Program Name | Description | Eligible Entities | Project Type | Award Ceiling | Award Floor | Non-federal Cost Share | Application Deadline | Status | Informational Webinars | Government Level | Agency | Agency Contact | Agency Program Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Aquatic Resource Management | The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Colorado Aquatic Resources Program protects and restores riparian and wetland areas, aquatic habitats, and water resources to provide functioning ecosystems for a combination of balanced and diverse uses including fish and wildlife, and for the long-term needs of future generations. Policy guidance for the Program ensures that public land management based on multiple use and sustained yield provides healthy and productive riparian, wetland, and aquatic habitat, achieves land health standards, and considers society’s long-term needs for healthy watersheds. The issues the Program addresses are diverse and include restoration, habitat fragmentation and degradation, drought resiliency, water availability, and aquatic invasive species. Program staff provide professional expertise and policy guidance to BLM managers, Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments, and non-governmental partners on these issues, and implement the best management practices to minimize or avoid impacts to water resources, riparian and wetland areas, and aquatic habitats on public lands. This program supports projects funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Section 40804 (b) Ecosystem Restoration. This program also supports projects funded through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Sections 50221 Resilience, 50222 Ecosystems Restoration and 50303 DOI.The BLM Colorado Aquatic Resources Program’s core functions include:Ecosystem Structure and Function: Protect and restore the physical and ecological processes of functioning riparian and wetland areas, aquatic habitats, and water resources.Water Quality: Protect and restore the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of surface water and groundwater.Water Availability: Ensure that water is legally and physically available for beneficial uses, including protection and restoration actions.Riparian, Wetland, and Aquatic Habitat: Proactively protect and restore riparian, wetland, and aquatic habitats to ensure the presence, abundance, and diversity of healthy, self-sustaining, and desirable riparian, wetland, and aquatic species and other wildlife and plant populations that depend upon these habitats, including special status species.Decision Support: Inventory, assess, and monitor aquatic resources to inform our understanding of condition and trend, guide the BLM’s management activities, and assess regulatory compliance.Environmental Compliance: Ensure full compliance with applicable federal law, Executive Orders, regulations, and policy and with state law to the extent consistent with federal law.Internal & External Involvement: Consult, coordinate, cooperate, and collaborate with federal, state, tribal, and local governments and other programs, partners, and communities, to foster adaptive approaches to protection and restoration and implement education and outreach programs.The BLM Colorado Aquatic Resources Program continues to advance the Department of the Interior's priorities to address the climate crisis, restore balance on public lands and waters, advance environmental justice, and invest in a clean energy future. The BLM Colorado Aquatic Resources Program has an opportunity to work with partner organizations to assist with:Contributing to the above-described Program core functions.Combating climate change and habitat loss impacts to aquatic resources.Restoring and connecting degraded aquatic resources.Increasing ecosystem resistance, resilience, and adaptability to drought, wildfires, and floods.Determining acceptable levels of hydrologic and ecological change given BLM management objectives.Advancing inventory, assessment, and monitoring activities and tools.Preventing the establishment and spread of invasive species.Increasing public knowledge of aquatic habitats on BLM managed lands, including with a targeted focus on communities of color, low-income families, and rural and indigenous communities. | Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) City or township governments County governments Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) State governments Private institutions of higher education Special district governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education | Watershed Health Forest Management | $45,000 | $5,000 | 2/1/2025, 12:00:00 AM (UTC) | Open | N/A | Colorado | Bureau of Land Management | Thelma Mosley tmosley@blm.gov | https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/357481?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email | |
| Wetlands for Wildlife | The Colorado Wetlands for Wildlife Program is a voluntary, collaborative, and incentive-based program to restore, enhance, and create wetlands and riparian areas in Colorado. Colorado Parks and Wildlife annually seeks applications for wetland and riparian restoration, enhancement, and creation projects to support the goals of this program. | Local governments, other state and federal land management agencies, tribes, non-profit habitat conservation organizations, and private companies. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) staff and other Department of Natural Resources (DNR) staff are eligible to apply. | Forest Management Watershed Health | There is no minimum or maximum grant award. However, small requests (<$25,000) are discouraged | 2/11/2025, 12:00:00 AM (UTC) | Open | Colorado | CO Water Conservation Board | brian.sullivan@state.co.us | https://cpw.state.co.us/wetlands-wildlife-grants | |||
| PROTECT Discretionary Grant Program | The Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost- Saving Transportation (PROTECT) Discretionary Grant Program is a competitive grant program created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to plan for and strengthen surface transportation to be more resilient to natural hazards, including climate change, sea level rise, flooding, extreme weather events, and other natural disasters. This is primarily for transportation infrastructure resiliency, but fish passage can be co-benefit. There are 4 types of PROTECT grants: 1) Planning, 2) Resilience Improvement; 3) Community Resilience and Evacuation Route; and 4) At-Risk Coastal Infrastructure. Established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021, the PROTECT program provides $8.7 billion in formula and discretionary funding for improving the resilience of highway, transit, intercity rail, and port facilities to climate change and natural disasters. The program is administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). | (A) A State or political subdivision of a State. (B) A metropolitan planning organization. (C) A unit of local government. (D) A special purpose district or public authority with a transportation function, including a port authority. (E) An Indian tribe (F) A Federal land management agency that applies jointly with a State or group of States. (G) A multi-State or multijurisdictional group of entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (F). | Watershed Health | $876,000,000 | $100,000 | 2/24/2025, 7:00:00 AM (UTC) | Open | https://usdot.zoomgov.com/rec/component-page?action=viewdetailpage&sharelevel=meeting&useWhichPasswd=meeting&clusterId=gov&componentName=need-password&meetingId=l5ZQllg4OvSDPysEmzzTE-gge26jhiHz7IBrVXqRQuyngXq1FyWRudq3SjL_jqiu.0e3sfZrAmkWXUhbn&originRequestUrl=https://usdot.zoomgov.com/rec/share/4ANISfRHR_w8EciiFwwCg2Bm5hxkYbyJZ_BdalFg8-oHDjPUJ8wvsLDm9LqXclhZ.OFwPHZZrzfndSmn_?startTime=1731002402000 (Passcode: D^wV7xT$) | Federal | Dept of Transportation | PROTECTdiscretionary@dot.gov | https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/protect/discretionary/ | |
| Restoring Tribal Priority Fish Passage through Barrier Removal | The principal objective of the NOAA’s Restoring Tribal Priority Fish Passage through Barrier Removal Funding Opportunity is to provide federal financial and technical assistance to Indian tribes and organizations that represent Indian tribes through formal legal agreements (e.g., tribal commissions, tribal consortia, tribal conservation districts, and tribal cooperatives) (see section III.A for specific Eligibility requirements) to remove barriers to fish passage. NOAA recognizes that healthy fish populations are integral to the living culture of tribes. Funding will be used for fish passage that rebuilds productive and sustainable fisheries, contributes to the recovery and conservation of threatened and endangered species, enhances watershed health, promotes resilient ecosystems and communities, and increases tribal capacity to participate in fish passage barrier removal efforts while improving tribal commercial, recreational, subsistence and cultural practice opportunities. Proposed work may be located on tribal lands, throughout traditional use areas, or in coastal watersheds that support fish populations that are or have been integral to the living culture of tribes. This funding announcement is authorized under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (Public Law 117-58), 135 STAT. 1356 (Nov. 15, 2021) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA, Public Law 117-169). | ligible applicants are Indian tribes (as defined in 25 U.S.C. Section 5304 (e)) and organizations that represent Indian tribes through formal legal agreements (e.g., tribal commissions, tribal consortia, tribal conservation districts, and tribal cooperatives). 23.U.S.C. Section 5304 (e) states that ‘(e)“Indian tribe” or “Indian Tribe” means any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska Native village or regional or village corporation as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (85 Stat. 688) [43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.], which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians. Organizations that represent Indian tribes through formal legal agreements are encouraged to provide a clear description and supporting documentation (e.g., letters of support, Memoranda of Understandings) in the application, demonstrating a relationship between the tribe(s) and organization. The documentation is further described in this Announcement in Section IV.B., Content and Form of Application. Documentation should be submitted as part of the grant application.An institution of higher education, non-profit organization, commercial (for profit) organization, U.S. territory, or state or local government, and organizations that identify as Indian tribes but do not meet the definition of “Indian tribe” above, which may include state recognized tribes, can partner with Indian tribes and organizations that represent Indian tribes through formal legal agreements, but are not eligible to submit an application directly. A partnership may involve proposed subawards, contracts, informal collaboration, or other engagement. These partners may apply directly for separate NOAA Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding opportunities for restoring fish passage published at www.grants.gov. Applications from federal agencies or employees of federal agencies will not be considered. Federal agencies interested in this program are strongly encouraged to work with applicants who are eligible to apply. Applicants must propose work in areas that benefit United States migratory fish as defined in the Program Objective (Section I.A). Eligible applicants for Great Lakes projects must propose work within one of the eight U.S. Great Lakes states (New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota) within the Great Lakes basin.E | Watershed Health Forest Management | $6,000,000 | $300,000 | 2/28/2025, 6:30:00 AM (UTC) | Open | https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/grant/restoring-tribal-priority-fish-passage-through-barrier-removal-grants | Federal | Dept of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Janine Harris Competition Manager Phone 301-427-8635 E-mail: infrastructure.tribal@noaa.gov | https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/grant/restoring-tribal-priority-fish-passage-through-barrier-removal-grants | |
| Colorado Healthy Rivers Fund Grant Program | The Colorado Watershed Assembly was formed in 2002 as a Colorado non-profit organization to support collaborative efforts to protect and improve the conservation values of Colorado’s natural resources. Beginning in 2003, the Colorado Watershed Protection Fund was launched as a program of the Colorado Watershed Assembly with funds generated from the Colorado Income Tax Checkoff Program. The Fund provides support for on-the-ground projects that contribute to cleaner water, healthier wildlife habitat, and improved recreation throughout our State. The Fund is administered by the Colorado Watershed Assembly in association with the Colorado Water Conservation Board and the Colorado Water Quality Control Division. | A grant application may be submitted for locally based watershed protection efforts, provided that the applicant is committing to a collaborative approach to the restoration and protection of lands and natural resources within Colorado’s watersheds in concert with economic development. More specifically, an applicant must demonstrate that: • It is a watershed effort committed to collaborative approaches, involving locally and/or regionally based diverse interests within the watershed in question, with participation open to all interested persons in the watershed; • The lead applicant should be a local community-based organization, which could include Conservation Districts. The CHRF is not intended for federal, state or municipal governments, but their participation is encouraged; • The purpose of its grant application is to implement or plan for a project intended to restore and/or protect the water, lands and other natural resources within the watershed; • There is broad based involvement in and/or support for the grant application, including relevant local, state, or federal governmental entities; • The applicant is able to provide at least a 20 percent in-kind or cash match for the activities proposed; and • To the extent possible, there are other sources of funding contributing to the project in addition to the Colorado Healthy Rivers Fund. | Watershed Health Forest Management | Suggested $20,000 | NA | 3/1/2025, 12:00:00 AM (UTC) | Open | NA | Colorado | CO Water Conservation Board | Chris Sturm 303-866-3441 x3236 | https://static1.squarespace.com/static/53f664ede4b032c1fade347d/t/6786aefa2a98af665c5d3644/1736879866787/Colorado+Healthy+Rivers+Fund+Grant+Guidance_12.2024_Final.pdf | |
| Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program | The Community Wildfire Defense Program (CWDG) is a grant program intended to help at-risk local communities and Tribes plan for and reduce wildfire risk. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law authorizes the $1 billion, five-year CWDG Program, which prioritizes at-risk communities: In an area identified as having high or very high wildfire hazard potential, Are low income or, Have been impacted by a severe disaster that affects the risk of wildfire. The program provides funding to communities for two primary purposes: Develop and revise Community Wildfire Protection Plans Implement projects described in a Community Wildfire Protection Plan that are less than ten years old. The Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program also helps communities in the wildland urban interface implement the three goals of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy. | Communities at risk from wildfire, including Indian Tribes (USDA will award grants in cooperation with the states), Private Forest Owners, State Forestry Agencies And Other Nonprofit Organizations | Forest Management | Out of the up to $200 million available, individual grants of up to $250,000 can be used to develop and update community wildfire protection plans, while individual grants of up to $10 million can be used for wildfire resilience projects that implement community wildfire protection plans. Projects must be completed within five years of the award. The number of projects selected will be determined by available funding, which is up to $200 million | N/A | 3/1/2025, 6:30:00 AM (UTC) | Open | N/A | Federal | US Dept Agriculture US Forest Service | N/A | https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/fire/grants/cwdg | |
| Environmental Water Resources Projects (WaterSMART) | WaterSMART Environmental Water Resources Projects is a category of funding to support projects focused on environmental benefits and that have been developed as part of a collaborative process to help carry out an established strategy to increase the reliability of water resources | Federal Governmental entities, Tribal governments, local authorities, private entities, 501(c)(4) Nonprofit organizations | Watershed Health | $5,000,000 | $0 | 3/11/2025, 12:00:00 AM (UTC) | Open | https://teams.microsoft.com/dl/launcher/launcher.html?url=%2F_%23%2Fl%2Fmeetup-join%2F19%3Ameeting_Y2UzODMxYTYtMjM1NS00Y2VjLWJjZjgtZGE0YTI3MjE0Yjgz%40thread.v2%2F0%3Fcontext%3D%257b%2522Tid%2522%253a%25220693b5ba-4b18-4d7b-9341-f32f400a5494%2522%252c%2522Oid%2522%253a%252263b51619-fefe-4381-b197-a5fb7af92373%2522%252c%2522IsBroadcastMeeting%2522%253atrue%257d.&type=meetup-join&deeplinkId=ec0d324a-8401-42b8-9f1b-bd5073d0b906&directDl=true&msLaunch=true&enableMobilePage=true&suppressPrompt=true | Federal | Dept. of Interior Bureau of Reclamation | Ms. Avra Morgan at 303-445-2906 or aomorgan@usbr.gov; or contact Ms. Robin Graber at 303-445-2764 or rgraber@usbr.gov. | https://www.usbr.gov/watersmart/ewrp/index.html | |
| WaterSMART Environmental Water Resources Projects 2024 | Projects that accomplish one of more of the following: Water conservation and efficiency projects that result in quantifiable and sustained water savings and benefit ecological values or watershed health Water management or infrastructure improvements to benefit ecological values or watershed health Watershed restoration projects benefiting ecological values or watershed health that have a nexus to water resources or water resources management | State, Tribal or local government, an organization with power or water delivery authority, regional authority, or a nonprofit conservation organization | Municipal/Industry Conservation Watershed Health | $5,000,000 | N/A | 3/11/2025, 8:00:00 PM (UTC) | Open | https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_Y2UzODMxYTYtMjM1NS00Y2VjLWJjZjgtZGE0YTI3MjE0Yjgz%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%220693b5ba-4b18-4d7b-9341-f32f400a5494%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%2263b51619-fefe-4381-b197-a5fb7af92373%22%2c%22IsBroadcastMeeting%22%3atrue%7d. | Federal | Bureau of Reclamation Dept. of Interior | For additional information on WaterSMART Environmental Water Resources Projects, please contact Ms. Avra Morgan at 303-445-2906 or aomorgan@usbr.gov; or contact Ms. Robin Graber at 303-445-2764 or rgraber@usbr.gov. | https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/353621 | |
| Applied Science Grants (WaterSMART) | Through WaterSMART Applied Science Grants, Reclamation provides cost-shared financial assistance for projects to develop hydrologic information and water management tools and improve modeling and forecasting capabilities. Increased access to information and improved modeling and forecasting capabilities will meet a variety of water management objectives, including: support for water supply reliability, management of water deliveries, water marketing activities, drought management activities, conjunctive use of ground and surface water, water rights administration, ability to meet endangered species requirements, watershed health, conservation and efficiency, and other water management objectives. | States, tribes, irrigation and water districts, and other organizations with water or power delivery authority located in the Western United States and territories. Nonprofit organizations located in the United States are also eligible if they partner with an entity with water delivery authority. | Watershed Health Municipal/Industry Conservation Water Administration | $400,000 | N/A | 3/11/2025, 9:00:00 PM (UTC) | Open | https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_ODdlMjIyNjktYmZjOC00ODM2LThlOTgtNGU1MTEyYjY2NDBi%40thread.v2/0?context=%7B%22Tid%22%3A%220693b5ba-4b18-4d7b-9341-f32f400a5494%22%2C%22Oid%22%3A%221070d638-b878-413b-8bb5-d0a4dbbb5b9b%22%2C%22IsBroadcastMeeting%22%3Atrue%2C%22role%22%3A%22a%22%7D&btype=a&role=a | Federal | Dept. of Interior Bureau of Reclamation | For additional information on WaterSMART Applied Science Grants, please contact Ms. Stephanie Micek at 720-799-3158 or send an email to smicek@usbr.gov. | https://www.usbr.gov/watersmart/appliedscience/index.html | |
| WaterSMART Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Projects | The Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Projects (AERP) is a new, competitive grant program that will provide funding for the study, design, and construction of aquatic ecosystem restoration and protection projects in Reclamation states (the 17 states west of the Mississippi River). Projects that are collaboratively developed, have widespread regional benefits, and result in the improvement of the health of fisheries, wildlife, and aquatic habitat through restoration and improved fish passage will be prioritized. | (1) a State; (2) a Tribal or local government; (3) an organization with power or water delivery authority; (4) a regional authority; or (5) a nonprofit conservation organization. | Forest Management Watershed Health | Task A: Study and Design Projects $2,000,000 // Applicants for Task B: Construction Projects $20,000,000. | Task A: Study and Design Projects $500,000 // Task B: Construction Projects $3,000,000 | 4/15/2025, 7:00:00 AM (UTC) | Open | Federal | Bureau of Reclamation Dept. of Interior | For more information please contact Ms. Avra Morgan (Program Coordinator) at aomorgan@usbr.gov. Also, Katherine Tucker (ktucker@usbr.gov) | https://www.usbr.gov/watersmart/aquatic/index.html |