FY24 IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management Eastern States (ES) Aquatic Resource Management

Background
The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Eastern States (ES) 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. The 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 (ES) Aquatic Resources Program’s core functions include decision support, protection, restoration, water resource sustainability, environmental compliance, and collaboration.

Grant Details
The grant opportunity aims to ensure water availability to sustain healthy riparian and wetland areas and aquatic habitats; restore degraded water resources, riparian and wetland areas, and aquatic habitats; advance decision support models; inventory, assessment, and monitoring information; combat climate change and habitat loss impacts to aquatic resources; restore and connect degraded aquatic resources; increase ecosystem resistance, resilience, and adaptability to droughts, wildfires, and floods; determine acceptable levels of hydrologic and ecological change given BLM management objectives; advance inventory, assessment, and monitoring activities; prevent the establishment and spread of invasive species; increase public knowledge of aquatic habitats on BLM managed lands.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, public and state controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS other than institutions of higher education.

Period of Performance
Projects funded through this NOFO will start upon issuance of a notice of award by the BLM Grants Management Officer executed through GrantSolutions. Agreement terms for funded projects are estimated to range between one and no more than five years.

Grant Value
The estimated total funding is $225,000 with a maximum award amount of $200,000 and a minimum award amount of $25,000. Anticipated number of awards is 2.

Place of Performance
Projects will be based out of district or field offices where the project occurs.