The vision of the North Dakota NPS Program is to ensure that all state waters support their designated beneficial uses by reducing the impacts of nonpoint source pollution.

To accomplish the vision, the mission for the NPS Program is to implement a voluntary, incentive-based program that restores and protects the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of waters where the beneficial uses are threatened or impaired due to nonpoint sources of pollution. The following strategic goals describe the long-term outcomes that the North Dakota Nonpoint Source Pollution Management Program is working to achieve.

Goal 1: Water Quality Restoration and Protection

North Dakota’s surface and groundwater resources are restored and protected so that designated beneficial uses are fully supported and resilient to the impacts of nonpoint source pollution.

Goal 2: Watershed Planning and Management

Nonpoint source pollution in North Dakota is identified, understood, and addressed using assessment, monitoring, modelling, spatial analysis tools and data-driven watershed planning.

Goal 3: Local Capacity and Partnerships

Local partners, watershed organizations, conservation professionals, and communities have the capacity, technical support, and resources needed to successfully plan and implement watershed-based or impact focused nonpoint source pollution management projects.

Goals 4: Public Awareness

Producers, landowners, communities, and the public understand the causes and impacts of nonpoint source pollution and actively participate in protecting and improving water quality.

Goal 5: Nutrient Reduction and Landscape Management

Nutrient management and landscape practices across North Dakota are improved to reduce nutrient losses to surface and groundwater and to support the objectives of the North Dakota Nutrient Reduction Strategy.

Watershed projects funded through the NPS Program have a strong track record of improving water quality across North Dakota and nationwide. Progress and results from NPS-funded projects are tracked in the Grants Reporting and Tracking System (GRTS), a publicly accessible national database maintained by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In addition, many successful watershed efforts are highlighted through EPA’s Nonpoint Source Success Stories, which showcase real-world examples of waterbodies that have been restored or show measurable improvement as a result of sustained local action and implementation of best management practices.

EPA Approved NPS Success Stories

• Pipestem Creek
• Lake LaMoure
• Powers Lake
• Wild Rice River
• Thirty Mile Creek
• Upper Spring Creek

• EPA Watershed Academy
• Urban Runoff Factsheet
• Agricultural Runoff Factsheet
• Economic Benefits of Protecting Healthy Watersheds