Tools for Landowners and Partners

Fisheries and Fish Passage

Chehalis Fisheries Restoration Program

Purpose - The Chehalis Fisheries Restoration Program provides funding for projects to restore Chehalis River fisheries resources.

Eligibility - Any private landowner, non-profit organization, or local, Tribal, state or federal agency may apply. Any proposal that would restore fisheries populations is considered.

Area - Chehalis River and Grays Harbor Basins.

Typical Projects - Projects involving habitat restoration, environmental assessment, and education and outreach. Funded projects have included fish passage barrier corrections, removal of invasive species and replanting with native species, riparian and off-channel fish rearing habitat, restoring agricultural wetlands for fish use, and monitoring of fish use of these habitats.

Financial Information - Notification of Funding Availability is released in early summer.  Project allocations typically range from $10,000 to $50,000 with cost share ranging from 25 to 75%. Private individuals and groups strive for a 25% match while larger companies require a 75% match. Technical assistance is available.

Contact - Miranda Plumb, 360-753-9560

National Fish Passage Program

Purpose - The goal of the National Fish Passage Program is to restore native fish and other aquatic species to self-sustaining levels by reconnecting habitat that has been fragmented by man-made barriers. All projects are voluntary and done in cooperation with willing partners.

Eligibility - The program partners with agencies, tribes, private organizations and landowners.

Area - Western Washington WRIA’s 1-29

Typical Projects - Removal of fish passage barriers such as undersized or elevated culverts, dams, water diversion structures, eaves, and other impediments to fish passage, and replacement with adequately-sized fish passable structures.

Financial Information - Projects typically range in cost from $20,000 to $80,000 each.

Contact - Miranda Plumb, 360-753-9560

For more information on the Fish Passage Program in Region 1, go to http://www.fws.gov/pacific/fisheries/fishpassage/

Western Native Trout Initiative

Purpose - The Western Native Trout Initiative is the Northwest’s part of the National Fish Habitat Action Plan, a nation-wide strategy that harnesses the energies, expertise, and existing partnerships of state and federal agencies and conservation organizations. The goals of the pro-gram include: protect and maintain intact and healthy aquatic systems, prevent further degradation of fish and aquatic habitats, and increase self-sustaining aquatic systems that support a broad natural diversity of fish and other aquatic species.

Eligibility - Any private landowner, non-profit organization, or local, Tribal, state, or federal agency. Target species in western Washington include bull trout, coastal cutthroat trout, and lamprey.

Area - Western Washington WRIA’s 1-29

Typical Projects - Funded projects have included riparian planting, invasive species removal, fish passage barrier correction, and wetland and estuary restoration.

Financial Information - Projects typically range in cost from $10,000 to $50,000 each.

Contact - Miranda Plumb, 360-753-9560

For more information on the Western Trout Initiative, go to: www.fishhabitat.org

Fisheries Restoration and Irrigation Mitigation Act (FRIMA)

Purpose - The FRIMA program provides financial and technical assistance to local partners to correct barriers to fish passage related to irrigation and water diversion projects and facilities.

Eligibility - Any state agency, local group or private landowner can apply. Projects must include a local government or Tribal sponsor or co-applicant.

Area - Statewide

Typical Projects - Since 2002, 19 FRIMA projects have been funded in Washington.  Projects must involve fish screens, fish ladders or related modifications to water diversions that are directly associated with passage improvements.

Financial Information - Project sponsors must identify at least 35% matching funds for the design and construction of the eligible project. Matching funds may include in-kind contributions such as easements, materials, equipment or labor. The project operator or sponsor must assume responsibility for operation and maintenance costs of the project.

Contact - Kevin Aitkin, 360-753-9508

For more information on the FRIMA program, go to http://www.fws.gov/pacific/Fisheries/FRIMA/

Tribal

Tribal Landowner Incentive Program

Purpose - For actions and activities that pro-tect and restore habitats that benefit federally listed, proposed, or candidate species, or other at-risk species on Tribal lands.

Eligibility - Any Federally-recognized Tribe.

Area - Statewide/Nationwide.

Typical Projects - Projects involving habitat restoration, environmental assessment, and other efforts to protect federally listed, proposed or candidate species on Tribal lands.

Financial Information - The maximum award under this program is $120,000 with a required minimum 25% match from non-federal funds.

Contact - Joanne Stellini, 360-753-4323

For more information on the Tribal Landowner Incentive Program, go to: http://pacific.fws.gov/ea/tribal

Tribal Wildlife Grant Program

Purpose - Benefit fish, wildlife and their habitat, including non-game species.

Eligibility - Landowners who are members of any Federally-recognized Tribe.

Area - Statewide/Nationwide

Typical Projects - Projects involving habitat restoration, environmental assessment, and other efforts to protect fish, wildlife, and their habitats.

Financial Information - The maximum award under this program is $200,000. Matching funds are not required for these grants, but may help a proposal score higher.

Contact - Joanne Stellini, 360-753-4323

For more information on the Tribal Wildlife Grant Program, go to http://pacific.fws.gov/ea/tribal

Recovery of Species

Recovery Program

Purpose - The Recovery Program within the Division of Listing and Recovery coordinates with federal, state, Tribal and private partners to restore habitat and recover listed species throughout western Washington. The Recovery Program also funds conservation actions that may preclude the need to list candidate species or keep species of concern from becoming candidate species.

Eligibility - Private landowners, non-governmental organizations, municipalities, Tribes, and state or federal agencies may submit proposals and compete for funding.

Area - Western Washington

Typical Projects - On-ground actions, habitat restoration, education, outreach, research, and other activities that help recover endangered/threatened species, preclude the need to list candidate species, reduce threats to species of concern, or expand our knowledge about species of concern.

Financial Information - Funding availability will be announced mid-summer.  Applicants must provide a 25% minimum cost share.  Awards typically range from $5,000 to more than $20,000.  Last year we awarded over $750,000 to projects in western Washington.

Contact - Jodi Bush, 360-753-6046

Recovery Land Acquisition

Purpose - Permanent conservation of land that contributes to the recovery of USFWS-listed species by supporting approved federal recovery plans.

Eligibility - Individuals or groups interested in securing land for endangered, threatened, proposed, or candidate species may apply for funds. All applicants must partner with the Washington Department of Natural Resources or the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Area - Statewide/Regional

Typical Projects - Acquisition of land from willing sellers that will support the recovery of threatened or endangered species.

Financial Information - Proposals compete regionally. Minimum 25% non-federal cost share required (cash or in-kind). More than the minimum cost share increases a proposal's competitiveness.

Contact - Joanne Stellini, 360-753-4323

Web - For more information on recovery land acquisition, go to http://endangered.fws.gov/grants

States

Conservation Grants to States (Traditional Section 6)

Purpose - Provide financial assistance to States to participate in a wide array of voluntary conservation projects for candidate, proposed, or listed species under the Endangered Species Act.

Eligibility - States with whom the USFWS has a current cooperative agreement and, through those States, private landowners, communities and local governments.

Area - Statewide/Nationwide

Typical Projects - Inventories, monitoring, radio telemetry, captive breeding, re-location efforts and surveys.

Financial Information - All applicants must partner with the Washington Department of Natural Resources or the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife. Cost share requirements range from 25% for single states to 10% if two or more states implement a joint project.

Contact - Ted Thomas, 360-753-4327

Web - For more information on conservation grants to States, go to http://endangered.fws.gov/grants

Habitat Conservation Planning Assistance

Purpose - Provide financial assistance for the development of Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs) that provide conservation for imperiled species and regulatory certainty for land management activities.

Eligibility - Individuals or groups developing HCPs may apply for funds. All applicants must partner with the Washington Department of Natural Resources or the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Area - Statewide/Nationwide

Typical Projects - Planning and development of Habitat Conservation Plans that will be used in support of obtaining a federal incidental take permit.

Financial Information - Proposals compete nationally. Non-federal cost share of 25% minimum or10% if two or more States support a joint project is required. Technical assistance is available.

Contact - Joanne Stellini, 360-753-4323

Web - For more information on HCP planning assistance, go to http://endangered.fws.gov/grants. See http://wdfw.wa.gov/grants/section6/index.html for Washington State information associated with this grant program.

Habitat Conservation Plan Land Acquisition

Purpose - Protect threatened or endangered species habitats to complement conservation benefits of associated HCPs.

Eligibility - Individuals or groups interested in securing land for endangered, threatened, proposed, or candidate species may apply for funds. All applicants must partner with the Washington Department of Natural Resources or the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Area - Statewide/Nationwide

Typical Projects - Purchase of lands from willing sellers to expand the conservation benefits of approved HCPs and support threatened or endangered species.

Financial Information - Minimum 25% non-federal cost share required (cash or in-kind). More than the minimum cost share increases a proposal's competitiveness.

Contact - Joanne Stellini, 360-753-4323

Web - For more information on HCP land acquisition, go to http://endangered.fws.gov/grants
See http://wdfw.wa.gov/grants/section6/index.html for Washington State information associated with this grant program.