Opportunity Information: Apply for NATIONALFISHPASSAGEPROGRAM
Apply for NATIONALFISHPASSAGEPROGRAM
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "National Fish Passage Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.608 Fish and Wildlife Management Assistance.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 3, 2009 and posted on Jun 3, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 1, 2009. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $11,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $800,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 200 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Private landowners, Tribal Governments, local governments, state governments, educational institutions and organizations. Contact your Regional National Fish Habitat Action Plan Coordinator if you are interested in direct assistance with a fish habitat project. A listing of Regional National Fish Habitat Action Plan Coordinators is available at http://www.fws.gov/fisheries/fwco/nfhap/. You may also contact the Branch of Fish and Wildlife Management, Phone 703 358 2523.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Fish Passage Program is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) funding opportunity that supports habitat restoration projects aimed at improving aquatic connectivity and overall aquatic habitat condition in high priority areas. The program is rooted in the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, which authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to provide both technical and financial assistance to partners working to restore, enhance, and manage fish and wildlife habitats. In practical terms, this opportunity is designed to help communities and partner organizations remove or fix barriers to fish movement, reconnect fragmented waterways, and carry out related habitat restoration actions that measurably improve aquatic ecosystems.
A central requirement is that proposed projects must provide direct benefits to Federal Trust species. This includes groups the federal government has specific responsibilities for, such as migratory birds, threatened and endangered species, interjurisdictional fish (fish that move across state or jurisdictional boundaries), certain marine mammals, and species of international concern. Because of that focus, strong proposals typically show a clear link between the on-the-ground restoration work and expected biological outcomes for these species, such as improved access to spawning habitat, increased survival, expanded feeding areas, or restored migration routes.
Funding is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement, which generally means the agency expects to be involved beyond simply issuing funds, often providing coordination, technical input, or other support as the project moves forward. The total estimated funding listed is about $11,000,000, with an anticipated 200 awards. Individual awards may be as large as $800,000, and there is no stated minimum award amount (award floor of $0), which suggests the program may consider a wide range of project sizes depending on regional needs and priorities.
Cost sharing or matching is required, and the program has a stated goal of securing at least 50 percent of total project costs from non-USFWS sources. Importantly, that 50 percent target is applied at the regional level across the portfolio of projects rather than being a strict requirement for every single project. Even so, applicants are generally expected to bring partner contributions to the table when possible, such as state or local funds, tribal contributions, private investment, in-kind services, engineering support, construction labor, donated materials, or other documented non-federal support.
Eligible applicants are broad and include private landowners, Tribal Governments, local governments, state governments, and educational institutions and organizations. The notice indicates that prospective applicants should coordinate directly with their Regional Fish Passage Coordinator to discuss whether funding and technical assistance are available and to align ideas with regional priorities. Contact lists are provided for Regional Fish Passage Coordinators (http://www.fws.gov/fisheries/fwco/fishpassage/contacts.html) and, relatedly, Regional National Fish Habitat Action Plan Coordinators (http://www.fws.gov/fisheries/fwco/nfhap/), which can be helpful for applicants seeking direct technical assistance on fish habitat projects.
Key administrative details from the announcement include the Funding Opportunity Number NATIONALFISHPASSAGEPROGRAM, CFDA 15.608 (Fish and Wildlife Management Assistance), and an original and current closing date of October 1, 2009 (with an archive date of October 31, 2009). For help accessing the full announcement or for program questions, the listed contact is Susan Wells, Fish Biologist and Program Manager, at 703-358-2523.
National Fish Passage Program (USFWS) Grant FAQs
What is the National Fish Passage Program?
The National Fish Passage Program is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) funding opportunity that supports habitat restoration projects intended to improve aquatic connectivity and overall aquatic habitat condition in high priority areas. In practice, the program helps partners remove or repair barriers to fish movement, reconnect fragmented waterways, and complete related restoration actions that measurably improve aquatic ecosystems.
What types of projects does this opportunity support?
Based on the announcement, the program supports habitat restoration projects aimed at improving aquatic connectivity. Typical project concepts include removing, replacing, or fixing barriers that prevent fish movement; reconnecting waterways; and implementing related aquatic habitat restoration actions tied to measurable ecological improvement.
What is meant by "aquatic connectivity" in the context of this program?
In this funding context, aquatic connectivity refers to the ability of fish and other aquatic organisms to move through waterways without being blocked by barriers. Projects are expected to reduce fragmentation and restore access to important habitats by removing or correcting impediments to movement.
What is the underlying legal authority for the program?
The program is rooted in the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act. That Act authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to provide technical and financial assistance to partners working to restore, enhance, and manage fish and wildlife habitats.
Who must benefit from a funded project?
Proposed projects must provide direct benefits to Federal Trust species. The announcement emphasizes that projects should clearly connect on-the-ground restoration actions to biological outcomes for these species.
What are Federal Trust species (as described in the announcement)?
Federal Trust species are groups for which the federal government has specific responsibilities. The notice lists examples including migratory birds, threatened and endangered species, interjurisdictional fish (those that move across state or jurisdictional boundaries), certain marine mammals, and species of international concern.
What makes a proposal "strong" under this opportunity?
The notice indicates strong proposals typically show a clear link between restoration work and expected biological outcomes for Federal Trust species. Examples of outcomes mentioned include improved access to spawning habitat, increased survival, expanded feeding areas, and restored migration routes.
What type of award is being offered?
Funding is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement. This generally means USFWS expects to be involved beyond simply issuing funds, often providing coordination, technical input, or other support as the project progresses.
How much total funding is estimated under this opportunity?
The announcement lists total estimated funding of about $11,000,000.
How many awards are anticipated?
The announcement anticipates approximately 200 awards.
What is the maximum individual award amount?
Individual awards may be as large as $800,000.
Is there a minimum award amount?
No minimum award amount is stated. The award floor is listed as $0, which suggests the program may consider a wide range of project sizes depending on regional needs and priorities.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. Cost sharing or matching is required under this opportunity.
How much match is expected?
The program has a stated goal of securing at least 50 percent of total project costs from non-USFWS sources. The announcement notes that this 50 percent target is applied at the regional level across the overall portfolio of projects, rather than being a strict requirement for every single project.
If the 50 percent match is regional, should individual applicants still propose match?
Yes, generally. Even though the 50 percent target is described as a regional portfolio goal, the notice indicates applicants are generally expected to bring partner contributions when possible.
What kinds of matching contributions are acceptable (based on the announcement)?
The announcement provides examples of partner contributions such as state or local funds, tribal contributions, private investment, in-kind services, engineering support, construction labor, donated materials, or other documented non-federal support.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are broad and include private landowners, Tribal Governments, local governments, state governments, and educational institutions and organizations.
Does the announcement recommend coordinating with USFWS before applying?
Yes. Prospective applicants are advised to coordinate directly with their Regional Fish Passage Coordinator to discuss whether funding and technical assistance are available and to align project ideas with regional priorities.
Where can applicants find contact information for Regional Fish Passage Coordinators?
The announcement provides a contact list link for Regional Fish Passage Coordinators: http://www.fws.gov/fisheries/fwco/fishpassage/contacts.html
Is there another coordination contact list related to fish habitat?
Yes. The announcement also references Regional National Fish Habitat Action Plan Coordinators, which may be helpful for applicants seeking technical assistance on fish habitat projects: http://www.fws.gov/fisheries/fwco/nfhap/
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is NATIONALFISHPASSAGEPROGRAM.
What is the CFDA number listed in the announcement?
The announcement lists CFDA 15.608, Fish and Wildlife Management Assistance.
What is the application closing date shown in the notice?
The original and current closing date listed is October 1, 2009.
What is the archive date shown in the notice?
The archive date listed is October 31, 2009.
Who is the listed contact for help or program questions?
The listed contact is Susan Wells, Fish Biologist and Program Manager.
How can Susan Wells be reached?
The phone number provided in the announcement is 703-358-2523.
Does the notice state that USFWS will provide technical assistance?
Yes. The opportunity is described as providing technical and financial assistance, and applicants are encouraged to coordinate with Regional Fish Passage Coordinators to discuss technical assistance availability.
What kinds of outcomes should projects aim to achieve?
The announcement points to measurable improvements tied to Federal Trust species, such as improving access to spawning habitat, increasing survival, expanding feeding areas, and restoring migration routes.
Do projects need to be located in specific places?
The announcement indicates projects support high priority areas and encourages alignment with regional priorities through coordination with the Regional Fish Passage Coordinator. It does not list specific geographic areas in the provided text.
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