The Bureau of Reclamation is offering this grant to support the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program.

This unique conservation partnership includes federal, state and tribal participants. In addition, this program represents a unique partnership among a number of agencies within the U.S. Department of the Interior. More information is available at www.usbr.gov/lc/lcrmscp/ .
Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation

Program Overview and Goals
Implementation of the program began in April 2005 with the signing of a Record of Decision by the Secretary of the Department of the Interior. The implementation activities are based on adaptive management principles, which allow program conservation measures to be adjusted over time based on monitoring and research. The Bureau of Reclamation, in consultation and partnership with a Steering Committee made up of representatives from the 56 participating entities, is the primary implementing agency for this activity.

The LCR MSCP planning and activity area comprises areas up to and including the full-pool elevations of Lakes Mead, Mohave, and Havasu and the historical floodplain of the Colorado River from Lake Mead to the Southerly International Boundary with Mexico (SIB). The historical flood plain is defined as all lands that are or have been affected by the meandering or regulated flows of the Colorado River, which historically have been defined by the change in elevation that forms the adjoining uplands. Conservation, restoration and rehabilitative habitat measures under the LCR MSCP currently focus on the area from Hoover Dam to the SIB at this time.

Some responsibilities, projects and activities for the LCR MSCP include:
• Development and implementation of robust monitoring and research programs for covered species and system monitoring elements. Research activities may include documenting existing knowledge, defining data gaps, designing or evaluating research proposals, and accomplishing research to provide information to effectively implement the conservation measures through an adaptive management process.
• The planning, development and maintenance of 8,132 acres of riparian, marsh and backwater habitat for six threatened and endangered species and 20 other species native to the lower Colorado River. Created habitat research projects will address uncertainties related to the techniques for creating habitat and maintaining habitat values for these species.
• Monitoring, research and covered native species fish augmentation activities to produce and stock 1.2 million native fish to the lower Colorado River. Activities may include species research, brood stock development, fish rearing and stocking, and fish rearing facility development.

The objective of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to invite proposals from eligible applicants for projects that will assist in the implementation and success of the LCR MSCP through the restoration of biological functions in four habitat types along the lower Colorado River for the improvement of fish and wildlife habitat associated with water systems or water supplies affected by Reclamation projects: aquatic, emergent marshes, lower terrace cottonwood and willow riparian woodlands, and upper terrace native mesquite bosques.