Small municipalities in Massachusetts faced a challenge when trying to address water pollution caused by nonpoint sources (NPS). Many lacked the financial and technical capacity needed to develop watershed-based plans and prepare competitive grant proposals for projects aimed at restoring impaired waters.
The challenge was significant because implementation projects supported by Clean Water Act Section 319(h) funds must be guided by a watershed plan. As communities struggled to meet that requirement, MassDEP received fewer project proposals.
