Not-for Profit Acid Mine Drainage Watershed Cooperative Agreement Programs (WCAP) | S18AS00003

Opportunity Information: Apply for S18AS00003

The Not-for Profit Acid Mine Drainage Watershed Cooperative Agreement Programs (WCAP) is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Surface Mining, aimed at helping nonprofit organizations address acid mine drainage (AMD) and restore watersheds and streams damaged by past mining. The core purpose is practical, on-the-ground improvement of water resources and related community and ecological benefits, with an emphasis on restoring impacted streams to conditions that can support a diverse, healthy biological community and provide meaningful recreational use for the public.

This opportunity uses a cooperative agreement funding instrument, which typically means the agency expects to be involved in the project beyond simply providing funds, such as through technical collaboration, coordination, or oversight during implementation. The program falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category (CFDA 15.253), reflecting its technical focus on water quality and aquatic ecosystem recovery, even when projects are highly applied and field-based.

Eligible applicants are limited to nonprofits with IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education. In other words, the program is designed for mission-driven nonprofit groups that are positioned to lead watershed restoration work, coordinate stakeholders, and deliver measurable environmental improvements.

Funding details indicate an award ceiling of $100,000 per award, with an expectation of around 20 awards. The opportunity was posted on January 19, 2018, and originally closed on August 31, 2018, indicating a competitive grant cycle with multiple awards intended to support restoration efforts across different locations or watersheds.

The stated funding priorities and technical focus center on tangible restoration outcomes for AMD-impacted waters. The program emphasizes water quality improvement and pollutant reduction, including the removal or reduction of contaminants associated with acid mine drainage. It prioritizes stream segments being improved or restored, along with aquatic habitat improvements that help reestablish functioning ecosystems. Beyond chemistry and habitat, the program also highlights practical benefits such as improved public water supplies and improved fisheries, recognizing that AMD restoration can directly affect both human water uses and aquatic life.

In addition to environmental metrics, the WCAP description explicitly values community-facing outcomes. These include enhanced recreational opportunities (for example, improved conditions for fishing, boating, or streamside use), educational opportunities created through restoration activities, and aesthetic enhancements that make waterways and surrounding areas more attractive and usable. The program also calls out broader community benefits like local pride and community well-being, acknowledging that watershed restoration can strengthen local identity, partnerships, and stewardship.

The scope also extends beyond the stream channel to associated land restoration, which can include stabilizing disturbed lands, addressing erosion or sediment issues connected to AMD sites, and improving surrounding areas that influence water quality and habitat. Finally, the opportunity prioritizes eliminating health and safety hazards, recognizing that abandoned mine features and degraded sites can present physical dangers or ongoing environmental risks that restoration work can reduce.

Overall, WCAP is geared toward nonprofit-led, technically grounded AMD watershed projects that produce measurable water and habitat improvements while also delivering public benefits such as recreation, education, safer landscapes, and stronger community outcomes, supported through cooperative agreements of up to $100,000 each.

• The Department of the Interior, Office of Surface Mining in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Not-for Profit Acid Mine Drainage Watershed Cooperative Agreement Programs (WCAP)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.253.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jan 19, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 31, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

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