Description
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) is issuing a FY 2027 Water Quality Monitoring Grant (WQMG) to fund external water‑quality monitoring, data‑collection, and capacity‑building projects that will enhance the state’s Clean Water Act reporting. Eligible applicants include tribal nations, non‑profit watershed groups, and coalitions capable of conducting field and laboratory monitoring, developing data‑management tools, and providing training during the FY 2027 period (July 1 2026 – June 30 2027). The grant offers $10 k–$50 k per award, with a total program ceiling of $200 k, and expects project completion by the end of June 2027. Applications must be submitted electronically by October 29 2026, with award notifications anticipated in January 2027.
• Eligible entities: Tribal nations, non‑profit watershed organizations, or eligible coalitions (municipalities are not eligible).
• Fundable activities: purchase of monitoring equipment, lab analysis fees, consultant services for data collection/management, staff salaries for project oversight, training/outreach, and development of long‑term monitoring networks.
• Exclusions: construction, enforcement‑related monitoring, academic institutions (except as subcontractors), and municipal entities.
• Required deliverables: approved MassDEP Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) before data collection, final close‑out memorandum by July 31 2027, and a data‑submission summary by November 18 2027.