Stream and Watershed Enhancement Grant - FY27

The mission of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) is to enhance public welfare through comprehensive planning, water supply allocation, and management of the water resources of the Susquehanna River Basin. Part of accomplishing this mission includes protecting and restoring fisheries, wetlands and aquatic habitat; protecting water quality and instream uses; and ensuring future availability of flows to the Chesapeake Bay. The Stream and Watershed Enhancement Grant program offers support to local organizations whose work is in keeping with SRBC’s mission. This Grant program offers funding for community-based environmental and water resources projects or events that improve, restore or protect our local watersheds. Projects examples: • Watershed education/outreach/support (operational or financial) • Watershed strategic planning and/or facilitation of planning efforts • Voluntary/citizen water quality monitoring support • Water resources youth education or activities • Water resources community education or activities • Instream and streamside debris management & collection • Water-based recreation opportunities • Livestock streamside-exclusion fencing • Restoration of overgrazed streamside lands or degraded streams • Headwater stream protection efforts • Climate change resiliency projects Eligible projects will successfully propose reasonable activities and outcomes that are focused on efforts that improve, restore or protect one or more watersheds within the Basin. Eligible projects may also propose support (operational or financial) for watershed outreach events in the Basin. The following entities are eligible to apply for a grant: 1. Watershed group – if unincorporated, must be organized with officers and bylaws 2. Educational program or school district 3. Non-profit/501c(3) or equivalent 4. Municipal or County Government The grant awards are capped at $5,000. Funds may be used for direct project implementation costs in addition to select indirect costs such as contracting services, expansion of partnerships, equipment rentals/purchase, and food purchasing for volunteer outreach events.

Funding is provided by the SRBC Sustainable Water Resources Fund. This is non-federal/non-state funding.

Webinars and Technical Assistance: SRBC will conduct a webinar to introduce the program on October 01, 2026. To register for either webinar, please send an email to grants@srbc.gov. SRBC offers technical assistance for the Grant application on the following dates: • September 24, 2026 • October 08, 2026 On those dates, a request for assistance can be directed to Erin Lynam (Policy Specialist) at 717-238-0423, ext. 1226 or elynam@srbc.gov. Response times may vary depending on the volume and types of requests received. Receiving technical assistance does not guarantee that an application will receive funding.

All projects must be within the Susquehanna River Basin and have significant ties to the water resources of the Basin, the lands that protect the Basin’s waters, and/or the communities tied to both. Eligible projects will successfully propose reasonable activities and outcomes that are focused on efforts that improve, restore or protect watersheds within the Basin. Eligible projects may also propose support (operational or financial) for watershed volunteer, membership, or outreach events in the Basin. Eligible projects proposed by applicants new to this Grant Program will be prioritized. The following entities are eligible to apply for a grant: 1. Watershed group – if unincorporated, must be organized with officers and bylaws 2. Educational program or school district 3. Non-profit/501c(3) or equivalent 4. Municipal or County government Ineligible costs include routine regulatory obligations, land development projects, lobbying, litigation, fees for securing other financing or associated with bad debts, interest on borrowed funds, illegal activities or substances, costs associated with personal expenses of board members and/or officers/staff, application preparation fees, and other costs incurred prior to the award of grant funds. Costs incurred prior to September 15, 2026 are ineligible.