The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is seeking applications for its Aquatic Resource Management Program.
Donor Name: Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/16/2023
Size of the Grant: $10,000,000
Grant Duration: 5 years
Details:
The BLM Headquarters (HQ) is seeking partners to assist with implementation of Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) ecosystem conservation and restoration activities. BLM is requesting projects across five different programs: Wildlife (15.247), Threatened and Endangered Species (15.246), Native Plants (15.245), Aquatic Resources (15.244), and Range (15.237). A primary focus of BLM IRA appropriations is large-scale, coordinated on the ground actions that help to conserve, maintain, and restore ecosystems, habitats, and the species that depend upon them. BLM is interested in projects that address one or more of the following themes: (1) Defend the Core; Grow the Core: Sagebrush Ecosystem Conservation and Management; (2) Building Drought Resilience in Arid Watersheds through Riverscape and Wet Meadow Restoration and Grazing Management, and other projects to address severe drought; and (3) National Seed Strategy to increase the availability and procurement of locally adapted native seeds. In addition to these themes, funds are available more generally to support ecosystem conservation and restoration across BLM-managed lands. Partner projects must be on public land or have a close nexus with public lands. BLM anticipates fully funding projects for up to five years. Projects funded at the HQ level should be national or regional in scope (that is occurring in more than one state).
The Bureau of Land Management’s Headquarters (HQ) National Aquatic Resources Program conserves and restores riparian and wetland areas, aquatic habitats, and water resources (hereafter referred to as aquatic resources) to provide resource values and ecosystem services necessary to achieve the BLM’s multiple use mandate. The agency’s aquatic resources and issues are diverse and include watersheds; riverscapes; riparian-wetland systems; springs, streams, rivers, and groundwater; ponds and lakes; fisheries; water quality; water rights and uses; and aquatic invasive species.
The BLM HQ National Aquatic Resources Program’s core functions include:
- Decision Support: Inventory, assess, and monitor aquatic resources to inform their understanding of condition and trend, guide the BLM’s management activities, and assess regulatory compliance.
- Conservation: Maintain and conserve the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of aquatic resources.
- Restoration: Restore aquatic resources affected by past and present impacts, aquatic invasive species, wildfire, drought, and floods; and increase their resistance, resilience, and adaptability to the impacts of climate change.
- Water Resource Sustainability: Identify the quantity and quality of water required to conserve and restore riparian and wetland areas and aquatic habitats and secure water rights and protections so sufficient water is physically and legally available for all public land management purposes.
- Environmental Compliance: Ensure full compliance with applicable Federal law, Executive Orders, regulations, and policy and with state laws where such compliance does not conflict with Federal law mandates.
- Collaboration: Coordinate, cooperate, and consult with Federal, State, tribal, and local governments and other programs, partners, and communities, to foster adaptive approaches to conservation and restoration and implement education and outreach programs.
The BLM National Aquatic Resources Program has an opportunity to work with partner organizations to assist with:
- Designing, coordinating, and implementing process-based restoration across multiple states
- Monitoring water availability to support water right claims and the sustainable use of water on public lands
- Improving assessments of drought severity and restoration effectiveness
- Informing and improving aquatic organism passage and aquatic connectivity
Funding Information
- Estimated Total Funding Amount: $25,000,000
- Maximum Funding Amount: $10,000,000
- Minimum Funding Amount: $1,000,000
Anticipated Award Funding and Dates
Projects cannot be funded for more than a five-year period.
Eligible Applicants
- Independent school districts
- City or township governments
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Special district governments
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- State governments
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- County governments
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
