OARS funding Conservation

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION 1. Authority This Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Federal Financial Assistance Funding Opportunity is being announced under the following legislative authority: HAZARDOUS FUELS REDUCTION, Wildland Fire Management, Annual Appropriations (2014 Public Law 113-76), Wildland Fire Management, which states in part: That using the amounts designated under this title of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior may enter into procurement contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements, for hazardous fuels reduction activities, and for training and monitoring associated with such hazardous fuels reduction activities, on Federal land, or on adjacent non-Federal land for activities that benefit resources on Federal land: Provided further, That the costs of implementing any cooperative agreement between the Federal Government and any non-Federal entity may be shared, as mutually agreed on by the affected parties: Provided further, That notwithstanding requirements of the Competition in Contracting Act, the Secretary, for purposes of hazardous fuels reduction activities, may obtain maximum practicable competition among: (1) local private, nonprofit, or cooperative entities; (2) Youth Conservation Corps crews or related partnerships with State, local, or non-profit youth groups" . 2. Description of Program and/or Project a. Background: Phoenix District Office (BLM) Fuels Management Staff has targeted the communities of Wickenburg, Aguila, Morristown, Buckeye, Buckeye Valley, Goodyear, Maricopa, Gila Bend, Tonopah, Palo Verde, and Circle City to help in the effort to promote, teach and create defensible space. In accordance with the National Fire Plan and the Presidents Healthy Forest Initiative the efforts under this assistance agreement are intended to reduce the risk of catastrophic fire to wildland urban interface communities, and promote community assistance. The Maricopa County CWPP technical support group is researching uses for the biomass that is being creat

BLM CA has been working with the Amargosa Conservancy for establishing baselines for ground water hydrographs within the region. BLM has installed monitoring wells on public lands within the Amargosa River ACEC. With both BLM and Amargosa Conservancy having the same end results in working with private landowners to conduct much of the restoration on BLM and private lands in the region. BLM will continue to work on joint restoration planning and coordination to continue the monitoring of ground water and control invasive species and restore habitat within the California portion of the Amargosa River watershed. The benefit of having a recipient monitoring resources in addition to the ground water will assist BLM in the development of the Amargosa Wild and Scenic River AWSR management plan especially in data development. A recipient must be able to access all data for this projects that have transpired for the past several years and BLM needs to stay consistent with the same database lines.

The mission of the CESU Network is to promote, conduct, and provide research, technical assistance, and education services nationwide in support of the missions of participating federal agencies and their partners concerning natural and cultural resource management on federal and-or private lands and waters. Also in order to achieve this mission, each CESU project is conducted cooperatively and with substantial involvement by and benefits to federal and nonfederal partners. Each project must also be consistent with the mission of the individual CESU through which it is administered. This announcement is part of the master agreement L13AC00082 These projects involve assisting the BLM with long term adaptive management and ongoing planning on Fort Ord National Monument-FONM by continuing the university student and volunteer programs for young people to learn about but not limited to: restoration ecology, studying grassland and woodland ecosystems, watersheds, evaluating existing management actions, providing management guidelines for future actions, inventory, monitoring, evaluation, and evaluating field plots for determining new techniques to improve results of BLMs habitat restoration on FONM.

The goal of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is to target the most significant environmental problems in the Great Lakes ecosystem by funding and implementing federal projects that address these problems. As part of this initiative, the two bird habitat joint ventures that are in the Great Lakes watershed the Upper Mississippi and Great Lakes Region Joint Venture and the Atlantic Coast Joint Venture will be working with the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration programs in the Midwest and Northeast Regions of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to competitively fund state and other partner projects for long term habitat restoration, enhancement or protection, for conservation of native Great Lakes fish and wildlife populations, particularly migratory birds. Preference will be given to activities that help meet the habitat goals of the Upper Mississippi River and Great Lakes Region Joint Venture Implementation Plan or the Lower Great Lakes St. Lawrence Plain (BCR 13) Bird Conservation Region Plan, other relevant bird conservation plans, and State Wildlife Action Plans.

The invasion of Dreissena spp. (zebra mussels, ZM; quagga mussels, QM) caused dramatic ecological effects on the Great Lakes ecosystems, which include changes in fish abundance, extirpation of native mussels and profound changes in benthic invertebrates. Until now most dreissenid control measures have focused on reducing mussel settlement in commercially important raw water plumbing; yet, this provides little benefit to ecosystem restoration which is affected by the dreissenid abundance in the natural environment. However, preliminary research in our laboratories has demonstrated that algae produce chemicals that can stimulate or inhibit dreissenid spawning. The stimulatory chemicals may be the normal triggers of spawning that signal when conditions are amenable to larval development; whereas the inhibitory algal chemicals may be protective or toxic signals that prevent predation by dreissenid mussel adults and larvae. Thus, instead of focusing on toxic non-specific chemicals to kill mussels, as are used in water treatment facilities and power stations, we propose to identify and deploy algal chemicals, which are potentially species specific (and therefore more environmentally benign) natural products to regulate dreissenid mussel reproduction to reduce mussel populations at ecosystem scales.

To create new partnerships to support USAID/Brazil's Environmental priorities in the areas of biodiversity conservation; protection of indigenous lands and natural resources; and applied biodiversity science, technology and innovation.

Created by Congress in 1984, NFWF directs public conservation dollars to the most pressing environmental needs and matches those investments with private funds. NFWFÿfds method is simple and effective: to work with a full complement of individuals, foundations, government agencies, non-profits, and corporations to identify and fund targeted conservation challenges throughout the nation where a focused investment is likely to result in a conservation success.

The National Park Service, Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program is dedicated to preserving the diverse history of U.S. Highway 66. The program provides financial assistance in the form of competitive cost-share grants for buildings, structures, road segments, and cultural landscpes along the length of the Route 66 corridor, covering, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Cost-share grants are also available for planning, research, and educational initiatives related to the preservation of Route 66. The legislation enabling this program is provided through the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Act of 1999 (Public Law 106-45; 111-11, Section 7304), which is administered by the National Park Service.

This is a continuation of previous Agreement L10AC16454 botanical studies by the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) on BLM-managed public lands, including the Carrizo Plain National Monument (CPNM). In the past CNPS has provided vegetation maps for the CPNM and the establishment and monitoring of permanent vegetation plots in compliance with California protocol.

This Funding Announcement is not a request for applications. This announcement is to provide public notice of the National Park Service, intention to fund the following project activities without competition. North Cascades Institute (NCI) is a nationally regarded nonprofit environmental organization maintained in the State of Washington, and is dedicated to increasing understanding and appreciation of the natural and cultural landscapes of the Pacific Northwest. The Institute's mission is to conserve and restore Northwest environments through education. The Institute was created for the specific purpose of providing programs of public education and involvement in conservation, natural science, history and related fields of study, in order to foster and enhance understanding and appreciation of the North Cascades bioregion. NCI has been a valued partner of North Cascades National Park Complex (NOCA) since 1986. The two agencies have a solid track record of cooperatively developing successful, cost-effective programs that meet both park and Institute educational and budgetary goals. NCI is considered to be the lead educational partner of NOCA, providing over $2.6 million in integrated education programming during the 29-year relationship. NCI operates the residential North Cascades Environmental Learning Center, an 11.6 million dollar facility which is imbedded within NOCA as required by a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) agreement with Seattle City Light, operator of three hydroelectric dams within NOCA. The Learning Center is one of the required mitigation elements for Seattle City Light's federal FERC license for continued operation of three hydroelectric reservoirs on the Skagit River. The NPS and the Institute are mutually interested and desire to cooperate in conducting interpretive activities, public education, and training related to the understanding, protection, and management of the natural and cultural resources of (1) the North Cascades ecosys

The USFWS is seeking proposals on behalf of the Aleutian and Bering Sea Islands Landscape Conservation Cooperative hereafter shown as ABSI LCC. The Mission of the ABSI LCC is to promote coordination, dissemination, and development of applied science to inform conservation of natural and cultural resources in the face of climate change and other landscape scale stressors. This Notice of Funding Availability has multiple Topics. For each the following topics we envision research efforts will primary consist of syntheses and modelling based on existing data and/or climate projections but we are also interested in possible proposals involving field research if leveraging of that existing work sufficiently addresses one or more of our topics. The following four topic areas have been identified by the ABSI Steering Committee as key information needs for managers and communities in the ABSI region relative to climate change: Topic 1: We are interested in an evaluation of how climate change might disrupt trophic function important for key prey species of importance to marine mammals. We are specifically interested in an exploration of shifts in timing and spatial distribution of primary and secondary productivity in areas important to marine mammal species. Topic 2: We want to understand how climate change might facilitate the expansion of parasites, diseases, or other pathogens in marine species important to human communities within the ABSI region. We are interested in syntheses, modelling, projections, etc. that specifically identify climatic thresholds (e.g., ocean temperatures or sea ice extent) that define the ranges of pathogens and the potential for those ranges to change or expand given future projected conditions. We are particularly interested in projects in this topic area that focus on pathogens that affect marine species important to subsistence harvest practices and human health in the region. Topic 3: We want to understand the potential negative effects of c

Under FY15 appropriations to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) anticipates providing grants to support implementation of Great Lakes State Aquatic Invasive Nuisance Species Management Plans (State Plans), and support for the implementation of a Great Lakes Interstate Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plan (Interstate Plan). Two-year grant awards will be used by states (including for developing the Interstate Plan) for activities that directly relate to the protection and restoration of the Great Lakes and Great Lakes Basin. Priorities for funding will include FY12 GLRI AIS grant expenditure rates, Description of accomplishments that resulted from implementing past grants, and Projections of accomplishments that are enumerated for each of the performance metrics listed in GLRI Action Plan II. Grant proposals will be submitted either through Grants.gov, or via email to the address listed in section VIII of the Notice of Funding Opportunity.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), an agency under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is announcing availability of Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. Proposals will be accepted from Iowa. NRCS anticipates that the amount available for support of this program in FY 2015 will be up to $800,000. Proposals are requested from eligible governmental or non-governmental organizations or individuals for competitive consideration of grant awards for projects between 1 and 3 years in duration. This notice identifies the objectives, eligibility criteria, and application instructions for CIG projects. Proposals will be screened for completeness and compliance with the provisions of this notice. Incomplete and/or noncompliant proposals will be eliminated from competition, and notification of elimination will be sent to the applicant.

The State Wildlife Grants Program provides States, the District of Columbia, Commonwealths, and territories (State(s)) Federal grant funds for the development and implementation of programs for the benefit of wildlife and their habitats, including species that are not hunted or fished. Eligible activities include both planning and implementation. Planning activities must contribute directly to the development or modification of the Stateÿfds current Wildlife Action Plan (Plan) approved by the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service). Implementation activities are activities that a State intends to carry out to execute their Plan. Priority for use of these funds should be placed on those species of greatest conservation need and take into consideration the relative level of funding available for the conservation of those species. Ineligible activities include wildlife education and law enforcement activities, unless the law enforcement or education component is a minor or incidental activity which is considered critical to the success of a project. Additional information about the State Wildlife Grants Program is on the web at ÿfdhttp://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/GrantPrograms/SWG/SWG.htm. If you do not have access to the Internet and would like to receive information by mail, contact the Service point of contact identified in the Agency Contacts section below.

The BLM is seeking a partnership with a State of Nevada department to collaborate with whose interest and expertise is to improve wildland vegetation conditions for the benefit of wildlife in Eastern Nevada. The recipient would combine their resources, contributed funds or in-kind contributions to advise, monitor and implement projects that benefit wildlife in Nevada.

Monitoring avian populations and their associated habitats is a priority for avian conservation and management throughout the BLM. The BLM has been working with Klamath Bird Observatory (KBO) on bird conservation projects and programs since 1992. Information gained from these efforts has been incorporated and disseminated as the latest knowledge and recommendations for avian conservation throughout Oregon and Washington. Over the past decade KBO, in cooperation with several other organizations and individuals, has been involved in the intensive monitoring and inventory of neotropical migratory birds in the region. Additionally KBO has brought scare resources to the table in the form of skilled avian conservation staff to implement research, environmental education, social science and monitoring efforts. Their expertise and skills to access, retrieve and utilize the data stored in the Avian Knowledge Northwest (AKNW) database has been used to make comparative analyses and management recommendations for ongoing avian data collection efforts in Oregon and Washington. This has provided the BLM the unique ability to assess the growing avian conservation needs. The primary objective of this program is to evaluate the population health of landbirds in various habitats, and for the continued monitoring, research, environmental education, social science and adaptive management projects of avian conservation throughout OR and WA. The recipient will cooperatively assess and determine the status and trends of avifauna throughout OR and WA and continue to seek opportunities to engage the BLM in bird conservation opportunities at regional and national scales. The recipient is required to monitor species presence/absence, estimate densities, create habitat associations for guilds of avifauna and monitor population trends for individual species across habitat types and management regimes. The ability to analyze, interpret, incorporate and disseminate the information into planning a

Whitworth University has been working with the BLM to monitor the long-term trend of translocated sage and sharp-tailed grouse habitat in Lincoln County, Washington beginning in 2014. An analysis of nested-frequency vegetation data has been completed by Whitworth University detailing how nesting habitat has changed in the study area over a 15-year period. In 2015, project partners expect to translocate up to 40 additional sage-grouse to the Lincoln County population, 20 of which will be fitted with radio collars. Previous studies have focused on nesting habitat and spring/summer movements, but little is known about how translocated grouse, in the study area, use mesic habitat, presumably important for brood-rearing. Vegetation maps of the translocation area have been jointly developed by WSU and BLM to provide a detailed habitat layer from which to base habitat selection models. Mesic habitat is identified on this map but not further described, classified or evaluated for importance to grouse. Since the re-introduction effort is continuing using radio collared birds, there is opportunity to learn more about these specific questions. The objective of this program is to study habitat use of sage-grouse and sharp-tailed grouse in the Crab Creek Management Area of eastern Washington. This work will be conducted in close coordination with project partners in a collaborative setting.

Per language in the Oregon Natural Heritage Act, the Oregon Biodiversity Information Center (ORBIC), currently located at Portland State University, is the State agency responsible for rare and endangered invertebrates in Oregon. As such, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has granted the program limited authority to administer and manage a program for federally threatened and endangered invertebrate species, as provided under Section 6 of US Federal Endangered Species Act. As ORBIC is the clearing house that provides the monitors and coordinates and maintains Oregon's most comprehensive database of rare, threatened and endangered species, the BLM has been partnering with ORBIC for the past 20 years to conduct monitoring of the Oregon Coast western snowy plover population. This monitoring is a recovery task identified in the Western Snowy Plover Recovery Plan (USFWS 2007) and the Oregon Conservation Program for the Western Snowy Plover (ODFW 1994). The objective of this program is to continue annual monitoring of the Oregon Coast population of snowy plover reproductive success to assess whether recovery goals under the Endangered Species Act are being met.

Washington State University has been working with the BLM since 2009 to study habitat selection and movement patterns of translocated sage and sharp-tailed grouse in Lincoln County, Washington. Vegetation maps of the translocation area have been jointly developed by WSU and BLM to provide a detailed habitat layer from which to base habitat selection models. In 2013 a Master's thesis on habitat selection of translocated grouse was published by WSU (Stonehouse 2013). Currently WSU has begun analyzing grouse movement data and home range size in relation to a recent fire in the study area. This work is ongoing, but will eventually compare grouse movement after the fire to the pre-fire results shown in Stonehouse (2013). In 2015, project partners expect to translocate up to 40 more sage-grouse to the Lincoln County population, 20 of which will be fitted with radio collars. Also in 2015, we expect to deploy up to 12 radio collars on native sage-grouse in Douglas County, Washington. Previous studies have focused on nesting habitat and spring/summer movements, but little is known about how movement and behavior affects survival, and how re-introduced grouse compare to residents. Since the re-introduction effort is continuing using radio collared birds, there is opportunity to learn more about these specific questions. To study movement and behavior of sage-grouse in the Crab Creek and Moses Coulee Management Areas of eastern Washington. This work will be conducted in close coordination with project partners in a collaborative setting.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION 1. Authority This Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Federal Financial Assistance Funding Opportunity is being announced under the following legislative authority: WATERSHED RESTORATION AND ENHANCEMENT AGREEMENTS (WYDEN AMENDMENT), Public Law 104-208, Section 124, as amended Public Law 105-277, Section 136, which states: "Appropriations made for the BLM may be used by the Secretary of Interior for the purpose of entering into cooperative agreements with the heads of other Federal agencies, Tribal, State, and local governments, private and nonprofit entities, and landowners for the protection, restoration, and enhancement of fish and wildlife habitat and other resources on public or private land and the reduction of risk from natural disaster where public safety is threatened that benefit these resources on public lands within the watershed, and enhancement of fish and wildlife habitat and other resources on public or private land and the reduction of risk from natural disaster where public safety is threatened that benefit these resources on public lands within the watershed." 2. Description of Program and/or Project a. Background: The Yuma Field Office includes many acres along the lower Colorado and Gila Rivers. Extensive damming and conversion to upland has re-characterized the lands along the river that once were natural system, but are now dominated by invasive species. An increase in wildland fires in these areas also greatly affect the reduction in native vegetation and increase in invasive species. Rehabilitation efforts to improve sites offer migratory birds and other wildlife species native habitat for foraging and potential nesting. The Walker Fire in December of 2014 burned 1,110 acres of native marsh and riparian habitat. This area is home to the largest population of the Federally endangered Yuma clapper rail. The native riparian habitat also provides migratory habitat for the southwestern willow flycatcher. The Walker ESR Plan outline