Restoring Tribal Priority Fish Passage through Barrier Removal under the IIJA

The principal objective of the Restoring Tribal Priority Fish Passage through Barrier Removal Funding Opportunity is to provide federal financial and technical assistance to Indian tribes and tribal commissions or consortia to remove barriers to fish passage for native migratory or sea-run fish. 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. This funding opportunity announcement is authorized under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA, Public Law 117-58), 135 STAT. 1356 (Nov. 15, 2021).

Applicants should address the following program priorities: (1) Achieving measurable and lasting benefits for migratory fish populations; (2) Fostering tribally important barrier removal efforts that benefit migratory fish; (3) Enhancing community resilience to climate hazards and providing other co-benefits; or (4) Increasing tribal organizational fish passage capacity to support tribes in their role as managers and stewards of tribal trust resources for cultural, spiritual, economic, subsistence, and recreational purposes.

Proposals submitted under this funding opportunity should describe how the proposed work will: 1. contribute to the recovery of threatened and endangered species listed under the Endangered Species Act; 2. sustain or help rebuild fish stocks managed under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act; 3. improve passage to support native fish species of the Great Lakes; 4. enhance the sustainability of saltwater recreational fisheries; 5. enhance community resilience to climate hazards by removing or improving aging infrastructure and support other co-benefits; or 6. support hydroelectric license surrender to remove dams that are no longer economically viable or provide significant public benefits.

Proposed activities may include future project development and feasibility studies, engineering and design, permitting, on-the-ground fish passage restoration, pre- and post-removal implementation monitoring, stakeholder engagement, and outreach and education. This funding opportunity will also support building tribal organizational capacity to participate in developing current and future fish passage projects. Applicants may apply for funding to support one or more of these activities. Proposals may include multiple locations and should demonstrate how multiple locations collectively contribute to priorities within a watershed or geographic area.

Proposals selected for funding through this funding opportunity will be funded through cooperative agreements. NOAA anticipates that the period of performance for most awards will be for three years. Awards may be structured as multi-year awards where the funding for the second and/or third year should be estimated in the proposal, with final amounts determined in future years, pending future federal appropriations and progress towards project milestones. NOAA anticipates typical federal funding for awards will range from $500,000 to $2 million over three years. NOAA will not accept proposals with a federal funding request of less than $300,000 or more than $5 million total for the entire award. Funds will be administered by the Community-based Restoration Program within the NOAA Restoration Center, as directed in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.