Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS LA ACEP 15 1
Apply for USDA NRCS LA ACEP 15 1
- The USDA NRCS MSD Ft Worth Office in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "WETLAND RESTORATION PLANNING, DESIGN, AND IMPLEMENTATION ASSISTANCE" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.931 Agricultural Conservation Easement Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 30, 2015 and posted on Jun 17, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 24, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $15,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $5,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 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.
- Organizations that share a mutual interest in wetland conservation and who have the highest probability of providing in kind contributions and other sources of financial or technical support are encouraged to submit a proposal. A listing of possible eligible applicants is as follows State governments County governments City or township governments Special district governments Nonprofits having a 501(c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Individuals For profit organizations with conservation focused objectives
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Opportunity Summary:
The WETLAND RESTORATION PLANNING, DESIGN, AND IMPLEMENTATION ASSISTANCE opportunity is a competitive USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Louisiana funding program that supports on-the-ground wetland restoration work on specific categories of permanently protected easement lands. The focus is on properties enrolled in the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program - Wetland Reserve Easement (ACEP/WRE), the legacy Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP), and Emergency Watershed Protection - Floodplain Easement (EWP-FPE). Through cooperative agreements, selected partners are expected to help landowners and NRCS move restoration projects from concept to completed implementation by providing the technical expertise and field capacity needed to plan, design, and carry out restoration actions.
At its core, the program’s objective is to restore and enhance wetland and associated upland ecosystems in ways that maximize wildlife habitat and broader environmental benefits. Projects are meant to improve wetland function and habitat value while also producing practical conservation outcomes such as better water quality, reduced soil erosion, and reduced flood impacts. A significant emphasis is placed on habitat benefits for wildlife, including opportunities that support threatened and endangered species. In other words, the work is not limited to simply re-wetting land; it is intended to result in functional, resilient wetland systems with measurable ecological and resource protection benefits.
Applicants funded under this opportunity take on a hands-on support role for participating landowners. That support includes the technical assistance necessary to develop restoration plans and to implement those plans on eligible easement tracts. While the announcement does not list every allowable activity in the excerpt provided, the scope implied by “planning, design and implementation†typically covers tasks such as site assessments, hydrology and engineering design (for example, water control features or grading plans where appropriate), habitat and vegetation planning, development of restoration specifications, and coordination needed to install restoration practices consistent with NRCS requirements for ACEP/WRE, WRP, and EWP-FPE. The work must align with the purpose of protecting and improving wetland habitat on easement lands, meaning activities should be tied directly to restoring wetland conditions and associated upland habitat components rather than unrelated infrastructure or general land improvements.
Funding is offered as a discretionary award using a cooperative agreement instrument, which generally signals that NRCS expects to have substantial involvement during the project period (for example, coordination, technical oversight, and alignment with program standards). Louisiana NRCS projected that up to $5,000,000 would be available for support of the program in Fiscal Year 2016, with awards made competitively. The opportunity lists an estimated total funding amount of $15,000,000 and anticipates approximately three awards, with an award ceiling of $5,000,000 and no stated minimum award floor. There is no cost-share or matching requirement, although the eligibility notes strongly encourage proposals from organizations that can bring in-kind contributions or other financial or technical support, suggesting that additional partner capacity and leveraged resources may improve competitiveness even if not strictly required.
Eligibility is broad and described as essentially unrestricted among entity types, subject to the notice’s clarifications. Eligible applicants include state, county, and municipal governments; special district governments; nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding institutions of higher education as framed in the listing); individuals; and for-profit organizations with conservation-focused objectives. The announcement also indicates that federally recognized Indian Tribes, federal agencies, state and local governments, and non-governmental organizations may apply. The common thread is that applicants should share a mutual interest in wetland conservation and demonstrate a strong likelihood of successfully delivering restoration assistance, ideally with added capacity through in-kind services or complementary resources.
Key administrative details from the notice include the Funding Opportunity Number USDA NRCS LA ACEP 15 1, the CFDA number 10.931 (Agricultural Conservation Easement Program), and the funding activity category of Natural Resources. The opportunity was posted June 17, 2015, with an application closing date of July 24, 2015, and it was later archived on August 23, 2015. The sponsoring office is listed as USDA NRCS MSD Ft Worth Office, with Louisiana-based program implementation and contact support. For access issues or questions related to the full announcement, the notice provides a point of contact: Dustin Farmer, EPPI Team Leader, USDA NRCS, 3737 Government Street, Alexandria, LA 71302, phone (318) 473 7773.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Wetland Restoration Planning, Design, and Implementation Assistance opportunity?
It is a competitive USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Louisiana funding opportunity that supports on-the-ground wetland restoration work. The program funds partners through cooperative agreements to help move restoration projects from concept through planning, design, and completed implementation on certain categories of permanently protected easement lands.
What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The core objective is to restore and enhance wetland and associated upland ecosystems to maximize wildlife habitat and broader environmental benefits. Projects are intended to improve wetland function and habitat value while also delivering practical conservation outcomes such as improved water quality, reduced soil erosion, and reduced flood impacts.
Which lands are eligible for restoration work under this opportunity?
The focus is on specific categories of permanently protected easement lands enrolled in:
- Agricultural Conservation Easement Program - Wetland Reserve Easement (ACEP/WRE)
- The legacy Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP)
- Emergency Watershed Protection - Floodplain Easement (EWP-FPE)
Who is expected to benefit from the restoration projects?
The projects are intended to benefit wetland and associated upland ecosystems, with a significant emphasis on wildlife habitat benefits. The notice specifically highlights opportunities that support threatened and endangered species, alongside broader ecological and resource protection benefits.
What role do selected partners play in this program?
Selected partners provide hands-on support to participating landowners and NRCS by supplying technical expertise and field capacity. Their role is to help develop restoration plans and implement those plans on eligible easement tracts, helping projects progress from concept to completed implementation.
What kinds of activities are supported by the program?
Based on the stated scope of "planning, design and implementation," supported activities are implied to include technical assistance and field work necessary to plan, design, and carry out wetland restoration actions consistent with NRCS requirements for ACEP/WRE, WRP, and EWP-FPE. The description suggests work such as site assessments, hydrology and engineering design, habitat and vegetation planning, development of restoration specifications, and coordination needed to install restoration practices.
Are activities limited to re-wetting land?
No. The emphasis is on achieving functional, resilient wetland systems with measurable ecological and resource protection benefits. The work is intended to restore wetland conditions and associated upland habitat components rather than unrelated infrastructure or general land improvements.
What funding instrument is used for awards?
Funding is offered as a discretionary award using a cooperative agreement instrument. This generally indicates NRCS expects to have substantial involvement during the project period (for example, coordination, technical oversight, and alignment with program standards).
How much funding is available?
The opportunity lists an estimated total funding amount of $15,000,000. Louisiana NRCS projected that up to $5,000,000 would be available for support of the program in Fiscal Year 2016.
How many awards are anticipated?
Approximately three awards are anticipated.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $5,000,000.
Is there a minimum award amount?
No stated minimum award floor is included in the provided notice excerpt.
Is cost-share or matching required?
No. There is no cost-share or matching requirement stated for this opportunity.
Are in-kind contributions or leveraged resources important?
Yes. While not required, the eligibility notes strongly encourage proposals from organizations that can bring in-kind contributions or other financial or technical support. This suggests that demonstrating added capacity and leveraged resources may improve competitiveness.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as broad and essentially unrestricted among entity types, subject to the notice's clarifications. Eligible applicants include:
- State, county, and municipal governments
- Special district governments
- Nonprofits (501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding institutions of higher education as framed in the listing)
- Individuals
- For-profit organizations with conservation-focused objectives
- Federally recognized Indian Tribes
- Federal agencies
- Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
What characteristics should applicants demonstrate?
The common thread described is that applicants should share a mutual interest in wetland conservation and demonstrate a strong likelihood of successfully delivering restoration assistance. Proposals are encouraged to show added capacity through in-kind services or complementary resources.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USDA NRCS LA ACEP 15 1.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 10.931 (Agricultural Conservation Easement Program).
What is the funding activity category?
The funding activity category listed is Natural Resources.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on June 17, 2015, and the application closing date was July 24, 2015.
Is this opportunity still active?
The notice indicates the opportunity was archived on August 23, 2015.
Which office is listed as the sponsoring office?
The sponsoring office is listed as USDA NRCS MSD Ft Worth Office, with Louisiana-based program implementation and contact support.
Who can be contacted for access issues or questions about the full announcement?
The notice provides the following point of contact: Dustin Farmer, EPPI Team Leader, USDA NRCS, 3737 Government Street, Alexandria, LA 71302, phone (318) 473 7773.
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