We are pleased to make available the 2024 Citizen Water Quality Monitoring Grant Program Request for Applications (RFA). The primary purpose of these grants is to provide funding for groups and individuals to monitor the quality of Virginia's waters. The grant can be used in a variety of ways, including purchasing water quality monitoring equipment, training citizen volunteers, lab analysis costs, and promoting stream monitoring efforts in locations where the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is not currently collecting water quality samples. Applications will be accepted no later than August 31, 2023. Funded activities may begin on Jan 1, 2024, once a contract with the agency is in place. Updates for this cycle include changes to the application package format and an expansion of Coordination Grant eligibility. 1. Mini-Grant: Maximum award up to $1,000. Open only to applicants who have not received a DEQ citizen monitoring grant in the previous three years. 2. Regular Grant: Maximum award up to $5,000. Open to any applicants who wish to apply but recommended for organizations already familiar with water quality monitoring. 3. Coordination Grant: Maximum award up to $11,000. Open only to applicants who meet at least one of the below tracks: a. Coordinate at least three monitoring organizations totaling 35 or more volunteers. Monitoring occurs at more than 50 sample sites covering at least three Virginia localities. OR b. Monitoring activities generate at least 1000 total Level II & Level III data points' with a least 500 of those being Level III data. Collaboration between state agencies and volunteer monitors is important in developing monitoring programs that enhance Virginia's ability to assess, protect and restore the Commonwealth's water quality. In addition to offering the Citizen Water Quality Monitoring Grant Program, DEQ also provides technical assistance with developing water quality monitoring programs and QAPPS. Questions regarding the Citizen Water Quality Monitoring program should be emailed to: citizenwater@deq.virginia.gov or you may call Meighan Wisswell at: (571) 866-6494. Funded activities may begin as soon as January 1, 2024, and must be completed by December 31, 2024. F
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