U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Offers Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Grant

Supported in part by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, we expect approximately $1,790,000 to support projects this fiscal year. Available funding and project awards are subject to final Congressional appropriations for Fiscal Year 2021. Up to 33 and one-third percent of the total Congressional appropriation to the GLFWRA is eligible to fund Regional Projects. Expected award funding for Regional Projects is between $180,000 to $565,000. Successful restoration and research projects have ranged from $2,300 to $2,000,000 with the average project at $130,201. Expected award funding for restoration and research projects is between $20,000 and $300,000. Typically project period is 1 to 4 years.

For cooperative agreements, the Service anticipates to be substantially involved by performing one or more of the following activities:
• Participating and working closely with the recipient in carrying out the scope of work, including training recipient personnel or detailing Federal personnel to work on the project effort.
• Reviewing and approving one stage of work before the next stage can begin.
• Prior to award, reviewing and approving proposed modifications or sub-awards.
• Helping select project staff or trainees.
• Directing or redirecting the work because of interrelationships with other projects.
• Reserving the right to immediately halt an activity if detailed performance specifications are not met.
• Limiting recipient discretion with respect to scope of work, organizational structure, staffing, mode of operations and other management processes, coupled with close monitoring or operational involvement during performance under the award.

Regional Projects are authorized activities of the Service related to fish and wildlife resource protection, restoration, maintenance, and enhancement impacting the resources of multiple States or Indian Tribes with fish and wildlife management authority in the Great Lakes Basin. The Service will be responsible for accomplishing Regional Projects on behalf of the State and/or Tribal agencies submitting the Regional Project proposal. Restoration and research projects require a 25% non-federal match. Regional Projects selected shall be exempt from cost sharing if the Service’s Regional Director Great Lakes Region determines that the authorization for the project does not require a non-Federal cost-share. The 2016 Reauthorization of the GLFWRA made some significant additions to allowable non-federal match as it relates to time period, and land and conservation easements. Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity for more details.

The two page restoration and research pre-proposals and Regional Project full proposals are submitted to the Service for review. Successful restoration and research pre-proposal applicants are invited to submit full proposals, which are reviewed and ranked by the Proposal Review Committee. Restoration and research full proposals, and Regional Project full proposals selected for funding will be awarded funding for the duration of the project via a grant or cooperative agreement between the recipient and the Service. Funding will be made available once the award letter has been received. Continuation of projects funded in previous fiscal years is eligible, but will be considered and reviewed as a new project.

Link to Additional Information: Link to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service’s Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act Notice of Funding Opportunity, Restoration and Research Pre-proposal Application and Regional Project Full Proposal Application. https://www.fws.gov/midwest/fisheries/glfwra-grants.html