National Estuary Program Coastal Watersheds Grant Program

In order to be selected for funding, projects must: • Clearly and explicitly demonstrate how it relates to and carries out the priority actions in one of the 28 NEP Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plans (CCMPs), or other existing State or locally approved community-based watershed management plan, the latter of which is a completed plan available to the public that: 1) contains actions that addresses urgent and challenging issues that threaten the ecological and economic well-being of coastal and estuarine areas as identified above; 2) demonstrates State and/or local buy-in and commitment to implement actions by the appropriate parties; and 3) applies to the eligible areas as defined above; • Demonstrate or inform on-the-ground or tangible quantifiable improvements to coastal and estuarine habitats and living resources, or in the conditions of coastal and estuarine waters in the eligible areas as defined above; • Clearly define roles, logistics, budget and financing, administration, and management activities for all involved organizations; • Be located in its entirely within one or more of the identified eligible geographic areas; • Be one to two years in length; and • Provide final results of efforts and report environmental results, which will be made publicly available.