Support to Partners – Shenandoah River Watershed

The Support to Partners – Shenandoah River Watershed program is a funding opportunity established through a Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration settlement related to mercury contamination originating from the DuPont Waynesboro site. The program is administered under the authority of a Trustee Council composed of the U.S. Department of the Interior, acting through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Secretary of Natural Resources for the Commonwealth of Virginia. This initiative stems from a Consent Decree entered in 2017 and is guided by a Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment developed with public input to address environmental injuries and restore ecosystem services, particularly those affecting recreational fishing and river access. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to improve or create public access along the South River, South Fork Shenandoah River, North Fork Shenandoah River, the mainstem Shenandoah River, and their tributaries. The program prioritizes projects that enhance recreational fishing access, including boating, bank fishing, and wading, while also supporting related activities such as swimming and wildlife viewing. Projects may involve the development of new access sites or the improvement of existing facilities. In some cases, eligible work may include dam removal to expand river accessibility for recreational use. All proposed activities must align with the restoration goals outlined in the governing restoration plan. Funding is provided on a competitive basis, with awards typically covering up to 200000 dollars per project. The payment structure includes an initial disbursement of half the awarded funds, with the remaining balance paid upon satisfactory completion of the project. Eligible costs include land acquisition, planning, design, environmental and historic reviews, and construction. Projects must adhere to strict documentation requirements, including property surveys and compliance with state acquisition guidelines. Additional requirements include adherence to building codes, accessibility standards, and completion of federal environmental reviews such as those required under the Endangered Species Act. Eligibility for the program is limited to specific geographic and organizational categories. Eligible applicants include local governments within Augusta, Rockingham, Page, Shenandoah, Clarke, Warren, and Frederick counties, as well as cities and towns within those jurisdictions. State and federal agencies and nonprofit organizations are also eligible. Applicants may submit multiple proposals and may apply in successive years. However, projects will be disqualified if they are required by law, pose unmitigated environmental or health risks, or fail to meet regulatory compliance standards. The application process requires submission of project recommendations by October 1 each year. Proposals are reviewed annually by an oversight team selected by the Trustee Council using a scoring system developed by relevant state agencies. Successful applicants are typically notified by January 31 following the submission deadline. Selected projects must enter into a Memorandum of Understanding prior to implementation, which outlines responsibilities such as maintaining public access for at least 25 years, ensuring no user fees are charged, and completing construction within 12 months. Applicants must also demonstrate long-term stewardship of project sites, including maintenance and repair plans that meet Trustee standards. Projects offering permanent protection of public access areas are given higher priority during evaluation. Additional obligations include providing bilingual signage, securing local government support, and ensuring compliance with all permitting and inspection requirements. For further information or assistance, applicants may contact the program representative via email at Steve.Reeser@dwr.virginia.gov.

Emphasize long-term public access protection, document eligible costs clearly, show compliance with building and accessibility standards, and include strong maintenance and stewardship plans