EPA Wetland Program Development Grants: $15.7M Available Across Six Regions

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is offering approximately $15.7 million in Wetland Program Development Grants (WPDGs) across six EPA regions for fiscal year 2025. These grants provide funding for state, tribal, and local government agencies to develop and refine programs that protect, manage, and restore wetlands throughout the United States.

Wetlands play a critical role in flood control, water quality improvement, groundwater recharge, and habitat conservation. Through the WPDG program, the EPA supports on-the-ground efforts to build capacity for wetland protection at the state, tribal, and local levels. With funding available across Regions 1, 2, 5, 8, 9, and 10, this is one of the broadest EPA wetland funding opportunities available this year.

What Are Wetland Program Development Grants?

Wetland Program Development Grants are competitive awards from the EPA designed to help eligible organizations build and strengthen their capacity to protect wetland resources. The program supports the development, refinement, and enhancement of comprehensive wetland programs at the state, tribal, and local government levels.

The overarching goals of the WPDG program are to:

• Increase the quantity and quality of wetlands across the nation
• Conserve and restore wetland acreage to achieve no net loss of wetlands
• Improve wetland condition through monitoring, assessment, and adaptive management

Unlike project-specific restoration grants, WPDGs focus on building the programmatic infrastructure needed for long-term wetland protection. This includes developing regulatory frameworks, monitoring systems, mapping tools, and voluntary conservation programs that sustain wetland health over time.

Who Can Apply?

Eligibility for WPDGs is limited to government entities and intergovernmental organizations. The following types of applicants are eligible:

• State agencies - State environmental, natural resource, or water quality agencies with responsibility for wetland programs
• Tribal governments - Federally recognized Indian Tribes and Tribal agencies involved in wetland management
• Local government agencies - County, municipal, and other local government entities with wetland protection responsibilities
• Interstate entities - Organizations formed by agreements between two or more states to address shared environmental concerns
• Intertribal entities - Consortia or organizations formed by multiple Tribal governments for collaborative resource management

Nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, and private entities are not eligible to apply directly for WPDGs. However, eligible applicants may include subawards to these organizations as part of their project work plan.

What Activities Are Eligible?

WPDGs support a wide range of activities that contribute to building or enhancing wetland programs. Funded projects typically fall into several key categories:

Wetland Monitoring and Assessment

• Developing or improving wetland monitoring programs to track wetland condition and trends
• Conducting wetland assessments using standardized methods
• Building data management systems for wetland monitoring results

Wetland Mapping and Inventory

• Creating or updating wetland maps and inventories
• Developing GIS-based wetland data layers for planning and regulatory purposes
• Conducting landscape-level analyses of wetland distribution and connectivity

Wetland Restoration and Protection Planning

• Identifying priority wetland areas for restoration or protection
• Developing watershed-based wetland restoration plans
• Creating wetland conservation strategies and action plans

Regulatory Program Development

• Developing or enhancing state or local wetland regulatory programs
• Building capacity for wetland permit review and compliance
• Establishing wetland mitigation banking or in-lieu fee programs

Voluntary Conservation Programs

• Creating incentive programs for private landowners to protect wetlands
• Developing public education and outreach materials about wetland values
• Building partnerships with agricultural producers for wetland conservation on working lands

Regional Deadlines and Funding

Each EPA region administers its own WPDG competition with distinct funding levels, maximum award amounts, and application deadlines. Below is a breakdown of the six regions offering funding in FY 2025:

Region 5 (Great Lakes: IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI)

• Total Funding: $2,960,000
• Maximum Award: $500,000
• Application Deadline: April 6, 2026
• Opportunity Number: EPA-R05-WPDG-25

Region 2 (NY, NJ, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands)

• Total Funding: $1,730,000
• Maximum Award: $300,000
• Application Deadline: April 10, 2026
• Opportunity Number: EPA-R02-WPDG-25

Region 10 (Pacific Northwest: AK, ID, OR, WA)

• Total Funding: $1,860,000
• Maximum Award: $275,000
• Application Deadline: April 10, 2026
• Opportunity Number: EPA-R10-WPDG-25

Region 9 (Pacific Southwest: AZ, CA, HI, NV, Pacific Islands)

• Total Funding: $3,460,000
• Maximum Award: $500,000
• Application Deadline: April 13, 2026
• Opportunity Number: EPA-R09-WPDG-25

Region 8 (Mountain West: CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY)

• Total Funding: $2,930,000
• Maximum Award: $500,000
• Application Deadline: April 20, 2026
• Opportunity Number: EPA-R08-WPDG-25

Region 1 (New England: CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)

• Total Funding: $2,780,000
• Maximum Award: $350,000
• Application Deadline: April 24, 2026
• Opportunity Number: EPA-R01-WPDG-25

How to Apply

All WPDG applications must be submitted through Grants.gov. Each region has its own listing, so applicants should search for their specific region's opportunity number (e.g., EPA-R05-WPDG-25 for Region 5) to find the correct application package.

Before applying, organizations should take the following steps:

1. Verify SAM.gov registration - Ensure your organization has an active Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and current SAM.gov registration, as this can take several weeks to process
2. Review the regional NOFO - Each region may have specific priorities, evaluation criteria, and formatting requirements that differ from other regions
3. Develop a work plan - Outline the specific wetland program activities your project will support, including measurable outcomes and a realistic timeline
4. Prepare a detailed budget - Include all project costs with justification for each line item
5. Gather letters of support - Obtain letters from partner organizations, stakeholders, and other agencies that demonstrate collaboration and community buy-in
6. Submit before your region's deadline - Allow time for Grants.gov processing, as late submissions will not be accepted

How Avila Can Help

With six different regional competitions, varying deadlines, and distinct application requirements, applying for EPA Wetland Program Development Grants can be a complex undertaking. Avila's AI-powered platform helps state, tribal, and local government agencies streamline the grant application process by:

• Tracking federal grant opportunities like WPDGs and alerting your team when new funding becomes available
• Matching your organization's profile and priorities to the most relevant grant programs
• Generating draft narratives and work plans aligned with EPA evaluation criteria
• Managing deadlines and application requirements across multiple submissions

With the earliest deadline on April 6, 2026, now is the time to begin preparing your application. Contact Avila today to learn how our platform can help you secure funding to protect and restore wetlands in your community.

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