MassDEP Awards $200,000 in Water Quality Monitoring Grants
Summary
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) announced $200,000 in grants to five watershed coalitions for water quality monitoring. The funding will support surface water monitoring efforts in various regions across the state, benefiting disadvantaged communities and aligning with federal Clean Water Act requirements.
What changed
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has awarded $200,000 in Water Quality Monitoring Grants to five watershed coalitions across the state. Administered by MassDEP, these grants will fund surface water monitoring in rivers, lakes, ponds, and coastal resources, with a focus on projects benefiting Disadvantaged Communities. The funding supports activities such as water sample collection, training, and program establishment, contributing data that will aid MassDEP in implementing program requirements under the federal Clean Water Act.
While this is a grant announcement and not a regulatory mandate, regulated entities such as tribal nations and non-profit organizations involved in water quality monitoring should be aware of these funding opportunities. The grants aim to enhance collaboration and data collection for watershed management, particularly in light of climate change. The initiative also supports Governor Healey's Mass Ready Act, which includes investments in water monitoring and public health protection.
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Press Release
Press Release Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $200,000 in Grants to Help Watershed Coalitions Monitor Water Quality
For immediate release: 3/16/2026
- Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Media Contact
Fabienne Alexis, Public Affairs Assistant Director / MassDEP
Phone
Call Fabienne Alexis, Public Affairs Assistant Director / MassDEP at 857-274-7522
Online
Email Fabienne Alexis, Public Affairs Assistant Director / MassDEP at fabienne.alexis@mass.gov
BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced today $200,000 in Water Quality Monitoring Grant funding for five watershed coalitions across Massachusetts. Administered by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), these grants will support surface water monitoring efforts in rivers, lakes, ponds, and coastal resources in eastern Massachusetts, the Connecticut River Valley, and Cape Cod.
“MassDEP has long partnered with regional watershed coalitions and non-profit organizations to maintain a current assessment of the state of Massachusetts waterbodies,” said MassDEP Commissioner Bonnie Heiple. “This collaboration positions the Commonwealth to continue to be a leader in watershed management as we face a changing climate.”
The funding awarded today will be used for hands-on activities like collecting water samples, training local teams, and setting up ongoing programs to track water quality in the regions. The Water Quality Monitoring Grant program is designed to bring people and groups together, focusing on projects that are located in or will benefit Disadvantaged Communities. The program addresses surface water issues by testing water, talking with residents, and teaching people how to protect and improve their local water resources.
The Healey-Driscoll Administration is committed to strengthening water monitoring efforts across Massachusetts. Clean, safe water is a cornerstone of Governor Healey’s Mass Ready Act, filed in June 2025. The bill includes critical investments to expand water monitoring and protect public health, helping ensure that all residents have reliable access to clean water.
The water quality data from these efforts will help MassDEP to implement program requirements under the federal Clean Water Act. Grants are available to eligible federally or state recognized Tribal Nations within the Commonwealth and non-profit organizations, including watershed groups, lake and pond associations, and other organizations with expertise in conducting surface water quality monitoring.
The grant recipients and project awards are:
Connecticut River Watershed Council d/b/a Connecticut River Conservancy - $50,000
Organizations: Deerfield River Watershed Association, Fort River Watershed Association, Chicopee 4Rivers Watershed Council, Millers River Watershed Council, and X-Cel Conservation Corps
Buzzards Bay Coalition - $49,823Organizations: Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head Aquinnah Environmental Laboratory and Westport River Watershed Alliance
Ipswich River Watershed Association - $33,398Organizations: Parker River Clean Water Association, Chebacco Lake and Watershed Association, and Friends of Hood Pond, Inc.
Nashua River Watershed Association - $47,310Organizations: OARS 3 Rivers, Charles River Watershed Association, and Mystic River Watershed Association
North and South Rivers Watershed Association - $19,469Organizations: Neponset River Watershed Association and Cohasset Center for Student Coastal Research
For more information on this grant program, please visit the Water Quality Monitoring Grant program webpage.
Media Contact
Fabienne Alexis, Public Affairs Assistant Director / MassDEP
+
Phone
Call Fabienne Alexis, Public Affairs Assistant Director / MassDEP at 857-274-7522
Online
Email Fabienne Alexis, Public Affairs Assistant Director / MassDEP at fabienne.alexis@mass.gov
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
MassDEP's mission is to protect and enhance the Commonwealth's natural resources - air, water, and land - to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of all people, and to ensure a clean and safe environment for future generations. In carrying out this mission MassDEP commits to address and advance environmental justice and equity for all people of the Commonwealth, provide meaningful, inclusive opportunities for people to participate in agency decisions that affect their lives; and ensure a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.
Media Contact
Fabienne Alexis, Public Affairs Assistant Director / MassDEP
Phone
Call Fabienne Alexis, Public Affairs Assistant Director / MassDEP at 857-274-7522
Online
Email Fabienne Alexis, Public Affairs Assistant Director / MassDEP at fabienne.alexis@mass.gov
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