CONSERVATION Native fish, wildlife and their habitat
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has over 11 billion dollars to invest in creating healthy natural areas that support our wildlife, recreation, and economy. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for conservation and communities in Oregon.
Video update by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife featuring Gov. Kate Brown provides background information on the long-standing project to rehabilitate the Wallowa Lake dam. View on YouTube.
ODFW IIJA Focal Areas
ODFW is focusing efforts in a few key places where additional funding is needed to get us over the finish line, achieving great outcomes for fish and wildlife and for Oregon’s communities. The six focal themes/areas include:
Wallowa River Fish Passage and Flow Restoration: The goals of this effort are to provide upstream and downstream passage for migratory fish species in the Wallowa River system, including Wallowa Lake, and upgrade irrigation infrastructure as needed to accomplish instream flow benefits in the Wallowa River and tributaries. Click on this link for more details on ODFWs IIJA efforts in the Wallowa. ODFW Contact: Jeff Yanke (Jeff.YANKE@odfw.oregon.gov)
Klamath Basin Restoration: ODFW has identified habitat restoration and enhancement, fish screening and passage, and re-establishment of native anadromous fish runs as the primary areas of emphasis for IIJA opportunities in the Klamath Basin. Click on this link for more details on ODFWs IIJA efforts in the Klamath. ODFW Contact: Philip Milburn (Philip.J.MILBURN@odfw.oregon.gov)
Oregon Coast Coho Recovery: ODFW and partners have identified the Nehalem, Nestucca, Alsea, South and Middle Umpqua, and the Coos as priority areas for restoration of the federally-threatened Oregon Coast Coho salmon. Priority actions will address limiting factors, such as stream complexity, water quantity, and water quality. Click on this link for more details. ODFW Contact: Renee Coxen (Renee.J.COXEN@odfw.oregon.gov)
Rogue Watershed Resiliency: The Rogue Watershed Resiliency Initiative seeks to advance state and federal investments that will restore water quantity and quality and upgrade infrastructure to promote fish passage in the Rogue Watershed. Click on this link for more details on ODFWs IIJA efforts in the Rogue. ODFW Contact: Chandra Ferrari (Chandra.A.FERRARI@odfw.oregon.gov)
Wildlife Habitat Restoration: This effort is focused on funding projects that restore habitat structure and function, sustain working lands, and allow for the return of natural disturbance regimes in natural systems, and help build resiliency to a drier and warmer future. Click on this link for more details. Contact: Sara Reif (Sarah.J.REIF@odfw.oregon.gov)
Connectivity and Wildlife Passage: Wildlife connectivity is significantly reduced by roadways as a result of habitat loss and fragmentation, injury and mortality, and behavioral avoidance. Wildlife crossing structures and associated directional fencing significantly reduce the impacts of roads on wildlife populations. Click on this link for more details. ODFW Contact: Rachel Wheat (Rachel.E.WHEAT@odfw.oregon.gov)
Keep checking in for more information, and make sure to explore our vision for IIJA funding implementation! ODFW IIJA Focal Areas (pdf)
IIJA Grants Currently Open:
NFWF Electronic Monitoring and Reporting Grant Program
Focus: Projects that catalyze the voluntary implementation of electronic technologies for fisheries catch, effort, and/or compliance monitoring, and improvements to fishery information systems in U.S. fisheries.
Application Deadline: 10/02/2024
Awards: $4.8M
Eligible Applicants: States, Tribes, local governments, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and for-profit entities
Focus: NFWF, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is soliciting proposals to take action to slow or halt the impacts of white-nose syndrome disease (WNS) in North America and promote the survival and recovery of WNS-affected bat populations and species.
Application Deadline: 09/19/2024
Awards: $650K
Eligible Applicants: Federal Agencies, States, Tribes, local governments, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and for-profit entities
Focus: Projects that aid in the recovery of the Southern Resident killer whale (SRKW) Distinct Population Segment. The program aims to support projects that increase the availability of Chinook salmon for SRKW, reduce threats to priority killer whale habitat and increase capacity and applied research prioritized in SRKW management plans.
Application Deadline: 09/05/2024
Awards: $2.5M
Eligible Applicants: Federal Agencies, States, Tribes, local governments, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions
Focus: To improve populations of focal seabirds through actions that increase survival and reproduction through implementation of one or more strategies. Seabirds represent a diverse group of birds whose life history is linked to marine and coastal resources.
Application Deadline: 09/26/2024
Awards: $6.92M
Eligible Applicants: Federal Agencies, States, Tribes, local governments, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions
USDA-FS Supporting Underserved and Small-Acreage Landowner Participation in Emerging Private Markets
Focus: The Forest Service is seeking proposals to support the participation of underserved landowners and landowners owning less than 2,500 acres in emerging private markets for climate mitigation or forest resilience.
Application Deadline: August 21, 2024
Awards: $2M
Eligible Applicants: States, Tribes, local governments, small businesses, nonprofit organizations, private institutions of higher education
Focus: The Forest Service is seeking proposals to support state-endorsed programs to issue cost share payments to landowners for climate mitigation and/or forest resilience practices.
Application Deadline: September 30, 2024
Awards: $ 5M single state, $ 15M multi-state
Eligible Applicants: State Forestry Agency, nonprofit organizations, private institutions of higher education, local government
USDA-FS Landowner Payment Programs for Carbon Stewardship Practices
Focus: The Forest Service is seeking proposals for programs to provide financial compensation to private forest landowners for the implementation of practices that provide measurable increases in carbon sequestration and storage.
Application Deadline: September 30, 2024
Awards: $ 5M
Eligible Applicants: State Forestry Agency, nonprofit organizations
Focus: for projects that seek to achieve a reduction in the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions; and improve habitat connectivity for terrestrial and aquatic species (Title 23, United States Code (U.S.C.), Section 171).
Application Deadline: September 4, 2024
Awards: $100,000,000
Eligible Applicants: States, Tribes, local governments, Federal Land Management
NOAA Marine Debris Removal under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Applicant Resources
Focus: to support the removal of large marine debris throughout the coastal United States, Great Lakes, territories, and Freely Associated States. These removal projects should focus on large marine debris, including abandoned and derelict vessels, derelict fishing gear, and other debris that is generally unable to be collected by hand.
Informational Webinar: August 7, 2024 at 12 PM register here
Required Letter of Intent Deadline: September 27, 2024
Application Deadline: January 31, 2025
Awards: $47 million
Eligible Applicants: States, Tribes, local governments, non-profit organizations, commercial organizations
FHWA National Culvert Removal, Replacement, and Restoration Grant Program (AOP)
Focus: The Culvert AOP Program focuses on two project categories as differentiated by structure type:
Projects to replace, remove, or repair culverts that would meaningfully improve or restore fish passage for anadromous fish (49 U.S.C. 6703(b)(1)).
Projects to replace, remove, or repair weirs that would meaningfully improve or restore fish passage for anadromous fish. With respect to weirs, the project may include: 1) infrastructure to facilitate fish passage around or over the weir; and 2) weir improvements (49 U.S.C. 6703(b)(2)).
Informational Webinar: July 15, 2024 at 10 AM register here
Application Deadline: September 23, 2024
Awards: $196 million over 5 years, split between 60 awards
Eligible Applicants: States, Tribes, local governments
BOR WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program
Focus: Provides funding to watershed groups, new and existing, for Phase I of projects focused on watershed group development, watershed restoration planning, and watershed management project design.
Application Deadline: Sep 3, 2024
Awards: $10K - $300K per project
Eligible Applicants: States, Tribes, local agencies, irrigation districts, water districts, water conservation districts, and non-profit organizations. Applicants must become a new, or be an existing, official Watershed Group.
Focus: Priority will be given to projects that aid in improving the conservation status of a species so as to preclude the need to list it under the Federal ESA. These projects could include, but are not limited to, activities that will secure scientific information about candidate or at-risk species and their habitat, implement restoration actions that will lead to removing threats to the species, or help prevent extinction of a species.
Focus: To secure information about federally endangered, threatened or candidate species, to aid in the recovery of these species, and to help conserve the ecosystems upon which these species depend. Actions include restoring habitat, removing invasive species, conducting surveys, monitoring individual populations, and breeding species in captivity to release them into their historic range.
EPA Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grant
Focus: Projects that address climate challenges and reduce pollution while strengthening communities through thoughtful implementation. There will be two tracks of funding under this opportunity. Track 1 will fund approximately 150 large, transformational community-driven investment grants of $10 million - $20 million. Track 2 will fund approximately 20 meaningful engagement grants of $1 million - $3 million. This program will empower communities and their partners to design, develop, and implement multi-faceted community-driven projects that address the diverse and unique needs of disadvantaged communities by: reducing and preventing pollution; building resilience to climate change and mitigating current and future climate risks; enhancing meaningful involvement in government processes related to environmental and climate justice; expanding access to high-quality jobs and economic opportunity through workforce development; and bolstering community strength by ensuring that local residents receive the benefits of investments and have the opportunity to build on them for current and future generations.
Application Period: Nov. 21, 2023 – Nov. 21, 2024
Awards: $2B (award ceiling: $20M)
Eligible Applicants: 1) a partnership between two community-based nonprofit organizations, or 2) a partnership between a CBO and one of the following: a federally recognized Tribe, a local government, or an institution of higher education.
There is a lot we can all do to benefit both fish and wildlife, our communities, and our economy. Funds from the IIJA are a once in a lifetime opportunity to do the work but the time is short. We have just 5 years to make the most of this chance.
Apply for an IIJA grant directly or with partners, and bring vital funding into Oregon!
Communicate Oregon’s IIJA funding needs with federal agency partners
Provide support for IIJA funding in ODFW focal areas
Let us know if you receive any IIJA funding in Oregon
Where to find more information on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act:
Build.gov: The White House website on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
Where to find more information on IIJA funding opportunities:
Visit Grants.gov: for more information on IIJA grant opportunities, enter ‘Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’ in the keyword search. You can also subscribe to grant updates.
Click here to see a summary of the potential funding opportunities ODFW is following that relate to natural resources in Oregon. Please note that not all funding opportunities are included, and make sure to check back frequently as the information will be updated in real-time. Updated 06/29/22
4034 Fairview Industrial Drive SE :: Salem, OR 97302 :: Main Phone (503) 947-6000 or (800) 720-ODFW [6339]
Do you have a question or comment for ODFW? Contact ODFW's Public Service Representative at: odfw.info@odfw.oregon.gov
Share your opinion or comments on a Fish and Wildlife Commission issue at: odfw.commission@odfw.oregon.gov
Do you need this information in an alternative format or language? Contact 503-947-6000 or click here.
