Tools for Landowners and Partners

Our nation’s private landowners are critical to the success of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s mission to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats. The Service has many tools and programs for conservation of fish, wildlife and plants on private lands.
 

Notice of Funding Availability

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Washington Fish and Wildlife office is seeking information on current and future proposed fish and wildlife habitat restoration, education, and assessment projects in the state of Washington. We use a “Notice of Funding Availability” process to reach as many people as possible. This notification acts as a tool for us to become better informed about potential projects in Washington and for us to be strategic in our planning for project and overall restoration program funding. Technical assistance is provided to all funded projects.

If you would like to work with us to develop a project, please read the General Information document, contact the appropriate biologist and then fill out the Initial Project Information Form, and return to us by the deadline noted in the information. Forms can be emailed to us at projects@fws.gov.

• General Information on the NOFA Process (pdf)
• Initial Project Information Form (MS Word document)

Projects may consist of restoration, recovery, assessment, or research. Priority will, however, be placed on “on-the-ground” projects that restore or enhance fish and wildlife and/or their habitats, with emphasis placed on well-planned projects benefiting federally listed/candidate species and their habitats or improving listed species numbers. Additional emphasis will be placed on projects that achieve a published recovery goal.

Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program

The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program (Partners) is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s primary tool for delivering voluntary, on-the-ground, fish, wildlife and plant habitat restoration projects on private, Tribal and municipal lands.

Who - Anyone may apply for Partners funding or request technical assistance.

What - Partners provides technical assistance and cost-share funding to restore fish, wildlife and plant habitat on private, tribal and municipal land.

Where - The Partners program has nine (9) focus areas in Washington. The focus areas are: (1) Puget Trough; (2) Southwest Washington; (3) Strait of Juan de Fuca; (4) Columbia Plateau; (5) Palouse Prairie; (6) Methow Watershed; (7) Pend Oreille Watershed; (8) Yakima Watershed; and (9) Upper Columbia Basin Refuge Focus Area. Click here for a map.

Contact - Landowners can request assistance at any time throughout the year. If you are interested in more information on the program and enrollment, contact the Partners Coordinator in your area:

To submit a project proposal for Partners funding fill out the proposal form.

Roll over the photos below to see "before" and "after" Partners projects.

Seid Bodhi Creek I Kendall, WA Whatcom County	Seid Bodhi Creek II Kendall, WA Whatcom County	Grove Kendall Creek Kendall, WA Whatcom County

Coastal

Puget Sound Coastal Program

Purpose - The Puget Sound Coastal Program was established in 1991 to protect, restore, and enhance the natural resources of Puget Sound, an Estuary of National Significance under the National Estuary Program. The program works with partners to protect, restore, and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources in Washington's coastal watersheds.

Eligibility - Any federal, state, Tribal, local or non-governmental entity may apply.

Area - Focus areas for the program are North Puget Sound and the Eastern Straits of Juan de Fuca, South Puget Sound and Hood Canal, and Willapa Bay.

Typical Projects - Large and small coastal habitat restoration projects implemented with a variety of partners. The program is flexible in the type of projects funded. Projects include planning and implementing coastal habitat restoration and protection projects; assessing threats and status of coastal resources to assist with their management and; conducting outreach and education activities to help promote the stewardship of Washington's coastal resources.

Financial Information - Notification of Funding Availability is released in early summer. The program seeks a 50% or greater cost share in federal or nonfederal match, cash, or in-kind contribution. Technical assistance in planning, project design, environmental compliance and implementation is available from the USFWS.

Contact - Ginger Phalen, 360-753-5819 or Rich Carlson, 360-753-5829

Community involvement in Tumwater Falls Restoration Project	Steve Pruitt and Paco Rodriguez (FWS) combine forces in a wetlands assessment on Steve's property in Ohop Valley, WA	FWS staff help with a shoreline assessment on Nisqually Reach near Olympia, WA

National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grants

Purpose - The National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program focuses on acquiring, restoring, enhancing and protecting pristine and threatened coastal wetlands through partnerships between federal and state agencies.

Eligibility - State agencies administering acquisition programs in coastal areas and designated by state governors are eligible to apply. The agencies may form partnerships with Tribes, local governments or conservation groups to carry out projects.

Area - Coastal counties of Puget Sound and the Pacific Coast.

Typical Projects - Acquisition and restoration of critical wetland habitat in coastal areas that provide habitat for migratory birds and fish and wildlife species, including salmon and anadromous trout.

Financial Information - Since 1991, this program has protected or restored over 20,000 acres of coastal wetland habitat and awarded over $30 million in grants in Washington. Projects compete nationally for approximately $15 million each year.  Applicants must provide a 25% non-federal cost share. Larger cost share amounts enhance the competitiveness of project proposals. Project funds range from several hundred thousand dollars to a maximum of $1 million.

Contact - Ginger Phalen, 360-753-5819

Pacific Coast Joint Venture

For more information on the Coastal Program, go to http://www.fws.gov/coastal.