.

    Review the NPS Grant Scoring Criteria at the end of the program guidance (LINK?).

    Grantee Information

    Start Up Information 

    1. Uniform Budget Spreadsheet - Excel Spreadsheet Form
    2. Scope of Work - Guidance Document
      • Planning Grant Scope of Work examples - Coming soon! 
    3. Funding Commitments - Guidance Document 
    4. Grant Management Plan
    5. *Conditions of Award as identified in your DNRC award letter

    Reimbursements 

    All reimbursements and reporting are submitted through the online grant management system, Submittable. 

    Reporting 

    Grant recipients are required to to DNRC during the term of the grant agreement. Reports will provide status information for each project implementation task and identify the reporting period. 

    Amendments 

    • DNRC Amendment Request Process - Guidance

    Contact Us

    Melissa Downing
    Melissa Downing 
    Program Manager
    Nonpoint Source Grants
    406-444-0697
    406-594-7348 (cell)
    melissa.downing@mt.gov