The Watershed Assistance Grant Program is a collaborative initiative between the Chesapeake Bay Trust, Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), and West Virginia's Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP). The program is designed to fund the early phases of watershed restoration efforts, such as project design and watershed planning. Its goal is to improve water quality in the entire state of Maryland and the West Virginia portion of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

The grants provided under this program are intended to help local governments, nonprofit organizations, and other eligible entities position themselves to swiftly implement watershed restoration work. Funding partners aim to facilitate the development of plans and designs that can be used to leverage further implementation funding from sources like the Maryland Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund or other grant programs. Additionally, the program supports the creation of deliverables that contribute to local planning efforts, such as Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Implementation Plans, watershed action plans, and State of Maryland Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan strategies.

### What is Funded:
1. Project Design: Grants of up to $100,000 are available for designing best management practices (BMPs) like bioretention cells, stormwater management practices, and agricultural BMPs. Additionally, grants of up to $150,000 are available for designing larger-scale restoration efforts, including stream restoration, wetland and marsh creation, and living shorelines.

2. Watershed Planning and Program Development: Grants of up to $75,000 are available for projects focused on planning and the development of programs to support watershed restoration and management.

### Eligibility:
Eligible applicants include:
- Municipal, County, and Regional Agencies
- Nonprofit Organizations
- Faith-based Organizations
- Community and Homeowners Associations (HOAs)
- Soil/Water Conservation Districts
- Forestry Boards
- Public and Independent Higher Educational Institutions

Applicants outside of these categories are advised to contact the Chesapeake Bay Trust to confirm eligibility before applying.

### Match Requirement:
Although matching funds are encouraged to strengthen applications, they are not required.

This grant provides an opportunity for eligible entities to fund the early stages of watershed restoration and position themselves for future implementation grants, ultimately contributing to improved water quality across the region.