United States: National Operations Center Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management

Deadline: 13-Apr-21

The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is inviting applications for its National Operations Center Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management. The BLM Aquatic Habitat Management mission area works cooperatively with a wide range of constituents to manage for the biological, chemical, and physical integrity and function and natural diversity of aquatic ecosystems.

The BLM develops strategies that provide protection for instream, riparian and wetland areas as well as maintain or restore stream function and stream access to floodplains while supporting multiple uses on public lands.

Goals

The BLM National Operations Center has opportunities to work with partner organizations to accomplish goals of the BLM Aquatic Habitat Management that include, but are not limited to, such things as:

Development and/or implementation of watershed management plans.
Increased local capacity to protect and enhance aquatic habitat, water quality, promote water conservation, and sustain the present health of the watershed.
Improvements in the resiliency of ecosystems, communities, and economies in the watershed.
Improvements in the hydraulic and geomorphic conditions of streams.
Removal of invasive plants and animals to enhance fish habitat, water quality and the physical characteristics of the stream.
Inventory, modernize and/or develop infrastructure such as culverts and diversion structures in order to improve fish and other aquatic organism passage.
Provide a forum for enhanced communication among diverse stakeholder groups along the watershed.
Conserve and enhance aquatic and riparian habitats for native and desired non-native species.
Provide resources for recreational and subsistence fishing opportunities including increasing public access and infrastructure, such as fishing piers, for public enjoyment and outreach, education and job mentoring activities for youth, families, and veterans.
Protect and stabilize both lotic and lentic aquatic and riparian habitats.
Implement projects to reduce erosion, salinity and sediments.
Collect and analyze water resources data needed to maintain, protect and restore water resources effectively.
Inventory, assess, monitor, and improve aquatic, riparian, and wetland habitat quality and quantity.
Address the immediate threats from aquatic invasive species, including quagga and zebra mussels.
Influencing water temperature or improving the timing or volume of available flows at particular locations to improve aquatic conditions.
Monitor surface and groundwater quality.
Manage geospatial and biometric data.
Conduct baseline inventories and assessments critical to many public land uses and ongoing monitoring programs.
Engage citizen-scientists and students in monitoring and directed research of various BLM dependent aquatic and riparian species and their habitats.
Develop and assist with Bureau aquatic invasive programs including: mapping, control, prevention, education, data analysis, ecological modeling and risk assessments, biosecurity, eDNA surveillance, etc

Funding Information

Maximum Award: $ 950,000
Minimum Award: $ 5,000

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible Applicants:
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
Additional Information on Eligibility:
- Individuals and For-Profit Organizations are ineligible to apply for awards under this NOFO.