F24AS00062 National Fish Passage Program Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Restoring River, Floodplain, and Coastal Connectivity and Resiliency

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (Pub. L. 117-58, November 15, 2021, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, or BIL ) provided $200 million for Federal Fiscal Years (FY) 2022 to 2026 to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (Service) National Fish Passage Program (NFPP). This funding opportunity announcement outlines the deadlines, criteria, and process to select projects for NFPP BIL funding. The Service may choose to combine funding available in FY24 and FY25 for this opportunity. If combined, the total estimated amount available will be up to $72 million. This decision will be solely at the Service's discretion but will be based on the timing of the award process and funding needs as expressed through the number of applications received and the amount of funds requested. This funding will be implemented in alignment with the priorities in Executive Order 14052, Implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (86 FR 64355).The NFPP is a voluntary program that provides direct technical and financial assistance to partners to remove instream barriers, restore aquatic organism passage, and restore climate resilient aquatic connectivity in rivers, floodplains, and coastal habitats for the benefit of Federal trust resources. The program targets aquatic connectivity opportunities that rebuild productive and sustainable fisheries, contribute to the recovery and conservation of the Service's aquatic trust species, enhance watershed health, promote resilient ecosystems and communities especially in disadvantaged communities, and improve economic vitality, including local employment. NFPP aims to maintain or increase native fish populations to improve ecosystem resiliency and provide quality fishing experiences for the American people. Activities that restore aquatic connectivity and fish passage also support the modernization of the country's infrastructure such as road culverts, bridges, and water diversions contributing to enhanced community resilience to the impacts from climate change and other public safety hazards. NFPP funds a variety of project types including, but not limited to dam removals, culvert replacements, floodplain restoration and reconnection, dike breaches, and reconnection of tidal habitats.The NFPP is delivered through the Service's Fish and Aquatic Conservation Program (FAC) across all States and territories. FAC staff coordinate with project partners, stakeholders, and other Service programs to identify and collaboratively develop and implement projects within regional priority areas. Project work plans are developed strategically, in coordination with partners, and with substantial involvement from FAC staff. Projects must be based upon sound scientific and technical principles, advance the Service mission, and promote aquatic ecosystem resilience. Applicants seeking funding under this program should contact the regional NFPP Coordinator that corresponds to the location of the project for additional information on regional priorities and coordination with FAC staff prior to applying for funding. Contacts are listed at: https://www.fws.gov/program/national-fish-passage/contact-us.Interested applicants will follow this process:1) Contact the appropriate NFPP Regional Coordinator (https://www.fws.gov/program/national-fish-passage/contact-us),2) If your project meets NFPP eligibility, submit a Letter of Interest per the deadline and content identified in Section D2,3) Select applicants will work with Service staff to develop a proposal that addresses the criteria in Section E2 Review and Selection Process.Only applicants who have successfully completed these steps and have been selected for funding will be invited to submit an application in GrantSolutions.For programmatic technical assistance, contact: Pacific (ID, OR, WA, HI, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the territories of American Samoa and Guam,): John Netto, 503-724-8366, John_netto@fws.gov Southwest (AZ, NM, OK, TX): Trevor Luna, 505-617-5872, Trevor_luna@fws.gov Midwest (IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, MO, OH, WI): Justin Chiotti, 248-891-0087, Justin_chiotti@fws.govSoutheast (AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MO, NC, SC, TN, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands): Walter Tripp Boltin, 843-819-1229, Walter_boltin@fws.gov Northeast (CT, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VA, VT, WV): Cathy Bozek, 413-253-8661, Catherine_bozek@fws.gov Mountain-Prairie (CO, KS, MT, ND, NE, SD, UT, WY): Kevin Johnson, 720-402-9506, Kevin_m_johnson@fws.gov Alaska (AK): Michael Daigneault, 907-830-9649, Michael_daigneault@fws.gov Pacific Southwest (CA, NV): Ryan Fogerty, 530-340-7900, Ryan_fogerty@fws.gov A principal objective of the NFPP is to provide technical assistance to partners in support of projects that aim to restore aquatic connectivity and aquatic organism passage through the removal of instream barriers and the reconnection of floodplains. We use our staff and cooperative partnerships to provide (1) information on native aquatic species habitat needs and methods for aquatic connectivity; (2) technical engineering support to develop or review project designs and recommend the most effective techniques; (3) assistance to partners in planning and prioritizing fish passage projects; and (4) assistance in fulfilling environmental compliance requirements.The NFPP prioritizes projects that will: (1) maximize benefits to native priority species and habitats; (2) provide sustainable fish passage benefits; (3) contribute to or otherwise leverage regional or watershed priorities for habitat restoration, fish passage, or aquatic connectivity; (4) enhance community resilience to climate change, address other public safety hazards and generally, provide other co-benefits such as job creation or recreational fishing opportunities; (5) involve advance coordination on species and watershed priorities with Tribes and States; (6) provide benefits to or engage with disadvantaged communities; and (7) be supported by partners, affected stakeholders, and the local community.Activities proposed under this award may include project planning and feasibility studies, engineering and design, permitting, on-the-ground fish passage restoration, near-term implementation monitoring, project outreach, and capacity to manage these project-related activities. Applicants may apply for funding to support any combination of these activities however, priority will be given to applications that can demonstrate a clear timeline and pathway for on-the-ground implementation within a timely manner (i.e., 1-4 years). Proposals that focus on the removal of barriers and natural channel or floodplain restoration will score higher in some evaluation criteria than proposals that focus on establishing passage around a barrier that are reliant on artificial passage structures such as fishways or fish ladders. Proposals are encouraged to maximize largescale ecosystem restoration and should do so by leveraging funding from other sources, with particular emphasis on BIL funding through other Federal agencies or may include multiple project sites throughout a watershed or other geographic area.