Opportunity Information: Apply for F15AS00359
Apply for F15AS00359
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Playa Conservation Initiative Playa Wetland Restoration" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.670 Adaptive Science.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 17, 2015 and posted on Jul 17, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by THIS IS A SINGLE SOURCE AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $40,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Playa Conservation Initiative: Playa Wetland Restoration (Funding Opportunity Number F15AS00359) is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service cooperative agreement notice intended to support targeted restoration of playa wetlands in the southern shortgrass prairie, with on-the-ground work focused on private lands in Floyd and Castro Counties, Texas. This posting is explicitly a single source award notice, meaning it is not a typical competitive open solicitation even though the eligible applicant field is listed as unrestricted. The opportunity was posted July 17, 2015 and archived August 17, 2015, with an estimated total funding amount of $40,000 and an expectation of one award. No cost share or matching funds are required.
The grant is built around the ecological importance of playa wetlands, which are shallow, highly temporary wetlands that become especially valuable when they hold water. When flooded, playas provide critical habitat during fall, winter, and spring for migratory birds, particularly waterfowl, shorebirds, and Sandhill Cranes. The notice emphasizes that these wetlands are considered the most important ecological feature in the southern shortgrass prairie and highlights that their conservation has broad wildlife benefits during key migration and wintering periods.
The problem the funding is trying to address is the widespread degradation and loss of playa function caused by sedimentation (siltation from erosion tied to surrounding croplands), agricultural excavation and related alterations (including the construction of tailwater pits), and other modifications that disrupt normal hydrology. These impacts reduce the ability of playas to fill and function as wetlands, directly undermining their value as wildlife habitat and diminishing the ecological services they provide in the region.
The proposed restoration approach is straightforward and cost-effective: backfilling pits that have been excavated in or near playas. By filling these pits, the project aims to restore more natural hydrologic behavior without the added expense of sediment removal. Work will be concentrated in two high-priority locations: Castro County, noted as a historically important wintering area for waterfowl, and Floyd County, described as having the highest density of playa wetlands in North America. The emphasis on these counties reflects both habitat value and the potential for meaningful conservation gains in areas where playa wetlands are especially significant.
Site selection is guided by a decision support tool that was recently developed through a modeling effort involving federal, state, and non-government partners. The intent is to focus initial conservation delivery within "high value clusters" of playas, referred to as playa focal areas. The award recipient is expected to use this tool to identify specific candidate playas that meet two practical criteria: they already have established vegetation buffers (which can help reduce future sediment inputs and protect wetland edges) and they have minimal siltation, so hydrology can be restored primarily through pit backfilling rather than sediment excavation.
The Playa Lakes Joint Venture is identified as the organizational lead for developing and refining the decision support tool, with strong input from partners including the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. If additional prioritization is needed among eligible sites, the notice indicates that the award recipient's GIS staff will further refine selections in coordination with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff and other conservation partners. For questions or access issues related to the announcement, the listed contact is Sara Williams at saranwilliams@fws.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): The Playa Conservation Initiative - Playa Wetland Restoration (F15AS00359)
What is the Playa Conservation Initiative: Playa Wetland Restoration opportunity (F15AS00359)?
This is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service cooperative agreement notice focused on targeted restoration of playa wetlands in the southern shortgrass prairie. The work described is on-the-ground restoration on private lands in Floyd and Castro Counties, Texas.
Is this a competitive grant opportunity?
No. The posting is explicitly described as a single source award notice. Even though the eligible applicant field is listed as unrestricted, it is not presented as a typical open, competitive solicitation.
Which agency is offering this funding?
The opportunity is issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
What type of award is this?
The notice describes it as a cooperative agreement.
When was the opportunity posted and when was it archived?
It was posted on July 17, 2015 and archived on August 17, 2015.
How much funding is available?
The estimated total funding amount is $40,000.
How many awards are expected?
The notice indicates an expectation of one award.
Is cost share or matching funding required?
No. The notice states that no cost share or matching funds are required.
What geographic area will the project focus on?
The project is focused on the southern shortgrass prairie, with on-the-ground work on private lands in Floyd County and Castro County, Texas.
Why are Floyd County and Castro County prioritized?
Castro County is described as a historically important wintering area for waterfowl. Floyd County is described as having the highest density of playa wetlands in North America. The focus reflects both habitat value and the potential for meaningful conservation gains.
What are playa wetlands, and why are they important?
Playa wetlands are shallow, highly temporary wetlands that become especially valuable when they hold water. When flooded, they provide critical habitat during fall, winter, and spring for migratory birds, particularly waterfowl, shorebirds, and Sandhill Cranes. The notice describes playas as the most important ecological feature in the southern shortgrass prairie and emphasizes broad wildlife benefits during key migration and wintering periods.
What problem is the grant trying to address?
The funding targets widespread degradation and loss of playa function. The notice highlights sedimentation (siltation from erosion tied to surrounding croplands), agricultural excavation and alterations (including construction of tailwater pits), and other modifications that disrupt normal hydrology. These impacts reduce the ability of playas to fill and function as wetlands, undermining habitat value and ecological services.
What restoration method is proposed in the notice?
The approach described is backfilling pits that have been excavated in or near playas. The intent is to restore more natural hydrologic behavior in a straightforward, cost-effective way and avoid the added expense of sediment removal.
Does the project involve removing sediment from playas?
The notice emphasizes selecting sites with minimal siltation so that hydrology can be restored primarily through pit backfilling rather than sediment excavation.
Where will restoration work occur (public land vs. private land)?
The notice specifies that on-the-ground work will be focused on private lands in Floyd and Castro Counties, Texas.
How will specific restoration sites be selected?
Site selection is guided by a decision support tool developed through a modeling effort involving federal, state, and non-government partners. The intent is to focus initial conservation delivery within "high value clusters" of playas, referred to as playa focal areas.
What criteria are used to identify candidate playas for restoration?
The notice lists two practical criteria for candidate playas: (1) they already have established vegetation buffers, and (2) they have minimal siltation so hydrology can be restored primarily via pit backfilling.
What is meant by "high value clusters" or "playa focal areas"?
These terms refer to areas identified by the decision support tool where clusters of playas are considered high value for conservation delivery. The goal is to concentrate initial work where conservation gains are expected to be strongest.
Who developed the decision support tool mentioned in the notice?
The Playa Lakes Joint Venture is identified as the organizational lead for developing and refining the decision support tool, with strong input from partners including the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
What happens if additional prioritization is needed among eligible sites?
The notice indicates that if more prioritization is necessary, the award recipient's GIS staff will further refine selections in coordination with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff and other conservation partners.
Who can be contacted with questions or access issues related to the announcement?
The listed contact is Sara Williams at saranwilliams@fws.gov.
The eligible applicant field is listed as unrestricted. Does that mean anyone can apply?
The notice states the eligible applicant field is unrestricted, but it also explicitly identifies the posting as a single source award notice, meaning it is not a typical open competitive solicitation.
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