NOAA is announcing the availability of up to $3 million in Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grant funding for restoration projects in 2018. The Great Lakes are one of our most important natural resources—they are the largest freshwater system on earth—but they face many threats. This federal funding opportunity (FFO) is intended for habitat restoration in the Great Lakes region, supporting healthy ecosystems and resilient coastal communities in Great Lakes states. Special focus for this FFO are locations beyond the Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOCs) targeted in previous years. The closing date is March 12, 2018.
In 2018, approximately $3 million may be available to institutions of higher education, non-profit organizations, commercial (for profit) organizations, and governments of U.S. territories, states, and local municipalities, as well as Native American tribal governments. The amount of funding available for this FFO is subject to FY2018 budget appropriations.
Priority will be given to projects that fulfill the following goals:
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Creating functional habitats for native fish species migration, reproduction, growth, and seasonal refuge, including improvements for fish passage, wetlands, and nearshore habitats;
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Restoring sites outside of AOCs including delisted AOCs and AOCs in recovery with all management actions complete; and
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Ensuring the long term protection of the restored site through partner-supported acquisition of land or a conservation easement at the restored site, or land with an ecological relationship to the restored site (e.g. land in proximity or within the same watershed).
Detailed description and requirements can be found at http://www.grants.gov/, funding number NOAA-NMFS-HCPO-2018-2005487.
If you have any questions regarding this funding opportunity, please contact either Julie Sims (julie.sims@noaa.gov) or Jessica Berrio (jessica.berrio@noaa.gov).
Find more information on other NOAA habitat restoration funding opportunities.
