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Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 106 Tribal Program (EPA Region 10) - FY 2026

Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
CFDA: 66.419, 66.605
Office: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10
Multipart Grant: No
Next Due: 01/21/2025 (Due Date)
Solicitation Date: Unknown
   
Match Required: No
Actual Funds: $4,000,000 (Estimated)
Summary:

The purpose of this program is to support the maintenance of adequate measures for prevention and control of surface and groundwater pollution from point and nonpoint sources. Funding may be used for water quality management program activities, as well as for participation in program activities related to the restoration of impaired watersheds, such as total maximum daily loads (TMDLs), implementation of integrated wet-weather strategies in coordination with nonpoint source programs, and development of source water protection programs.

Examples of eligible water quality management program activities include:

  • Watershed assessments
  • Water quality planning
  • Standards development
  • Monitoring and assessments
  • Inspections and enforcement
  • Permitting
  • Training
  • Advice and assistance to local agencies
  • Public information

Additional examples of eligible activities include:

  • Hiring program staff and purchasing equipment and supplies
  • Developing water quality and geographic information system databases to track changes in water quality and ensure consistency in data management
  • Conducting training and educational outreach to tribal members
  • Identifying nonpoint sources of pollution
  • Determining the effectiveness of nonpoint source projects or best management practices

Refer to pages 2-3 of the FAQ file for additional information regarding eligible activities.

Awards will likely be included in performance partnership grants (PPGs), which combine funds from two or more environmental program awards into a single award with a single budget. Refer to page 3 of the NOFA file for additional information.

Eligibility is limited to applicants located within EPA Region 10, which consists of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Refer to the Eligibility section for additional information.

Eligibility Notes:

Eligible applicants are the 40 tribes located within EPA Region 10, which consists of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, that meet the requirements for treatment in a manner similar to a state (TAS) under the CWA. Refer to the FundingEstimates file for a list of the eligible tribes.

Applicants must:

  • Be federally recognized by the Secretary of the Interior
  • Have a governing body carrying out substantial governmental duties and powers
  • Exercise tribal functions pertaining to the management and protection of water resources that are held by an Indian tribe, held by the United States in trust for Indians, held by a member of an Indian tribe if such property interest is subject to a trust restriction on alienation, or otherwise within the borders of an Indian reservation
  • Be capable of carrying out the functions to be exercised in a manner consistent with the terms and purposes of the CWA and all applicable regulations

Intertribal consortia that are comprised of two or more tribes and that are authorized by the governing bodies of those tribes are also eligible to apply; however, each consortia member must have received TAS.

Projects must take place within a reservation or on lands held in trust for the tribe, or must impact waters upstream of these areas. Applicants proposing to use funds outside of these areas must explain in their work plan the relationship of their project to waters on the reservation or tribal trust lands. If funds are being used for purposes beyond the reservation or tribal trust land boundaries, applicants must obtain the necessary access agreement or permission from the appropriate jurisdiction to conduct the activity.

Eligible Applicants:
Consortia
Native American Tribe
Application Notes:

Mandatory draft work plans and budgets must be received by January 21, 2025.

Draft work plans and budgets must be emailed to the appropriate project officer listed on page 6 of the NOFA file.

Draft work plans and budgets must include:

  • Tasks and activities and a list of parameters used to for measurement
  • Assurance that activities are aligned with the applicant's monitoring strategy
  • Deliverables or products
  • Environmental results
  • Timeline
  • Geographic location
  • Date of most recent quality assurance project plan (QAPP)
  • Detailed budget
  • Indirect cost rate policy (if applicable)

To expedite the application review process, applicants have the option to use the standardized work plan template, which is attached as the WorkPlanTemplate file.

After successfully negotiating the work plan and budget with their project officer, applicants will submit their completed applications.

Refer to the NOFA, Checklist, and WorkPlanTemplate files for additional application information.

Match Required: No
Actual Funds: $4,000,000 (Estimated)
Match Notes:

Matching funds are not required for this program; however, applicants may provide a voluntary match.

Funding Notes:

An estimated $4 million is expected to be available to support up to 40 awards through this program. Refer to the FundingEstimates file for a list of the preliminary funding estimates available for each eligible tribe.

Awards are expected to be issued by September 30, 2025.

Work plans will begin on or after October 1, 2025. Projects periods may span up to two years, or even up to four years. Applicants should contact the appropriate project officer listed on page 6 of the NOFA file with any questions regarding the duration of the work plan.

Funds may not be used for:

  • Construction, operation, or maintenance of wastewater treatment plants or drinking water systems
  • Required water quality monitoring or sampling activities for facility permit compliance purposes
  • Costs financed by other federal grants
Contacts:

Krista Mendelman
Section 106 Tribal Coordinator
(206) 553-1571
mendelman.krista@epa.gov

Agency Address
EPA Region 10
Park Place Building
1200 6th Ave.
Seattle, WA 98101

Contact Notes:

Questions should be directed to Krista Mendelman or to the appropriate program contact listed on page 6 of the NOFA file.

Draft work plans and budgets must be emailed to the appropriate project officer (PO) listed on page 6 of the NOFA file.

The agency address provided is for reference purposes only.

Files:
NOFA File: US16062_NOFA_FY2026.pdf (308.4 Kb)
Other Pre-Award File: US16062_FundingEstimates_FY2026.pdf (118.5 Kb)
Other Pre-Award File: US16062_Checklist_FY2026.pdf (132.3 Kb)
Other Pre-Award File: US16062_WorkplanTemplate_FY2026.pdf (23.7 Kb)
Guide File: US16062_Guide_FY2026.zip (3.8 Mb)
Other Pre-Award File: US16062_FAQ_FY2026.pdf (207.2 Kb)
File Notes:

The NOFA file contains the full solicitation for this program. The Guide folder contains detailed program information. The FundingEstimates file contains a list of the preliminary funding estimates for this program. The Checklist file contains a checklist that applicants may use when developing their work plan. The WorkPlanTemplate file contains a standardized work plan template that applicants may use to help expedite the application review process. The FAQ file contains a list of answers to frequently asked questions regarding the federal Section 106 program.

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Grant Categories
Training & Vocational Services
Environment/Natural Resources
Water Supply/Quality