DIVISION OF CONSERVATION SERVICES

Drinking Water Supply Protection Grant Program

Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs

Drinking Water Supply Protection Grant Program

Eligible applicants: municipal public water suppliers and districts

Eligible projects: land acquisition

Maximum award: $350,000

Reimbursement rate: 50%

Land acquisition – eligible interests

Fee simple Conservation

Restriction (CR) Watershed

Preservation Restriction (WPR)

3 Project types

1. Land to protect existing wells/intakesMust be in Zone I (pre-1990) II or III/

A, B, or C / IWPA

2. Land to protect planned new wells/intakesMust be in anticipated Zone and be

identified by appropriate planning process

3. Land to be used for groundwater rechargeMust have suitable location and soils

and be identified by appropriate planning process

Ineligible projects

Zone I designated after 1990 Land that is already protected Land that is already owned by the

municipality for any reason Land with inappropriate soils (recharge)

DWSP Grant pays for:

Acquisition Recording fees Title research and certification Property survey Baseline Documentation Report &

Land Management Plan

Application contents Appraisal

TWO appraisals if the first is >$750,000

Maps Itemized budget Project narrative Supporting plans and

documentation

Grant procedures All projects must have board of water

commissioners vote of approval for total cost Do not purchase property until after

contract execution Project-specific DEP approval is still required Contracts will be for fiscal year 2015 or 2016 Reimbursement payments are contingent upon

completing all requirements Only documented municipal/district

expenditures will be reimbursed

Evaluation criteria

DemographicsPopulation servedEnvironmental Justice

Resource ManagementRate of water use% unaccounted for waterWater rate structure

Project QualityImportance (differs by project type)Resource protection (current zoning, level of threat,

planned)

Size Public access

Post-completion Responsibilities All sites that receive DWSP funding

are protected by Article 97: land must remain as water supply land in perpetuity

Reasonable public access Maintain natural vegetation cover Sign

Other DCS Grant Programs LAND grant

For: conservation commissions Max award: $400,000

To: acquire land/CRs Application due: summer Landscape Partnership grant

For: conservation commissions, water Max award: $1,500,000

departments, non-profits, and state and Application due: summer/fall federal agencies

To: acquire 500+ acres land/CRs/APRs/WPRs Conservation Partnership grant

For: non-profits Max award: $85,000 To: acquire land/CRs Application due: summer

Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grantFor: conservation commission/parks depts Max award: $

varies To: acquire land/CRs; develop parks

About those other grant programs...

Partnerships are encouraged! Interests overlap

Opportunity for water suppliers to help shape the kinds of uses taking place in water supply areas

Celia Riechel(617) 626-1187 or celia.riechel@state.ma.us

Application materials available at: www.mass.gov/eea/dcs-grants or

www.comm-pass.com