Grant sources listed will help fund improvements in watershed health, water quality, water quantity, planting trees along rivers, fixing barriers to fish migration, buying land for conservation of nature or working lands, and helping make communities resilient to the impacts of climate change.
Through federal funding opportunities of up to $5,000, NOAA Planet Stewards supports formal and informal educators in carrying out hands-on stewardship projects with elementary through college age students, as well as the general public. Stewardship projects must make a substantive, and quantitatively measurable impact on an environmental issue related to the educator’s community.
The North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) is a federal law that provides grants for projects that protect, restore, and enhance wetland habitats critical for migratory birds across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Since 1991, NAWCA has supported 3,300 projects for over 7,000 partners, conserving more than 32.6 million acres of vital habitat. These efforts have been made possible through $2.28 billion in grants and an additional $4.53 billion in partner contributions. NAWCA projects not only benefit birds but also help to improve water quality, reduce flooding risks, minimize coastal erosion, and create valuable opportunities for outdoor recreation, enhancing both ecosystems and communities.
The Pacific Marine and Estuarine Fish Habitat Partnership (PMEP) is one of 20 regional fish habitat partnerships in the United States. Its mission is to provide science, data, and funding to conserve and restore West Coast nearshore and estuarine fish habitat. PMEP supports estuarine and nearshore marine fish habitat restoration and assessment projects through the National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP).
Promise the Pod’s tree credit program is a project working to support restoration projects and Chinook salmon habitat throughout the Pacific Northwest. Promise the Pod works in partnership with One Tree Planted to get funds to support riparian and post-fire tree planting projects. Those in need of supplemental funding for planting trees or shrubs as part of restoration work are encouraged to submit an application to the tree credit program.
The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) is a partner-driven approach to conservation that funds solutions to natural resource challenges on agricultural land. RCPP projects may include a range of on-the-ground conservation activities implemented by farmers, ranchers and forest landowners. These activities include: land management/land improvement/restoration practices, land rentals, entity-held easements, United States-held easements, and public works/watersheds. A single RCPP project application can propose to employ any combination of these eligible activity types as part of an RCPP project.
The principal objective of NOAA’s Restoring Fish Passage through Barrier Removal Notice of Funding Opportunity is to provide federal financial and technical assistance to fish passage through the removal of dams and other in-stream barriers 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, especially in underserved communities, and improves economic vitality, including local employment.
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 organizations that represent Indian tribes through formal legal agreements 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.
The State Conservation Commission (SCC) is committed to supporting private landowners’ voluntary stewardship of natural resources. In 2023, the WA State Legislature approved funding for SCC to run a voluntary riparian grant program for priority riparian restoration and protection. This opportunity provides funding for projects to restore and protect riparian habitat.
Salmon recovery grants are used to restore degraded salmon habitat and protect existing, high-quality habitat. Projects may include the actual habitat used by salmon and the land and water that support processes important to salmon. Applicants must demonstrate how their projects address the goals and actions defined in the regional recovery plans or lead entity strategies.
Washington State Department of Ecology streamflow restoration competitive grants help state and local agencies, Tribal governments, and non-profit organizations implement local watershed plans and projects to improve streamflow and aquatic resources.