The Michigan Clean Water Corps (MiCorps), a volunteer monitoring program network that collects and shares surface water quality data throughout the state, is accepting 2026 funding proposals for two grant programs.

Volunteer Stream Cleanup Program

A total of $25,000 (in increments of $500-$5,000) is available for grants to support local units of government in cleaning up garbage from Michigan’s rivers, streams, and creeks.

This program is funded by fees from the sale of Michigan’s specialty water quality protection license plates, available from the Michigan Secretary of State.

Volunteer Stream Monitoring Program

A total of $75,000 is available across three grant types for volunteer benthic macroinvertebrate monitoring and habitat assessment in wadeable streams and rivers. Benthic invertebrates are small, bottom-dwelling aquatic animals such as larval insects, snails, worms, and beetles. Local units of government, nonprofit organizations, and federally recognized tribes are eligible to apply for the following:

– Startup grants for organizations that seek to learn MiCorps monitoring protocols and set themselves up to submit successful implementation grant proposals in future years. A maximum of $5,000 per grant award is available for one-year projects.

– Implementation grants supporting volunteer training and macroinvertebrate data collection to assess water quality in support of state and local efforts to protect and manage water resources. Grants may fund a monitoring coordinator and/or buy water quality monitoring supplies. A maximum of $20,000 per grant award is available for two-year projects.

– Maintenance Grants for groups already monitoring with MiCorps procedures. A maximum of $3,000 is available to pay for staff time, equipment, and travel to MiCorps trainings and conferences.

The request for proposals for each of the grant opportunities can be found at MiCorps’ Stream Monitoring Grants and Stream Cleanup Grants webpages. All grants except startup grants require a 25% local match commitment.

Grant applications are due by 5 p.m. March 6, 2026. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. Direct questions about the application process to Dr. Paul Steen, Huron River Watershed Council, at 734-519-0449 or PSteen@HRWC.org; or Tamara Lipsey, Water Resources Division, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), at 517-342-4372 or LipseyT@Michigan.gov.

MiCorps is sponsored by EGLE and is administered in partnership with Michigan State University Extension, the Michigan Lakes and Streams Association, and the Huron River Watershed Council.