OARS funding Conservation

The principal objective of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Habitat Blueprint - Coastal and Marine Habitat Focus Area Grants solicitation is to identify and support comprehensive and cooperative habitat conservation project(s) in NOAA Habitat Focus Areas (HFAs) that sustain resilient and thriving marine and coastal resources, communities, and economies. Proposals submitted under this solicitation will be selected based on their ability to demonstrate success in achieving the NOAA Habitat Blueprint's primary objectives within three newly-selected HFAs - Biscayne Bay, FL; Puerto Rico's Northeast Reserves and Culebra Island, and Kachemak Bay, AK. These objectives vary from region to region, but they all effectively protect and/or restore high-priority habitat for managed fisheries, protected species, and other coastal and marine life; foster resilient coastal communities; advance habitat science; and lead to increased socio-economic benefits. HFA - specific objectives are identified in this federal funding opportunity, and successful proposals will achieve one or several objectives by: 1) addressing a habitat-based issue/concern contributing to the loss or deterioration of coastal resiliency or marine habitats for target managed or protected species (e.g. fish, marine mammals, sea turtles, corals); 2) identifying the project's outcomes and goal(s) and describing in detail the actions and project(s) to be undertaken to achieve those goals; and 3) describing the measurable impact on the issue/concern, target species, or resource, including proposed evaluation techniques. Proposals selected for funding through this solicitation will primarily be funded through cooperative agreements. Two-year cooperative agreement awards will be considered, and additional releases of funds may be used to fund selected proposals through FY16 without further competition. Awards are dependent upon FY15-FY16 congressional appropriations. NOAA anticipates appr

Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe Water Settlement Act of 1994; P.L. 103-434, Section XII¿Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project

The Coastal Program is a voluntary, incentive-based program that provides direct technical assistance and financial assistance in the form of cooperative agreements to coastal communities and landowners to restore and protect fish and wildlife habitat on public and private lands. Coastal Program staff coordinate with project partners, stakeholders and other Service programs to identify geographic focus areas and develop habitat conservation priorities within these focus areas. Geographic focus areas are where the Coastal Program directs resources to conserve habitat for federal trust species. Project work plans are developed strategically, in coordination with partners, and with substantial involvement from Service field staff. Projects must advance our mission, promote biological diversity, and be based upon sound scientific biological principles. Program strategic plans inform the types of projects funded under this opportunity. Applicants seeking funding under this program should review the program strategic plan and also contact the regional Coastal Program office prior to submitting an application for funding.

To provide for economical and efficient treatment of noxious weeds and invasive species on comingled land mass involving both federal and public lands

The National Marine Fisheries Service (hereinafter, "NMFS") recognizes the unique importance of marine mammals to Alaska Native Organizations (hereinafter, "ANOs") and values ongoing efforts by Alaska Native Tribes and ANOs to conserve and protect subsistence species under NMFS' jurisdiction. Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 1388, NMFS may provide Federal assistance to ANOs to conserve marine mammals and to promote co-management of Alaska Native subsistence use of such mammals under NMFS' jurisdiction. This assistance, provided in the form of cooperative agreements, may be used to support conservation of marine mammals utilized for subsistence purposes by Alaska Natives. Funded activities may include development and implementation of species management, subsistence harvest monitoring, subsistence harvest sampling, scientific research, and public education and outreach. Proposed activities should address priority actions identified in an Endangered Species Act Recovery Plan or Marine Mammal Protection Act Conservation Plan where applicable and the priorities identified within this federal funding opportunity. Tribally-Authorized ANOs with a signed agreement for co-management with NMFS are eligible to apply under this solicitation. Proposals focusing on marine mammals under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will not be considered for funding under this grant program. This document describes how to prepare and submit proposals for funding in fiscal year (hereinafter, "FY") 2015 and how NMFS will determine which proposals will be funded. This announcement should be read in its entirety, as some information has changed from the previous year.

NOAA announces the availability of Federal funding, authorized pursuant to Public Law 113-235 (Omnibus and Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2015), for necessary expenses associated with the restoration of Pacific salmon populations. The Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF) program makes such funding available to the States of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, California, and Alaska, and federally recognized tribes of the Columbia River and Pacific Coast (including Alaska) for projects necessary for the conservation of salmon and steelhead populations that are listed as threatened or endangered, or identified by a State as at-risk to be so-listed, for maintaining populations necessary for exercise of tribal treaty fishing rights or native subsistence fishing, or for the conservation of Pacific coastal salmon and steelhead habitat. This announcement outlines the priorities and guidelines that will be used to award funding to eligible entities. Pre-applications are not mandatory, but highly encouraged. They must be received no later than February 24, 2015, if the applicant expects to receive any feedback from NMFS regarding completeness of its package and initial determination of compliance with minimum requirements. Final applications should be submitted via Grants.gov and must be received no later than 11:59pm EST on March 24, 2015. For applications submitted through Grants.gov, a date and time receipt indication will be the basis of determining timeliness. The proposal must be validated by Grants.gov in order to be considered timely. PLEASE NOTE: It may take Grants.gov up to two (2) business days to validate or reject the application. Please keep this in mind in developing your submission timeline. For those not having access to the internet, one signed original and two hard copy applications must be postmarked or received by the established due date for the program at the following address: Stephanie Coleman, Grants Program Manager, NMFS West Coast Re

The purpose of this notice is to solicit grant proposals from eligible Great Lakes States for coastal and estuarine land conservation (land acquisition) projects under the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP). Applications selected for funding through this solicitation will be implemented through a grant, with awards dependent upon the amount of funds made available to NOAA for this purpose. Proposals submitted in response to this announcement shall protect important coastal and estuarine areas that have significant conservation, recreation, ecological, historical, or aesthetic values, or that are threatened by conversion from their natural, undeveloped, or recreational state to other uses. Proposals must also advance the goal of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) to protect and restore Great Lakes aquatic and terrestrial habitats. The designated lead agency for implementing CELCP (lead agency) in each participating State is eligible to submit up to two proposed projects for funding under this competition. The State's lead agency may solicit, and include in their application, project proposals from additional eligible State or local agencies, as described in this notice. Projects must be located in one of the following Great Lakes States that have submitted a CELCP plan to NOAA and are currently participating in the program: Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania (Lake Erie coast); New York (Lake Erie and Lake Ontario coasts); and Wisconsin. Projects in Illinois and Minnesota will only be eligible if the State's CELCP lead agency submits a CELCP plan to NOAA by February 12, 2015.

The U.S. Navy Communications Site project area (hereinafter referred to as "Range Station 21") is operated by Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) and located on Muses Beach along the Potomac River in Westmoreland County, Virginia. Shoreline stabilization measures are necessary to arrest shoreline erosion that is threatening to undercut the access road to Range Station 21. The proposed project area is approximately 130 linear feet of Muses Beach in Westmoreland County, Virginia. Range Station 21 is located on private land and leased by the Navy in support of military operations at Naval Support Facility (NSF) Dahlgren; however, the proposed project area is outside the area leased by the Navy and will require the successful cooperator to negotiate a right of entry (ROE) or real estate interest with the property owner. The primary purpose of this Cooperative Agreement is to provide services to design and construct a shoreline erosion control structure on private property to further protect the access road to Range Station 21. The intent of these efforts is to mitigate shoreline erosion, which threatens the access road and thus the accessibility to the existing Navy range monitoring station. No land reclamation is intended in this effort. The shoreline stabilization will support military operational requirements at NSF Dahlgren and benefit efforts to improve water quality of the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay.

SFR provides Federal grant funding to the 50 States, Commonwealths, and territories of the United States of America for land acquisition, boating access development, research projects, operations and maintenance of public fishing areas, hatchery and lake construction and maintenance, sport fish population management, fishing habitat improvements, coordination projects, and aquatic resource education. These activities restore or manage sport fish populations and provide public access to these resources. Ineligible activities include law enforcement of fish and game regulations and public relation activities to promote the fish and wildlife agency.

WR provides Federal grant funding to the 50 States, Commonwealths, and territories for the selection, restoration, rehabilitation, and improvement of wildlife habitat; wildlife management research; wildlife population surveys and inventories; land acquisition; hunter education and safety programs; coordination; development of facilities; facilities and services for conducting a hunter education and safety programs; and provisions for public use of wildlife resources. The Hunter Education and Safety Program (Section 4(c)) includes training in the safe handling and use of firearms and archery equipment; hunter responsibilities and ethics; survival; construction, operation, and maintenance of public shooting ranges; and basic wildlife management and identification. Hunter Education and Safety Programs include the development and implementation of a programmed course of instruction leading toward the achievement of the hunter safety training goals and objectives. In general, the course is to train students to be safe and responsible hunters and assist the agency in accomplishing its mission and goals.

NOAA delivers funding and technical expertise to restore Great Lakes coastal habitats. These habitats support valuable fisheries and protected resources; improve the quality of our water; provide recreational opportunities for the public's use and enjoyment; and buffer our coastal communities from the impacts of changing lake levels. Projects funded through NOAA have strong on-the-ground habitat restoration components that provide social and economic benefits for people and their communities in addition to long-term ecological habitat improvements. Through this solicitation, NOAA seeks to openly compete funding available for habitat restoration in U.S. Great Lakes Areas of Concern (http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/aoc/) under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative as anticipated in the President's FY2015 Budget. Applications should be submitted for any project that is to be considered for this funding, even for those projects already submitted as applications to other NOAA competitions. Competition will ensure that the most beneficial restoration projects are selected to realize significant ecological gains. Applications selected for funding through this solicitation will be implemented through a grant or cooperative agreement. Funds will be administered by the NOAA Restoration Center (RC). Multi-year cooperative agreement awards will be considered, and additional releases of funds may be used to fund selected proposals through FY17 without further competition. Awards are dependent upon the amount of funds made available to NOAA for this purpose by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. NOAA anticipates approximately $15 million may be available over the next three years to maintain selected awards, dependent upon the level of funding made available by Congress. One, two, or three year proposals will be accepted. Award funding options will include: * For one year requests for habitat implementation proposals, NOAA will not accept applications requesting less than $500,

The Wildlife Restoration Program provides Federal grant funding to the 50 States, Commonwealths, and territories for the selection, restoration, rehabilitation, and improvement of wildlife habitat; wildlife management research; wildlife population surveys and inventories; land acquisition; hunter education and safety programs; coordination; development of facilities; facilities and services for conducting a hunter education and safety programs; and provisions for public use of wildlife resources. The Hunter Education and Safety Program (Section 4(c)) includes training in the safe handling and use of firearms and archery equipment; hunter responsibilities and ethics; survival; construction, operation, and maintenance of public shooting ranges; and basic wildlife management and identification. Hunter Education and Safety Programs include the development and implementation of a programmed course of instruction leading toward the achievement of the hunter safety training goals and objectives. In general, the course is to train students to be safe and responsible hunters and assist the agency in accomplishing its mission and goals.

THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD TO A SINGLE SOURCE AND THERE IS NO FULL ANNOUCEMENT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS NOTICE. This is a notice of intent to award a Cooperative Agreement between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Upper Tennessee River Roundtable (UTRR) for the purpose of establishing riparian buffers and performing stream enhancement activities within the Clinch River watershed. These activities are being carried out as required by the consent decree that was entered with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia on April 7, 2003, to address natural resource damages resulting from a 1998 chemical spill. The restoration activities are described within the publicly reviewed Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment for the Certus Chemical Spill Natural Resource Damage Assessment (Plan). The Plan specifically identifies habitat protection, restoration, and the use of best management practices as measures to improve water quality and overall health of the aquatic ecosystem. The activities funded via the cooperative agreement will supplement existing restoration activities in the Clinch River watershed.

The goal of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Joint Venture (JV) Office is to assist partners in implementing effective science-based bird conservation projects in the Prairie Pothole (PPJV) and Upper Mississippi River and Great Lakes (UMRGLJV) Joint Venture regions. Each JV has an Implementation Plan and conservation strategies identifying bird habitat, monitoring, and research needs with an emphasis on JV focal species. These plans and associated research and monitoring needs can be found at www.ppjv.org and www.uppermissgreatlakesjv.org. Both JVs have identified priority evaluation needs to fill information gaps and test assumptions used in plan development. Proposals for monitoring and applied research that improve JV conservation decision tools at larger scales (e.g., Bird Conservation Region) will be given higher grant priority. In addition, projects to address conservation priorities in State Wildlife Action Plans (http://teaming.com/state-wildlife-action-plans-swaps), and for JV focal species, should be highlighted. Proposals related to coordination, outreach, planning, and bird habitat restoration enhancement contributing toward goals identified in the JV plans will also be considered, if adequate funds are available. All submissions should explain how the outcome of proposed projects is regional in scope. All proposals should have a minimum 1:1 match of non-Federal dollars to Joint Venture request, and the partners providing secured match must be identified. Each proposal must include: applicant contact information, a detailed scope of work including justification, objectives or hypotheses, scope and location, clearly-explained project methods, anticipated outcomes, management implications, literature cited, proposed project timeline, a budget table identifying partners and match, a task timeline, and project-cost details. The linkage between proposed research/monitoring projects and a JV Implementation Plan must be clearly stated. Upon completio

SFR provides Federal grant funding to the 50 States, Commonwealths, and territories of the United States of America for land acquisition, boating access development, research projects, operations and maintenance of public fishing areas, hatchery and lake construction and maintenance, sport fish population management, fishing habitat improvements, coordination projects, and aquatic resource education. These activities restore or manage sport fish populations and provide public access to these resources. Ineligible activities include law enforcement of fish and game regulations and public relation activities to promote the fish and wildlife agency.

The National Park Service (NPS) is requesting proposals from a potential recipient to collaboratively develop restoration and impact mitigation measures for the Merced River in east Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park. As a component of this project, the recipient will also also complete a detailed study of hydraulic and geomorphic impacts of the Sugar Pine Bridge and mitigations thereto as identified in the Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement.

The National Park Service provides matching grants to states and through states to local governments for the acquisition and development of land and water for outdoor recreation purposes.

Because more than half of all species currently listed as endangered or threatened spend at least part of their life cycle on privately-owned lands, the Service recognizes that success in conserving species will ultimately depend on working cooperatively with landowners, communities, and tribes to foster voluntary stewardship efforts on private lands. States and Territories (hereafter, "States") play a key role in catalyzing these efforts. A variety of tools are available under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to help States and landowners plan and implement projects to conserve species. The CESCF provides grants to States to participate in a wide array of voluntary conservation projects for candidate, listed, and recently recovered species.This Funding Opportunity pertains only to Region 3 ¿Traditional¿ Conservation Grants. The ¿Traditional¿ Conservation Grants program provides financial assistance to States to implement conservation projects for candidate, listed, and recently recovered species. Funded activities include habitat restoration, species status surveys, public education and outreach, captive propagation and reintroduction, nesting surveys, genetic studies, and development of management plans.The CESCF programs are authorized through Endangered Species Act of 1973, 16 U.S.C. 1531 - 1534 et seq., as amended. The codified program regulations can be found at 50 CFR 81.

Biological Field Stations and Marine Laboratories (FSMLs) are off-campus facilities for research and education conducted in the natural habitats of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. FSMLs support environmental and basic biological research and education by preserving access to study areas and organisms, by providing facilities and equipment in close proximity to those study areas, and by fostering an atmosphere of mutual scientific interest and collaboration in research and education. To fulfill these roles, FSMLs must offer modern research and educational facilities, equipment, communications and data management systems for a broad array of users. In recognition of the importance of FSMLs in modern biology, NSF invites proposals that address these general goals of FSML improvement.

The National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS or System) consists of estuarine areas of the United States and its territories designated and managed for research and educational purposes. Each reserve within the system is chosen to represent a different bio-geographic region and to include a variety of ecosystem types in accordance with the classification scheme of the national program as presented in 15 CFR § 921. By funding designated reserve agencies and universities to conduct land acquisition and construction projects that support the NERRS purpose, NOAA will strengthen protection of key land and water areas, enhance long-term protection of the habitats for research and education, and provide for facility and exhibit construction that meet the highest sustainable design standards possible.