Funding for WRAPS projects has been established through Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Section 319 and the Kansas State Water Plan; administered through the Kansas Department of Health & Environment’s Watershed Management Section. Annual investments in WRAPS total approximately $2 million (M).  Of this amount, about $0.6 M is derived from State Water Plan funds and $1.9 M from CWA section 319 funds.  Additional funds for Best Management Practices implementation come from programs of the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Division of Conservation as well as the Federal Farm Bill administered by the United States Department of Agriculture.  It is through collaborative watershed management that will allow Kansas to achieve improved water quality.

• Dept. of Agriculture – Division of Conservation (DOC ) – *Water Resources Program, NPS Pollution Program, Riparian Quality Enhancement Initiative,  Sediment & Nutrient Reduction Initiative, Streambank Protection Program.
• Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) – *Environmental Quality Incentives Program: Base and Water Conservation, Regional Conservation Partnership Program, Conservation Stewardship Program, Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative.
• KS Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism – *Habitat First Program, Pond Management Program, Stream Assessment & Monitoring Program.
• Farm Service Agency (FSA) – *Conservation Reserve Program

Grant Applications are submitted in the late fall online via the  Kansas Clean Water System (KCW). The KCW is a comprehensive application and grant reporting program that allows for prospective projects to apply for funds, and if awarded, manage the project online. As part of the grant conditions, periodic reports and affidavits of expenditures are required to be completed online.

The most recent Request for Proposals (RFP) occurred in 2019.  The grant applications cover a three year time period beginning July 1st following the RFP.  The last three-year application covered FY 2017 – FY 2019.  The next RFP is tentatively set for spring 2022.  To be eligible for WRAPS funding, each project must have a completed and approved 9-Element Watershed Plan.

The WRAPS Grant Application is a two-part process. Applicants submit a Proposal via the Kansas Clean Water System. Once all proposals are received, they are reviewed by the Work Group to determine if they qualify for WRAPS funds. Projects that qualify for funding are asked to proceed to the second part of the application process, which is to submit a Project Implementation Plan (PIP). This is a detailed application that specifies the goals of the project in detail, how and when the goals will be achieved and the estimated budget. PIP’s are typically due in the early spring, and are reviewed by the Work Group.