National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) Land Acquisition and Construction Program for Fiscal Year 2022

Background
The National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) consists of estuarine areas of the United States and its territories designated and managed for research and educational purposes. Each Reserve within the NERRS is chosen to represent a different bio-geographic region and to include a variety of ecosystem types. By funding Reserve lead agencies and universities to conduct land acquisition and construction projects that support the NERRS mission, NOAA will strengthen protection of key land and water areas, enhance long-term protection of Reserve areas for research and education, and provide for facility and exhibit construction that meet the highest sustainable design standards possible.

Grant Details
The program objective is to fund designated Reserve agencies for acquiring additional property interests and for construction projects that serve to strengthen protection of reserve key land and water areas; enhance long-term protection of reserve areas for research and education; and provide for facility infrastructure and exhibit construction.

The construction plan must include general descriptions of proposed projects, general cost estimates, timelines, acquisition plans, methods of acquisition, strategy for establishing adequate long-term state control over these areas. Priority will be given to projects that increase a reserve’s natural or built infrastructure’s resiliency, sustainability, factor anticipated climate change effects, protect pathways for habitat and species migrations in response to sea level rise or changing lake levels, reduce existing stressors that hinder the ability of species or ecosystems to withstand climatic events, protect key ecosystem features, maintain species or habitat diversity, support the managed retreat of a reserve’s core facilities infrastructure.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants are NERRS lead state agencies or universities designated to receive NERRS operations funding through a Memorandum of Understanding with NOAA in coastal states and territories including the Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, Atlantic Coast and Great Lakes. Federal agencies are not allowed to receive funds under this announcement but may serve as collaborative project partners.

Period of Performance
The performance period for FY 2022-funded projects cannot exceed 36 months. Applicants may submit applications covering a 12 to 36-month project period with anticipated start dates as early as July 1, 2022 or as late as November 1, 2022.

Grant Value
NOAA anticipates approximately $4.5 million in Fiscal Year 2022 will be available to designated lead Reserve agencies or universities in coastal states for approximately 5-20 construction and acquisition projects. Funding is expected to range between approximately $20,000 to $1,500,000 per project.