BLM-MONTANA, Prairie Riparian Restoration, South Dakota Field Office | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the BLM-MONTANA, Prairie Riparian Restoration, South Dakota Field Office opportunity?

This is a Bureau of Land Management (DOI-BLM) discretionary funding opportunity focused on improving and, where feasible, restoring riparian areas within a prairie landscape. It targets on-the-ground actions that stabilize streambanks, wet areas, and associated vegetation where degradation cannot always be addressed through grazing management changes alone.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this notice?

The Funding Opportunity Number (FON) is L16AS00003.

What is the main purpose of the project?

The main purpose is to address riparian degradation and improve riparian function and habitat quality. The notice emphasizes practical restoration and protection work to stabilize degraded riparian areas and improve conditions for wildlife.

Which areas or landscapes does the opportunity focus on?

The opportunity focuses on riparian areas within a prairie landscape, associated with the South Dakota Field Office.

Are projects limited to public lands?

The project emphasis is on public lands, but work can extend onto private lands when there is a good opportunity and the landowner is willing to participate.

Why does BLM say grazing management changes alone may not be enough?

The notice explains that some riparian degradation cannot always be fixed solely by changing grazing management, especially where historical practices or upstream and downstream conditions have already compromised streambanks, wet areas, and riparian vegetation.

What types of activities may be supported under this opportunity?

Examples of supported activities described in the notice include:

• Building temporary or permanent exclosures to limit livestock access in sensitive riparian zones
• Planting native vegetation to re-establish stable, functioning plant communities
• Modifying or repairing older, damaged, or abandoned pits and reservoirs that may be contributing to erosion, poor water distribution, or continued habitat impacts
• Installing or adding pipelines and stock tanks to improve livestock water management and reduce concentrated use of creeks and wet draws

What are exclosures in the context of this notice?

Exclosures, as described here, are temporary or permanent barriers intended to limit livestock access to sensitive riparian zones to protect streambanks, wet areas, and vegetation during recovery.

Does the opportunity include vegetation work?

Yes. The notice specifically mentions planting native vegetation to help re-establish stable, functioning plant communities in riparian areas.

Why does the notice mention pits and reservoirs?

The notice notes that older, damaged, or abandoned pits and reservoirs can contribute to erosion, poor water distribution, or ongoing habitat impacts. Modifying or repairing these features is identified as a potential restoration activity.

How is livestock water management connected to riparian restoration in this opportunity?

The notice ties riparian recovery to improved livestock water management by complementing grazing systems with added pipelines and stock tanks. By providing alternative water sources away from creeks and wet draws, the project aims to reduce concentrated livestock pressure in riparian areas and lessen impacts on natural water features and older developments that may be failing.

What are the stated objectives of the funding notice?

The objectives focus on stabilizing riparian areas and improving degraded conditions to create better habitat quality for wildlife. The notice also indicates that improvements may contribute to broader upland rangeland health by distributing livestock use more evenly and reducing localized impacts near water.

Is wildlife habitat a priority in this opportunity?

Yes. Wildlife habitat improvement is a clear priority. The notice frames the work as improving habitat quality for wildlife generally and specifically mentions benefits to BLM special status species through stabilization, improvement, and restoration of habitat.

Who benefits from the project outcomes, according to BLM?

BLM describes the effort as an investment in habitat and ecosystem function that should lead to improved riparian condition and wildlife habitat. The notice explicitly highlights that hunters and other users of wildlife resources are expected to benefit as wildlife responds to improved habitat conditions.

What type of funding instrument is used?

The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement.

What is the activity category and CFDA number listed for this opportunity?

The activity category is Natural Resources, and the CFDA number listed is 15.231.

Who is eligible to apply?

The opportunity was open to unrestricted applicants, meaning any entity type could apply, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications that may have been provided in the full announcement.

How many awards were anticipated?

The notice anticipated one award.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling listed in the notice is $15,000.

When was the opportunity posted and when was it created?

The posting date and creation date are both listed as December 7, 2015.

What was the application deadline?

The application deadline was February 5, 2016. The notice lists both the original and current closing dates as February 5, 2016.