The National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program supports the long‐term conservation of coastal wetland ecosystems for the benefit of coastal communities, fish and wildlife and their habitats, and the recreating public. The Program provides eligible State and Territory agencies with cost sharing awards for projects that protect and restore valuable coastal wetland resources. Projects may include acquisition of a real property interest in a coastal wetland ecosystem and the restoration, enhancement, or management of coastal wetlands.Coastal wetlands are valued because they protect against...

Eligible RecipientsParticipation is limited to State and Territory agencies designated as eligible by the Governor. The eligible agency is usually a natural resource or fish and wildlife agency. If you are uncertain of your eligibility, please contact your Regional Office of Conservation Investment. For contact information, see Basic Information in this announcement above. Eligible States and Territories are those bordering the Great Lakes, and those bordering the Atlantic, Gulf (except Louisiana), and Pacific coasts. Louisiana is not eligible because it receives separate funding through the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 3955 (b)(1)). The complete list of eligible States and Territories is: Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawai’i, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. Eligible ActivitiesEligible and ineligible activities are described in 50 CFR 84.20. Activities to create wetlands where they did not previously exist are ineligible (50 CFR 84.20(b)(3)). For each project site, evidence verifying the current or historic presence of a wetland is required. This may include information from the Service’s National Wetlands Inventory, earlier Geographic Information System data, or historic information.Activities to acquire and/or restore upper portions of watersheds where benefits to the coastal wetland ecosystem are not significant and direct are also ineligible (50 CFR 84.20(b)(8)). A proposal must include sufficient information demonstrating that targeted lands or waters meet the definition of a coastal wetland ecosystem (50 CFR 84.11).In accepting Federal funds, you must comply with all applicable Federal laws, regulations, and policies. If your application is selected for an award, you must provide evidence of compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), and other applicable Federal laws or regulations.

Chris Darnell chris_darnell@fws.gov