Department of Interior Wildlife Grants: Restoration and Conservation Funding

The WR program is funded by revenues collected from the manufacturers of firearms and ammunition who pay an excise tax on these items to the U.S. Treasury. Additional information about the Wildlife Restoration Grant Program (WR) is available at: http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/GrantPrograms/WR/WR.htm
The WR 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 Sport Fish Restoration Act of 1950 (Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act), 64 Stat. 430 as amended; 16 U.S.C. 777-777m, was passed on August 9, 1950. It was modeled after the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to create a parallel program for management conservation, and restoration of fishery resources. The Sport Fish Restoration Grant Program (SFR) is funded by revenues collected from the manufacturers of fishing rods, reels, creels, lures, flies and artificial baits, who pay an excise tax on these items to the U.S. Treasury. An amendment in 1984 (Wallop-Breaux Amendment) added new provisions to the Act by extending the excise tax to previously untaxed items of sport fishing equipment. SFR provides funding to restore, conserve, manage, or enhance sport fish populations and the public use and benefits from these resources; and to provide boating access to public waters. Additional information about SFR is on the internet at http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/GrantPrograms/SFR/SFR.htm.

The SFR Program 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 State Wildlife Grants Program provides States, the District of Columbia, Commonwealths, and territories (States) 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 Stateâ¿¿s 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.

Congress appropriates funds for the State Wildlife Grant Program on an annual basis. Funds are apportioned to States, commonwealths, and U.S. territories based on a formula.
In addition, Congress has authorized funding since 2008 for a competitive State Wildlife Grant Program to encourage multi-partner projects that implement actions contained in the State Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Plans (also known as State Wildlife Action Plans).