Federal Natural Resources Grants

This grant provides funding to various organizations, including governments and nonprofits, to support projects that protect and restore wetlands and upland habitats, benefiting migratory bird populations across the United States.

This grant provides funding for state, local, and tribal governments, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations to promote ecological restoration and biodiversity through the use of native plant materials in Alaska.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for research projects aimed at improving earthquake safety and preparedness across the United States, targeting a wide range of eligible applicants including universities, nonprofits, and local governments.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for projects that conserve and restore rangelands in Oregon and Washington, focusing on climate resilience and environmental health, and is open to state, local, and tribal governments, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations.

This grant provides financial and technical support to conservation partners, including state and Tribal agencies and nonprofits, for projects that restore and protect coastal fish and wildlife habitats, focusing on priority species and ecosystems.

This program provides financial assistance to states, territories, counties, and tribal organizations to establish and improve veterans cemeteries, ensuring dignified burial options for veterans and their families.

Funding Opportunity Description.The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is one of the largest federal providers of outdoor recreation in the country with over 270 million visits annually at over 400 locations across the United States. USACE locations vary in size and description, ranging from small lakes and river projects to massive hydropower and multi-purpose dam sites. Many of these sites contain campgrounds, picnic areas, beaches, visitor centers, trail systems and various other recreation components. In addition, USACE is responsible for the conservation and stewardship of over 12 million acres of lands and waters.This award will be made in compliance 32 CFR Chapter I Subchapter C, DoD Grant and Agreement Regulations (DoDGARS), Title 2 of the CFR, Grants and Agreements, under the authority of 33 USC 2339 (a) codified by Section 213(a) of the Water Resources Development Act of 2000 which states: Conservation and Recreation Management To further training and educational opportunities at water resources development projects under the jurisdiction of the Secretary (of the Army), the Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with non-Federal public and non-profit entities for services relating to natural resources conservation or recreation management. Award Information. Type of Award Instrument. USACE intends to award a single Master Cooperative Agreement, (Master Agreement), to one Recipient. The Master Agreement is anticipated to include one (1) 12-month base year and four (4) subsequent optional follow-on years, each optional follow-on year is to be exercised at the discretion of the Government. Individual WOAs will be executed on an as needed basis and will include a base period (up to or less than a 12-month performance period) and may include optional follow-on periods (up to or less than a 12-month performance period), each optional follow-on period to be exercised at the discretion of the Government.Period of Performance. The term of the Master Agreement will be for a 12-month base year and four subsequent follow-on optional years according to the effective date of the Master Agreement, anticipated to be 1 February 2025. WOAs will have project and budget periods (to include a base period and may include optional follow-on periods) that are specific to the requirement and available funding. Estimated Funding. Minimum funding presently available for the Master Agreement base year (via an executed and funded WOA) is $3,000. If subsequent follow-on optional years are exercised, at the discretion of the Government, each follow-on year will have a minimum guaranteed award amount of $3,000 (at some point during that years performance period). The minimum award amount means that the Governments liability for execution of a WOA is limited to $3,000 during each Master Agreement follow-on year. In the event that WOAs executed and funded during the Master Agreements follow-on year do not total $3,000, the difference between the total of the funded WOAs for work during the applicable follow-on year and $3,000 will be awarded and funded on a minimum guarantee WOA by which the Recipient may submit a request for payment. Submission Instructions. Applications shall be received: NO LATER THAN 12 PM CENTRAL TIME, 16 JULY 2024 Applications received after the due date will not be considered. Submit proposals via email directly to:Sandy JustmanGrants Specialist USACE, Fort Worth Districtsandra.justman@usace.army.milSheri Vendemia Grants Specialist USACE, Fort Worth District cheryl.r.vendemia@usace.army.milInquiries. Inquiries shall be submitted via email to the Point of Contact (POC) in 6.4, no later than the established due date indicated. Questions relating to Grants.gov including the registration process and system requirements should be directed to Grants.gov. Contact Center at 1-800-518-4726. See the Full Funding Opportunity Announcement found on the Related Tab

Multistate Conservation Grants are authorized under 16 U.S.C. 669h-2 and 16 U.S.C. 777m, providing funding for wildlife restoration and sport fish restoration projects and recruitment, retention and reactivation (R3) projects that address regional or national priority needs of State fish and wildlife agencies and their partners that are beyond the scale, scope, and capabilities of a single State. The priority needs, also known as Strategic Priorities, are identified annually by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) with input from State fish and wildlife agencies and their partners. Recipients awarded Traditional Multistate Conservation Grants (T-MSCG) may use the funds for wildlife or sport fish projects involving research, restoration, conservation and management of wild birds, wild mammals, sport fish, and their habitats. These funds may also be used for projects providing for public use and benefit from these resources, including hunter safety and education, aquatic education, angler R3 projects and other purposes consistent with the enabling legislation. Recipients awarded under R3 Multistate Conservation Grants (R3-MSCG) can only use the funds for hunter recruitment and recreational shooter recruitment projects that promote a national hunting and shooting sport recruitment program, including related communication and outreach activities.

Notice of Funding Opportunity Summary This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO) is being released prior to appropriation and/or apportionment of funds for fiscal year 2024. Enactment of additional continuing resolutions or an appropriations act may affect the availability or level of funding for this program. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), an agency under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is announcing the potential availability of funding for agreements for the purpose of leveraging NRCS resources, addressing local natural resource issues, encouraging collaboration and developing state-and-community-level conservation leadership. Proposals must be for projects based in Iowa and focus on conservation issues. Collaborative projects that provide on-the-ground support for Iowa NRCS Field Offices are highly encouraged. Research proposals will not be accepted, nor considered. NRCS anticipates that the amount available for support of this program in FY 2024 will be up to $5,000,000.00, however, budget constraints may prevent NRCS from funding 2024 proposals. Proposals are requested from City or township governments, county governments, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, state governments, nonprofits having a 501 (c)(3) status with the IRS (other than institutions of higher education), or institutions of higher education for competitive consideration of awards for projects between 2 and 5 years in duration. Awarded organizations may be required to present project updates in the form of a formal presentation to the Iowa NRCS Leadership. Organizations may use this opportunity to request additional funding for existing Iowa IPC agreements. For new users of Grants.gov, see Section D. of the full Notice of Funding Opportunity for information about steps required before submitting an application via Grants.gov. Key Dates Applicants must submit their applications via Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on May 7th, 2024. For technical issues with Grants.gov, contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov. Awarding agency staff cannot support applicants regarding Grants.gov accounts. For inquiries specific to the content of the NFO requirements, contact the federal awarding agency contact (section G of this NFO). Please limit questions to those regarding specific information contained in this NFO (such as dates, page numbers, clarification of discrepancies, etc.). Questions related to eligibility, or the merits of a specific proposal will not be addressed. The agency anticipates making selections by June 7th, 2024, and expects to execute awards by September 16, 2024. These dates are estimates and are subject to change.

This grant provides funding to state and local governments in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania to permanently protect land and natural resources in the Highlands Region through land acquisition from willing sellers.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to state, Tribal, and local governments, as well as educational institutions, to develop and improve wetland management programs in New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

This grant provides financial support to state agencies in the Rocky Mountain region for conservation projects that help protect and recover threatened and endangered species.

This funding opportunity provides financial assistance to small U.S. local governments for acquiring specialized firefighting equipment to improve their wildfire response capabilities.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to land-grant universities and state-supported institutions with forestry programs to develop extension projects that enhance the management and sustainability of forest and rangeland resources across the U.S.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for organizations affiliated with the Gulf Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit to advance drone-based remote sensing technologies for monitoring river discharge and improving hydrologic data collection.

This grant provides funding for conservation research and species monitoring at a military training center in California, aimed at protecting various threatened and endangered wildlife species.

The Red Bluff Fish and Wildlife Office (RBFWO), Central Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA) Program is soliciting proposals for the completion of a Feasibility Study to assess potential solutions to increase available floodplain habitat in the lower Feather River corridor through Nelson Slough and contribute to improved quality of juvenile salmonid rearing habitat through increased production and availability of food resources. The project location is in the California Department of Fish and Wildlifes Feather River Wildlife Area Nelson Slough Unit. Scope of WorkThis award will provide funds for a work effort consisting of identification, development and feasibility of a floodplain connectivity solution in Nelson Slough primarily benefiting juvenile salmonids. This will include facilitating meetings with the Technical Advisory Committee, composing of members from United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), National Marine Fisheries Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and California Department of Water Resources (CDWR). The USFWS and Project Management Team intend to use information collected from this study to develop a future habitat restoration project at this site. The project tasks and applicant responsibilities are the following: Information gathering and site reconnaissance; Project Management;Data Collection and Evaluation; Develop a multi-dimensional hydrodynamic flow model to assess floodplain inundation frequencies; Develop a sediment transport model; Landowner access; Facilitate, plan, and provide notes from Technical Advisory Committee meetings; andDevelop juvenile salmonid habitat alternatives (i.e., restoring natural processes, side-channel creation through historic oxbow, floodplain connectivity, etc.).Project The CVPIA SIT and Core Team recommended increasing access to juvenile rearing habitat in lower Feather River and Sutter Bypass and identified it as a high priority for FY2020 (2019 Tech Memo). The project will continue to be funded for planning and analysis in FY2025 with potential construction and implementation in FY2026. The proposed project completes a feasibility study to develop and evaluate potential restoration actions at the Nelson Slough Wildlife Area Unit to increase the frequency with which floodplain habitat is inundated. The project would be located on CDFW property at the confluence of the lower Feather River corridor and the Sutter Bypass near Nelson Slough.The project may include lowering and widening an existing slough within setback levees in the lower Feather River corridor downstream of Highway 99 and tying this into the Sutter Bypass; creating multiple swales within the area; and/or lowering the floodplain terrace. This would allow Feather River basin water to flow into the Sutter Bypass with much greater frequency than under current conditions, thereby connecting remnant floodplain (including an abandoned oxbow from the Feather River) in the lower Feather River corridor with existing floodplain in the Sutter Bypass. Nelson Slough, a 750-acre unit of the Feather River Wildlife Area, is adjacent to more than 3,500 acres of conservation properties along the Feather River and approximately 4,500 acres of conservation properties within the Sutter Bypass. The project could increase floodplain habitat available to Feather, Yuba, and Bear River salmonids by up to 1,000 acres or more under certain flow conditions. Additional floodplain inundation resulting from this project could provide rearing benefits to Sacramento River origin juvenile winter and spring-run Chinook salmon, juvenile Butte Creek spring-run Chinook salmon in the Sutter Bypass, Feather River basin spring-run Chinook salmon, as well as Central Valley steelhead and potentially juvenile green sturgeon. Currently, River Partners has been awarded funds through the CVPIA for improving salmon and steelhead juvenile rearing habitat through creation and restoration of up to five miles of side channels on the Lower Feather River adjacent to the Nelson Slough Wildlife Area Unit. This project could potentially be integrated with the River Partners Lower Feather River Side Channel Restoration Project. The Peterson, Coarse Resolution model Report, 2014 (DSM) suggests that supporting increasing juvenile Chinook size at emigration can be beneficial to the outcome of a greater number of returning adults. Post project monitoring may help improve or validate the hypothesis of the DSM. Supplemental InformationOutcome of the project would achieve the following goals: Increase accessible floodplain for Feather, Yuba, and Bear River salmonids by through increased access; Determination of the amount of accessible acres created at various flow ranges compared to existing conditions with various landscape changes;Reduce habitat fragmentation to improve rearing and emigration corridors; Increase and improve the quantity, quality, and diversity of riverine habitat, including floodplain rearing habitat for juvenile fish; Reduce predation impacts of non-native fish species in channel;Increase native riparian vegetation in restored habitat;Contribute to the recovery of federal and state listed fish populations; and Contribute to the Central Valley Project Improvement Act doubling goal for the Feather, Yuba, and Bear Rivers. Questions that will be addressed in the feasibility study are:Up-to-date topographic and bathymetric LiDAR or similar, relative to project area or any other areas of influence. Characterization of the hydrodynamics that would facilitate floodplain activation. Characterization of the hydrodynamics that would facilitate floodplain activation. Prioritize updating physical habitat characterization.Focus on (potential) instream system parameters (longitudinal profiles, cross section installation and revisiting those, etc.). Using a drone to map area pre-project, as well as post project. Assess:Flood conveyance, flood storage and inundation frequency and duration; Fluvial geomorphic processes;Aquatic and riparian habitat;Project costs;Land availability;Sedimentation;Excavated materials and spoil placements; andInfrastructure (i.e. utility pipelines, roadway bridge abutments).Pre-project assessments: This would include assessing hydrology and water quality, as well as biologic monitoring cataloging insect, bird, and other current animal habitat necessary to understand what the area is currently providing and serve as a baseline for assessing post project performance after implementation. Monitoring and evaluation are essential to determine whether restoration projects are implemented correctly and performing as expected so that we achieve the intended benefits. Wildlife Habitat Area Management Objectives: Current acreage of upland habitat shall not be decreased. Must not fragment current available upland habitat.Any side channels created would require a crossing for wildlife and staff to facilitate bird plants. Species of interest include quail, deer, turkey, pheasant, and multiple waterfowl. No restoration activity shall reduce the various hunting opportunities offered by CDFW on the Nelson Slough Unit (i.e., deer hunt season, waterfowl hunt season, quail hunt season, turkey fall hunt season, turkey spring hunt season, and pheasant hunt season). Awardee will coordinate closely with CDFW wildlife area staff to develop alternatives that do not impact these opportunities for the public. Considerations:Consider restoration design and implementation timing with DWR and Sutter County to complement their future levee improvement work at the Nelson Slough Unit and the surrounding reach of the Feather River and Sutter Bypass as described in the Riparian Restoration Plan for the Nelson Slough Unit (2009 River Partners) Department PriortiesThe mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. Fish and Aquatic Conservation is an integral program within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and supports the mission by working with partners to achieve benefits for aquatic species and their habitats. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plays a key role in addressing the challenges identified in the Biden-Harris administrations priorities. https://www.fws.gov/initiative/directors-priorities Rebuilding the economy;Tackling climate change;Developing a wildlife conservation strategy for the 21st century;Combating Wildlife Trafficking.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to federally recognized Tribes in the western United States to enhance their water management and security through various projects and initiatives.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to water and power authorities, as well as nonprofit conservation organizations in the western U.S., to implement projects that enhance water efficiency, promote renewable energy, and improve sustainability in response to water scarcity and climate challenges.

The "USDA Forest Service Inflation Reduction Act Forest Landowner Support: Landowner Payment Programs for Carbon Stewardship Practices" grant provides financial support to private forest landowners for implementing practices that significantly increase carbon sequestration and storage.