New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection is awarding $9.95 million in grants to local government agencies, nonprofits, universities and other groups to fund projects to improve water quality and reduce the impacts of nonpoint source pollution from stormwater. The funding stems from a $10 million federal American Rescue Plan Act award to the state that was appropriated for the management and maintenance of lakes for recreation and conservation purposes.

Grant funds may be used to improve lake water quality, control nutrient levels to prevent future harmful algal blooms,…