US Fish and Wildlife Service Region 6 Aquatic Invasive Species Grant

Project ranking criteria include: ecological benefits for Federal trust species, minimizing or removing impacts of aquatic species posing highest risks to native species or ecosystems, current scientific knowledge and proven technology, and addressing objectives outlined in approved federal, state, regional, tribal or species aquatic nuisance species control and management plans. Projects will also be evaluated for their biological and statistical soundness, feasibility, geographic scope of applicability, and cost effectiveness. Benefits of collaborative interagency efforts and partnerships for aquatic resources will be: reduced impacts of invasive species and/or reduced invasive species populations, and improved partnerships and decreased duplication of efforts. Activities will be consistent with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Fisheries Program Vision.

Guidelines for proposals can be viewed under the Full Announcement tab.

The Region 6 US Fish and Wildlife Service Fish and Aquatic Conservation Program and its partners recognize that we share responsibilities for preventing and controlling the impacts of aquatic invasive species on fish and other aquatic resources, and success is contingent on partnerships that cut across jurisdictions. Region 6 covers the states of Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. Proposals will only be considered for extensions of previously funded grant projects and projects with the following priorities: within R6 states which address the management and/or control of quagga/zebra mussels, Asian carps, or New Zealand mudsnails; related to the 100th Meridian Initiative; related to the Western Regional Panel on Aquatic Invasive Species; and/or which meet the goals of ¿An Action Plan to Implement Legal and Regulatory Efforts to Minimize Expansion of Invasive Mussels Through Watercraft Movements in the Western United States¿ or the 2010 Quagga-Zebra Mussel Action Plan for Western U.S. Waters; and which are coordinated in part by Region 6 Fish and Aquatic Conservation.

Proposals may include but are not limited to: assessment, planning and coordination; prevention and control programs; research to understand or determine Aquatic Invasive Species effects, risk or spread; research to develop control or eradication tools; and Outreach and Education efforts intended to produce a change in behavior that will curtail spread of invasive species. This includes a process to fund State Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Management Plans officially approved by the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force and authorized by the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990.

Project ranking criteria include: ecological benefits for Federal trust species, minimizing or removing impacts of aquatic species posing highest risks to native species or ecosystems, current scientific knowledge and proven technology, and addressing objectives outlined in approved federal, state, regional, tribal or species aquatic nuisance species control and management plans. Projects will also be evaluated for their biological and statistical soundness, feasibility, geographic scope of applicability, and cost effectiveness. Benefits of collaborative interagency efforts and partnerships for aquatic resources will be: reduced impacts of invasive species and/or reduced invasive species populations, and improved partnerships and decreased duplication of efforts. Activities will be consistent with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Fisheries Program Vision.