New River Partnership Grants Up to 90% Federal Funding for Environmental Justice Communities in Five States

The newly proposed Connecticut River Watershed Partnership Act is setting up a major, voluntary conservation initiative across a five-state region: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Think of this as the federal government stepping in to coordinate a massive, comprehensive cleanup and resilience plan for the entire Connecticut River system, from the headwaters down to the Long Island Sound.

The Big Picture: Strategy, Not Regulation

This bill establishes the Connecticut River Watershed Partnership program, a non-regulatory initiative led by the Secretary of the Interior (specifically, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). Crucially, this program doesn’t impose new rules or fines on anyone. Instead, it’s focused on creating a unified strategy within 180 days that brings together federal agencies, the five state governments, Tribal organizations, and local groups to tackle shared environmental goals. The strategy focuses on a few key areas that hit close to home for anyone living or working near the river: improving water quality, restoring fish and wildlife habitats, and boosting climate resilience (SEC. 3(d)). For example, they want to support nature-based solutions—like restoring wetlands instead of just building higher seawalls—to help communities better handle flooding and rising sea levels.

Where the Money Goes: Targeted Grants

The real engine of this Act is the creation of the Connecticut River Watershed Partnership grant program (SEC. 4). This is a competitive, voluntary grant program designed to fund eligible entities—state and local governments, Tribal organizations, non-profits, and universities—to actually do the restoration work. If you’re a local land trust trying to restore a stream or a town looking to improve flood control, this is your potential funding source.

Here’s the part that matters for the budget: generally, the federal government will cover up to 75% of a project’s cost. But the bill explicitly prioritizes Environmental Justice Communities—neighborhoods with high populations of color, low-income residents, or Tribal members who already face disproportionate environmental burdens (SEC. 2). For projects specifically benefiting these areas, the federal share jumps significantly to 90% of the total cost. This is a clear move to direct resources where they are often needed most.

The Fine Print on Funding

While the 90% match for Environmental Justice Communities is a major benefit, there are a few interesting financial details. First, the required local share (the 25% or 10% match) can be covered by cash or in-kind contributions—meaning the value of donated land, materials, or volunteer labor counts (SEC. 4(d)). Second, the Secretary has the discretion to waive the local match entirely, up to 100% federal funding, if the grant recipient can demonstrate “major financial hardship.” While this flexibility is helpful for small, cash-strapped organizations, the bill doesn't define what “major financial hardship” actually means, leaving that determination up to the Secretary.

Another interesting provision is the option for the Secretary to delegate the management of this grant money to an outside organization, like the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (SEC. 4(e)). If this happens, that organization gets the money upfront and manages the investment and distribution process. This streamlines the funding process but shifts the day-to-day oversight away from direct federal management.

Finally, the bill authorizes necessary appropriations through Fiscal Year 2030, with a mandate that at least 75% of the funds must go directly to the grants and related technical assistance (SEC. 6). Importantly, this funding is required to supplement existing conservation money, ensuring it adds new resources rather than just replacing budgets that already exist.