The Nonpoint Source Program was initially established on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation on October 1, 2004. The Environmental Department, however, has been dealing with nonpoint source pollution problems since the early 1900's with the inception of gold mining in the Little Rocky Mountains. In order to become eligible for the Nonpoint Source Program, the Tribes initially had to develop a Nonpoint Source Assessment Report and Nonpoint Source Management Plan, which were completed in 2002. Upon completion of these two documents, the Tribes were then able to apply for Tribal Eligibility Determination for the Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 319 Nonpoint Source Program. In December 2003, the Tribes completed the documents necessary to seek Tribal Eligibility Determination, formerly called "Treatment as a State," for the Nonpoint Source Management Program for grant purposes. On January 7, 2004, the Gros Ventre and Assiniboine Tribes of the Fort Belknap Indian Community were informed by the U.S. EPA Region VIII Regional Administrator that the Tribes met the requirements under Section 518(e) of the Clean Water Act (CWA), and were now eligible to compete for funding available under Section 319 of the CWA. The Tribes applied for Section 319 funding for FY 2005, and were awarded funding for the Nonpoint Source Program on September 14, 2004.