DIVISION OF CONSERVATION SERVICES
Drinking Water Supply Protection Grant Program
Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Drinking Water Supply Protection Grant Program
Eligible applicants: municipal public water suppliers and districts
Eligible projects: land acquisition
Maximum award: $350,000
Reimbursement rate: 50%
Land acquisition – eligible interests
Fee simple Conservation
Restriction (CR) Watershed
Preservation Restriction (WPR)
3 Project types
1. Land to protect existing wells/intakesMust be in Zone I (pre-1990) II or III/
A, B, or C / IWPA
2. Land to protect planned new wells/intakesMust be in anticipated Zone and be
identified by appropriate planning process
3. Land to be used for groundwater rechargeMust have suitable location and soils
and be identified by appropriate planning process
Ineligible projects
Zone I designated after 1990 Land that is already protected Land that is already owned by the
municipality for any reason Land with inappropriate soils (recharge)
DWSP Grant pays for:
Acquisition Recording fees Title research and certification Property survey Baseline Documentation Report &
Land Management Plan
Application contents Appraisal
TWO appraisals if the first is >$750,000
Maps Itemized budget Project narrative Supporting plans and
documentation
Grant procedures All projects must have board of water
commissioners vote of approval for total cost Do not purchase property until after
contract execution Project-specific DEP approval is still required Contracts will be for fiscal year 2015 or 2016 Reimbursement payments are contingent upon
completing all requirements Only documented municipal/district
expenditures will be reimbursed
Evaluation criteria
DemographicsPopulation servedEnvironmental Justice
Resource ManagementRate of water use% unaccounted for waterWater rate structure
Project QualityImportance (differs by project type)Resource protection (current zoning, level of threat,
planned)
Size Public access
Post-completion Responsibilities All sites that receive DWSP funding
are protected by Article 97: land must remain as water supply land in perpetuity
Reasonable public access Maintain natural vegetation cover Sign
Other DCS Grant Programs LAND grant
For: conservation commissions Max award: $400,000
To: acquire land/CRs Application due: summer Landscape Partnership grant
For: conservation commissions, water Max award: $1,500,000
departments, non-profits, and state and Application due: summer/fall federal agencies
To: acquire 500+ acres land/CRs/APRs/WPRs Conservation Partnership grant
For: non-profits Max award: $85,000 To: acquire land/CRs Application due: summer
Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grantFor: conservation commission/parks depts Max award: $
varies To: acquire land/CRs; develop parks
About those other grant programs...
Partnerships are encouraged! Interests overlap
Opportunity for water suppliers to help shape the kinds of uses taking place in water supply areas
Celia Riechel(617) 626-1187 or [email protected]
Application materials available at: www.mass.gov/eea/dcs-grants or
www.comm-pass.com