319 Grant funding supports watershed restoration projects that reduce nonpoint source pollution in impaired waterways. Administered by state environmental agencies under Section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act, these competitive grants support streambank stabilization, sediment control, native plantings, and stormwater best management practices. In Illinois, the IEPA manages the 319 Grant program with funding from the U.S. EPA.
A3 Environmental Consultants (A3E) has direct experience winning and executing 319 Grant projects — from grant writing through design, construction oversight, and final reporting. This case study shows how a 319 Grant transformed a vulnerable rural watershed in Dixon, Illinois into a model of effective restoration.
Eroded streambank conditions before 319 Grant restoration
What Is a 319 Grant?
A 319 Grant is federal funding authorized by Section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act, directed at reducing nonpoint source (NPS) pollution — the diffuse runoff of sediment, nutrients, fertilizers, and animal waste that degrades surface water quality. Unlike point source pollution from pipes and outfalls, NPS pollution comes from broad areas: agricultural fields, construction sites, urban lawns, and eroding streambanks.
In Illinois, the IEPA administers the 319 Grant program. Eligible applicants include municipalities, counties, soil and water conservation districts, park districts, and nonprofit organizations. Projects must address waters listed as impaired on the state’s 303(d) list and provide measurable pollution reduction outcomes.
Federal funding typically covers 60% of project costs, with the applicant providing a 40% non-federal match (which can include in-kind services). Awards range from $100,000 to $1 million+ depending on project scope and watershed size. In Illinois, the IEPA typically releases a Request for Proposals once per year, with applications due in the fall. The review process takes several months, with awards announced the following spring. Successful applicants must demonstrate technical capability, community support, and a clear connection between proposed activities and measurable water quality improvement. Projects that build on existing EPA-approved watershed plans receive stronger consideration from reviewers.
Case Study: 319 Grant Restores Lost Lake and Babbling Brook
In a 10,000-acre rural watershed near Dixon, Illinois (41.8389°N, 89.4795°W), Lost Lake and its main tributary — Babbling Brook — were under severe ecological stress. Years of shoreline erosion, lawn runoff, fertilizer migration, and agricultural sedimentation had degraded water quality to the point of impairment.
A catastrophic 2009 storm event transformed the quiet creek into a 15-foot-wide torrent, wiping out banks, destabilizing infrastructure, and shocking the local community into action. The watershed needed professional intervention — and funding to make it happen. The Lost Lake Property Owners Association partnered with the Lee County Soil and Water Conservation District and A3 Environmental Consultants to develop a restoration strategy and secure funding through the IEPA. The application demonstrated clear connections between shoreline erosion, agricultural runoff, and the lake’s degraded water quality — exactly the kind of evidence-based approach that grant reviewers prioritize.
Completed streambank stabilization funded by 319 Grant
How A3E Delivered the 319 Grant Project
With 319 Grant funding secured through the IEPA, A3 Environmental Consultants designed and managed a comprehensive, multi-phase restoration. The scope included:
- Stabilization of over 800 feet of streambank using gabion baskets, riprap, articulated block, and vegetated buffers — each treatment selected based on hydraulic modeling and site-specific conditions
- Shoreline improvements across 70% of Lost Lake’s high-priority banks, reducing sediment loading and increasing shoreline resilience against future storm events
- Native vegetation installation including grasses and wildflowers to outcompete invasive reed canary grass and secure long-term slope stabilization
- Hydrologic and hydraulic analysis to match stream velocity with appropriate riprap sizing and slope geometry
- Coconut fiber core logs and biodegradable erosion control mats enabling successful plant establishment and sediment buffering during the critical first growing seasons
The project addressed pollution at its nonpoint source — upstream lawns, eroded banks, and agricultural runoff — rather than treating symptoms downstream. Multiple best management practices (BMPs) were deployed across several locations to maximize return on investment and environmental impact.
319 Grant Results and Outcomes
The restoration delivered measurable water quality improvements that met the 319 Grant program’s core requirements:
- Sediment reduction: Stabilized banks eliminated the primary sediment source feeding Lost Lake
- Nutrient retention: Vegetated buffers captured fertilizer and nutrient runoff before reaching the waterway
- Habitat improvement: Native plantings created riparian habitat for pollinators, birds, and aquatic species
- Community engagement: Multiple stakeholders — engineers, consultants, residents, and local government — participated in project planning and implementation
- Long-term resilience: Engineered solutions designed to withstand 25-year and 50-year storm events, preventing repeat of the 2009 catastrophe
- Cost-effectiveness: By combining multiple BMPs across the watershed, the project achieved greater pollution reduction per dollar than single-site interventions — a key metric the IEPA evaluates when scoring future applications
Native vegetation establishing through erosion control mat
How to Apply for a 319 Grant in Illinois
Securing a 319 Grant requires more than a good idea. The IEPA evaluates applications on technical merit, measurable outcomes, cost-effectiveness, and stakeholder engagement. Key requirements include:
- EPA-approved watershed plan: Most implementation projects require an existing watershed plan that identifies the impairment, sources, and proposed BMPs. A3E has authored seven watershed plans in northern Illinois, each receiving EPA approval.
- 303(d) listed waters: The target waterbody must appear on Illinois’ list of impaired waters
- Quantifiable pollution reduction goals: Applications must estimate sediment, nutrient, or pathogen load reductions using accepted models
- 40% non-federal match: Cash or in-kind contributions from the applicant
- Project management capability: Demonstrated ability to design, construct, monitor, and report on the funded work
The IEPA also looks favorably on applications that demonstrate community engagement, landowner participation, and coordination with existing local plans — comprehensive plans, stormwater master plans, or park district natural area management plans. Letters of support from local elected officials, conservation districts, and affected landowners strengthen applications significantly.
A3E supports the full grant lifecycle — from initial watershed planning through application writing, project design, construction management, BMP monitoring, and final closeout reporting to the IEPA.
A3E’s 319 Grant and Watershed Experience
A3 Environmental Consultants has been delivering watershed restoration and ecological services across Illinois since 2015. The firm’s 319 Grant experience includes:
- Seven EPA-approved watershed plans across northern Illinois counties including Winnebago, Boone, and DeKalb
- 319 Grant project design and construction oversight
- Stormwater management projects in Rockford and surrounding communities
- Stream restoration in Downers Grove (Prentiss Creek)
- Stream remediation in Belvidere
- Water quality reporting for the Rockford region
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a 319 Grant fund?
A 319 Grant funds projects that reduce nonpoint source pollution in impaired waterways. Common activities include streambank stabilization, riparian buffer installation, wetland restoration, agricultural BMP implementation, stormwater retrofits, and watershed planning. Both planning grants and implementation grants are available through the program. Planning grants fund the development of watershed plans that identify impairment sources and propose solutions. Implementation grants fund the construction and installation of best management practices identified in approved plans. Most communities start with a planning grant and follow up with implementation funding once the watershed plan is EPA-approved.
Who can apply for a 319 Grant?
Eligible applicants include municipalities, counties, townships, soil and water conservation districts, park districts, lake associations, and qualified nonprofit organizations. Private landowners typically participate through a governmental or nonprofit lead applicant. In the Dixon Lost Lake project, the property owners association worked through the Lee County Soil and Water Conservation District as the lead applicant, which is a common and effective approach for lake communities and rural watersheds.
How much funding does a 319 Grant provide?
319 Grant awards in Illinois typically range from $100,000 to over $1 million. The federal share covers up to 60% of total project costs, with the applicant responsible for a 40% non-federal match that can include cash contributions, in-kind labor, donated materials, or volunteer time.
How long does a 319 Grant project take?
Most 319 Grant projects run 2 to 4 years from award to final closeout. This includes design, permitting, construction, establishment monitoring, and reporting. Watershed planning grants may have shorter timelines of 12 to 24 months. A3E recommends building realistic timelines into applications — the IEPA is more likely to fund projects with achievable schedules than those that promise unrealistic delivery.
Does A3E write 319 Grant applications?
Yes. A3 Environmental Consultants supports municipalities and organizations through the full 319 Grant process — from watershed plan development (a prerequisite for most implementation grants) through application writing, project design, construction management, and closeout reporting.
Start Your Watershed Project
If your community or agency is facing erosion, nutrient loading, or stormwater degradation, the IEPA Section 319(h) program may be your funding solution. A3 Environmental Consultants has the grant writing expertise and technical capabilities to take your watershed project from concept through completion.
Contact A3E About Watershed Grant Funding →
Call us at (888) 405-1742 or email Info@A3E.com.
Reviewed by Tim Allen, A3 Environmental Consultants
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