National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grants

The National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grants Program annually provides grants of up to $1 million to coastal and Great Lakes states, as well as U.S. territories to protect, restore and enhance coastal wetland ecosystems and associated uplands. The Program is funded by revenues collected from excise taxes on sport fishing equipment, electric motors and sonar, import duties on fishing tackle, yachts and pleasure craft, a portion of the gasoline tax attributable to motorboats and small engines, and interest on the fund, under the authority of the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act of 1950.

Eligible projects include the acquisition of real property interest in coastal lands or waters and the restoration, enhancement, or management of coastal wetlands ecosystems. 

Source of Funds

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Funds for the Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant are provided annually from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund. The Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act (CWPPRA) receives 18.5% of the funds in the Trust Fund after deducting amounts for WSFR administration, the Multistate Conservation Grant Program, the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council and fisheries commissions.

The National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grants receive 15% of the 18.5% for CWPPRA.

The funds deposited into the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund are derived from excise taxes on sport fishing equipment, electric motors and sonar, import duties on fishing tackle, yachts and pleasure craft, a portion of the gasoline tax attributable to motorboats and small engines, and interest on the fund.

Grants

Coastal States receive funding though a national competitive process. State and U.S. insular area fish and wildlife agencies may apply for Coastal Wetlands Grants by contacting the specific WSFR Office or apply online at GrantSolutions.

The grant program is co-administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (Service) Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program and the Coastal Program.

For More Information

Read the online Guidance 

Download the printable Factsheet

National Coordinators

Chris Darnell

Paul Van Ryzin

Regional Contacts

• Pacific Region 1: Oregon, Washington
  Heidi Nelson
   
• Pacific Region 1: Hawaii, Idaho, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam and the Pacific Trust Territories
  Chris Swenson
   
• Southwest Region 2: Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas
  Jessica Gwinn
   
• Midwest Region 3: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin
  Casey Nelson
   
• Southeast Region 4: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands
  James Duffy
   
• Northeast Region 5: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia
  Bill Perry
   
• Alaska Region 7: Alaska
  Kyle James
   
• Pacific Southwest Region 8: California, Nevada
  Becky Miller

Reference Documents

Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats of the United States

Ecology of Maritime Forests of Southern Atlantic Coast

Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977

National Wetlands Priority Conservation Plan