SNEP Watershed Implementation Grants

Groundwork Rhode Island / Blackstone Park Conservancy / City of Providence | Stormwater Management in York Pond Watershed | $282,288

This Blackstone Parks Gateway project will improve stormwater management in Providence’s 400+ acre York Pond watershed, where untreated runoff drains into the Seekonk River, at the northern tip of Narragansett Bay. Existing storm sewers are inadequate to manage increasingly large and numerous storms. Even small events create widespread flooding in the watershed and send pollutants into these water bodies. Specifically, the project will complete plans for green infrastructure and depaving, and begin their implementation. In addition to improving water quality, the site will be highly visible and demonstrate the potential of green infrastructure for city residents and visitors.

Town of Coventry | Upper Dam Pond Restoration | $87,568

The Town of Coventry, in partnership with the Upper Dam Pond Conservation Association, will retrofit an existing stormwater outfall on Pond View Drive to reduce sediment and phosphorus inputs to Upper Dam Pond. The retrofit will use a multi-box, non-proprietary filter system with specialized filtration media to improve water quality and address nutrient-driven Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) impacts.

Town of South Kingstown | Green Hill Pond Water Quality Improvements | $250,000

This project executes the stormwater retrofits outlined in the Green Hill Pond TMDL and Nitrogen Reduction Implementation Project, targeting South Kingstown’s Green Hill Pond Watershed. Planned improvements include stormwater basins on Twin Peninsula Avenue, Green Hill Beach Road, and Matunuck School House Road, as well as catch basin infiltration trenches along existing roadways. The project also supports an ongoing public education initiative to engage local homeowners on the impacts of fertilizer, pet waste, and other residential practices on water quality, and to promote the use of rain gardens.

Pawtuxet River Authority | Fish Passage Engineering at Pontiac Dam (Cranston) | $150,000

The Pontiac Dam Fish Passage Project aims to restore anadromous fish access by removing the dam, which currently blocks passage from Narragansett Bay to the Pawtuxet River. Restoration will open 2.5 miles of river and approximately 35 acres of upstream habitat. To advance the project, PRA will update hydraulic models, conduct sediment and bathymetric surveys, perform scour analysis on upstream bridges, investigate a downstream pipe issue, and engage public, municipal, and agency stakeholders.

Town of Smithfield | Esmond Village Natural Infrastructure Park | $346,522

This project targets a highly impervious, flood-prone area near Waterman Avenue and the Woonasquatucket River, characterized by commercial and light industrial surfaces that contribute to flooding and water quality issues. The downstream river segment is impaired by fecal coliform, dioxin, mercury/PCBs, and low dissolved oxygen, impacting communities in North Providence, Johnston, and Providence. The project will identify and implement green infrastructure along Waterman Avenue to increase stormwater infiltration, reduce flooding, and treat runoff before it reaches the river, aiming to restore urban environmental resources and improve water quality.

City of Cranston | Natural Solutions for Flood Mitigation, Fenner Pond Watershed | $192,500

This project will develop a watershed-scale, nature-based stormwater management strategy for the 327-acre Fenner Pond watershed in Cranston, RI, a densely developed area with residential, commercial, and industrial land uses. The City will implement green infrastructure solutions, including pavement removal, subsurface infiltration systems, and wetland swale enhancements, to improve water quality, reduce flooding, and support climate resilience.

Massachusetts Grants

Nantucket Conservation Foundation | Windswept Bog Wetland Restoration| $200,000

The project will restore approximately 40 acres of Windswept Bog, a former organic cranberry farm located on the northeast end of Nantucket. This bog is part of a larger 231-acre conservation area protected by the Nantucket Conservation Foundation (NCF), which includes freshwater wetlands, hardwood forests, and upland grasslands. The 40 acres will be restored to healthy, self-sustaining natural wetlands, and integrate the restored wetlands into the broader landscape and watershed.

Buzzards Bay Coalition | Remediating Stormwater Pollution at Buttonwood Park Zoo (New Bedford) | $362,838

This project will install green infrastructure at three key catchment areas within Buttonwood Park Zoo to reduce high levels of bacteria and nutrients currently flowing into Buttonwood Brook. These pollutants directly impact freshwater, wetlands, and estuarine habitats, including historically productive shellfishing areas in Apponagansett Bay. The project offers a unique opportunity to restore one of Buzzards Bay’s most degraded coastal streams, which runs through its most densely populated areas.

Town of Yarmouth | Chase Brook Park Coastal Restoration | $434,230

This project will create a continuous waterfront park along the Route 28 commercial corridor, restoring natural ecological functions and improving public access to Lewis Bay for a  community in Hyannis. The effort includes invasive species removal, native plant restoration, and reestablishment of a resilient shoreline buffer to improve habitat quality and climate resilience. A pedestrian bridge over Chase Brook (funded through separate sources) will connect adjacent parcels and provide outdoor learning opportunities. The Hyannis Park Civic Association will support the development of educational materials focused on local cultural history, native ecosystems, and climate change impacts.

Barnstable Clean Water Coalition | Marston’s Mills Cranberry Bog Restoration | $200,000

This project will restore 17 acres of former cranberry bogs in Marstons Mills, where the Marstons Mills River flows through historic wetland areas altered in the 1850s. The project will test multiple non-traditional technologies to evaluate their effectiveness at reducing nitrogen loads under real-world conditions, generating the first in-field comparative data on nitrogen attenuation for cranberry bog restorations. In addition to supporting scientific research, the site will serve as a living laboratory for K–12 students in the Barnstable school system, offering hands-on STEM education and exposure to blue economy career possibilities.

Interstate Grant

New England Water Pollution Control Comm. | Community-Based Habitat Restoration: Water Chestnut Management in Blackstone & Ten Mile Watersheds, Phase 2 | $100,000

This project addresses the growing threat of invasive water chestnut in the SNEP region, which disrupts aquatic habitats, reduces biodiversity, and degrades water quality. Building on a previous SNEP-funded effort, the project will expand integrated management strategies through targeted chemical treatment and hand-harvesting in priority waterbodies, while engaging new communities in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. A one-day regional symposium will support knowledge sharing and collaboration, strengthening long-term management efforts and enhancing the success of future restoration projects.

SWIG24 is now closed for applications.

On February 15, RAE released the 2024 Request for Proposals (RFP) for SNEP Watershed Implementation Grants. This year, we expect to award about $2.8 million in funding for high-priority projects that restore clean water, healthy ecosystems and sustainable communities throughout Southeast New England. To see the kind of work that we fund, click the links to the left and check out prior year grants.

If you submitted a Letter of Intent (LOI) this year, we’ll notify you in May as to whether we’re requesting a Full Proposal for your project. Full Proposal applicants will receive additional guidance at that time.

Information, forms and templates needed to complete a Full Proposal application are here:

Southeast New England Program (SNEP) 2024 Watershed Implementations Grant RFP

Budget Table Template

Budget Narrative Form

Work Plan Form

Project Model Impact Template

Metrics Checklist

SWIG 2024 Budget Guide

 

For updates on the SWIG program and other funding opportunities, subscribe on this page.

Check Out Our Virtual Application Workshop!

Anyone interested in applying for a grant, particularly first-time applicants, should be sure to watch this webinar to learn more about the application process, how you can build a successful proposal, and other resources that you may need!