Small Watershed Grants Program

The Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed Grants Program promotes community-based efforts to protect and restore the natural resources of the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed. The program provides grants to organizations working to improve the condition of their local watershed while building citizen-based resource stewardship.

Specific Program Goals

While the overall goal of the Small Watershed Grants Program is to assist local communities with watershed protection, specific goals include:

• Supporting communities in developing and implementing watershed management plans.
• Encouraging innovative local programs or projects that improve water quality and restore important habitats within the Chesapeake Bay basin.
• Developing the capacity of local governments, citizen groups and other organizations to promote community-based stewardship and enhance local watershed management.
• Promoting a greater understanding of the Chesapeake Bay and the connection between the health of the Bay and condition of local watersheds.
• Strengthening the links between communities and the Chesapeake Bay Program.

Since 2000, the Small Watershed Grants program has provided $20.8 million to support 555 projects throughout the Bay watershed. Many of the grants awarded are modest; however, they are combined with the contributions of other partners, making possible projects that make a measurable contribution to communities.