Klamath Basin Salmon Restoration RFP

Overview

Background

The Klamath River Basin is an ecosystem of national and regional significance. The U.S. Department of the Interior has designated it as a “Treasured Landscape” – a place that encompasses America's natural resources and cultural heritage. From its headwaters just south of Crater Lake in Oregon, the Klamath River flows through a complex of National Wildlife Refuges to the Cascade Mountain Range in California and ultimately into the Pacific Ocean, covering an area of more than 12,000 square miles. The population of the Klamath Basin is approximately 114,000 people. Several Native American tribes own land in the Basin, and two-thirds of the land in the Basin is owned by the federal government.i

The Upper Klamath River Basin supports one of the largest lake-wetlands complexes in the western United States. River, riparian, lake, and wetland habitats in the Upper Klamath historically supported healthy populations of culturally and economically important fish such as the Lost River and shortnose suckers. It is also home to the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex, which encompasses six refuges. The Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge was established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1908 as the nation's first waterfowl refuge. This area has been referred to as the “Everglades of the West” because of its biological diversity and importance to the Pacific Flyway, as it hosts upwards of 80% of the migrating waterfowl that use the Pacific Flyway.

Eligibility

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Application Details

KLAMATH BASIN FORESTS AND WATERSHEDS
RESTORATION
2025 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
Applicant Webinar [Register here]: January 21, 2025, 11:00 AM PST/2:00 PM EST
Full Proposal Due Date: February 25, 2025, by 8:59 PM PST/11:59 PM EST
GRANTMAKING PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Klamath River Basin is an ecosystem of national and regional significance. From its
headwaters just south of Crater Lake in Oregon, the Klamath River flows through a complex of
National Wildlife Refuges, six National Forests, and ultimately into the Pacific Ocean, covering an
area of more than 12,000 square miles – approximately the size of Maryland. River, riparian, lake,
and wetland habitats in the Upper Klamath Basin historically supported healthy populations of
culturally and economically important fish such as Lost River and shortnose suckers. Additionally,
the Klamath River was once the third-most prolific salmon run in the lower 48 states. Anadromous
species of the Klamath River Basin include fall- and spring-run Chinook salmon, coho salmon,
Pacific lamprey, green sturgeon, and steelhead trout. The anadromous fish of the Klamath not only
have inestimable value to Tribes in the Klamath Basin, but these fish are also a major economic
engine for northern California and much of the Oregon coast ocean salmon fisheries.1
Today, the restoration and protection of fish habitat in the Klamath River Basin is entering a new
chapter. In the summer of 2024, four dams were decommissioned and removed on the mainstem of
the Klamath River. The removal of these dams in California and Oregon is the largest dam removal
project in the history of the United States and will open up over 400 miles of historical anadromous
fish habitat for the first time in nearly 100 years.
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) has been active in voluntary habitat restoration
activities throughout the Klamath River Basin for over 30 years, awarding federal, state, and private
funds to help voluntarily stabilize and increase the populations of native suckers in the Upper
Klamath Basin and improve anadromous fish habitat below the recently decommissioned dams.
NFWF in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS), the U.S. Department of Agriculture – U.S. Forest Service (USFS), and the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is pleased to announce the Klamath Basin Forests and
1 “Klamath River Basin.” NOAA Fisheries, 25 Apr. 2022, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/habitat-
conservation/klamath-river-basin.
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Watersheds Restoration Request for Proposals (RFP). In 2025, NFWF anticipates awarding up to
$11,553,000 in grant funding to support fish and wildlife conservation, restoration, and monitoring
projects across the Klamath Basin. This total includes:
• $7,040,000 from the Shasta Valley Regional Conservation Partnership Program for:
Upstream water conservation and water quality improvement projects; conveyance
efficiency projects with instream dedication; and on-farm water conservation, irrigation
efficiency, and monitoring projects.
• $2,000,000 from the Conservation Partners Program for: Projects that build capacity and
provide technical assistance to agricultural producers seeking to voluntarily adopt
regenerative agriculture systems and conservation practices on private working and forest
lands.
• $1,793,000 in Upper Klamath Watershed Resilience funding for: Outreach and technical
assistance to private landowners developing conservation plans focused on mitigation
activities to improve soil health, water quality, and water quantity outcomes. Projects will
improve instream and off-channel habitat, aquatic organism passage, water quality, wetland
ecosystems to benefit watershed resilience, and native fish conservation.
• $720,000 in Fremont-Winema National Forest Headwaters Enhancement and Monitoring
funding for: Planning, design, implementation, and monitoring of projects to restore
freshwater marshes, springs meadows, and forest health on the Fremont-Winema National
Forest with emphasis on the Wood, Williamson, and Sprague River watersheds. A portion of
this funding is specifically reserved for monitoring of headwater restoration activities to
document the efficacy of forest health and riparian restoration work.
More detailed information on program priorities and funding guidelines is included below.
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GEOGRAPHIC TARGET AREAS
Figure 1. Target geographies for all funding opportunities
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For the Shasta Valley Regional Conservation Partnership Program: Projects must be located
within the Shasta River watershed including Big Springs Creek, Parks Creek, or other tributaries.
Figure 2. Target geography for the Shasta Valley Regional Conservation Partnership Program
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For the Conservation Partners Program: Projects must be located on private agricultural
working lands in the Klamath River Basin.
Figure 3. Target geography for the Conservation Partners Program
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For Upper Klamath Watershed Resilience: Projects must be located within the Klamath Basin in
Oregon, from key tributary rivers originating on National Park and Forest Service land to Upper
Klamath Lake and its surrounding agricultural lands.
For Fremont-Winema National Forest Headwaters Enhancement and Monitoring: Projects
must be located within the Fremont-Winema National Forest.
Figure 4. Target geographies for Upper Klamath Watershed Resilience funding and Fremont-
Winema National Forest Headwaters Enhancement and Monitoring funding
PROGRAM PRIORITIES
Priorities and guidelines for each funding partnership supported by this RFP are outlined below.
Applicants are also strongly encouraged to reference NFWF’s California Forests and Watersheds
Business Plan and the California Forests and Watersheds Digital Business Plan for opportunities to
enhance project competitiveness by linking Business Plan strategies and work in focal areas for
priority species whenever possible. Additionally, projects that incorporate baseline monitoring and
take steps to measure and account for habitat and species impact will be prioritized. Overall,
projects which address a watershed approach and are collaborative in scope with multiple
supportive stakeholders will be prioritized.
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Shasta Valley Regional Conservation Partnership Program (Shasta Valley Program):
Total funds available: $7,040,000
Projects to be awarded: 4 - 6
Anticipated award range: $200,000 - $2,000,000
The Shasta Valley Program is supported by a Regional Conservation Partnership Program
Alternative Funding Arrangement with NRCS and will fund voluntary activities that advance
recovery of Southern Oregon Northern California Coast (SONCC) coho salmon in the Shasta River
watershed. Program funds will be used to support actions that improve upstream management,
conveyance efficiency, and on-farm water management to enhance instream flows, improve water
quality, and address inadequate habitat for fish. Due to federal environmental compliance
considerations by NRCS, proposed project work must not be included within the Shasta River Safe
Harbor Agreement project list.
Proposed projects must include an implementation component. All funded water conservation
projects under this program must be paired with formal measures to protect instream flows.
Additionally, please note that funding through the Shasta Valley Program is subject to Farm Bill
policy regarding indirect costs, technical assistance funds, and financial assistance funds. Project
types that will be given the highest priority for Shasta Valley Program funding include:
Upstream water conservation and water quality improvement projects:
These projects are necessary to provide adequate habitat for native fish at every life stage. Proposals
should demonstrate how the project will conserve water and improve water quality through existing
monitoring data or propose to gather data necessary to demonstrate benefits. Projects to conserve
upstream water and improve water quality include:
• Source switch projects (e.g., using reservoir water and leaving cold spring water instream)
• Riparian fencing and planting
• Effectiveness monitoring projects
Conveyance and transmission efficiency projects:
These projects are necessary to improve instream flows and water quality by leaving more water
instream for longer periods and/or reducing diversion volume. Projects should demonstrate water
savings anticipated by providing ditch loss test results or propose to gather needed data and define
how and when ditch loss will be left instream. Projects to improve conveyance and transmission
efficiency include:
• Modifying, replacing, and moving diversion structures
• Combining, splitting, or rotating diversions
• Improving or replacing piping
• Canal and ditch lining
On-farm water conservation projects:
These projects are necessary to improve instream flows and water quality throughout the Basin by
reducing diversion volume, which will be particularly important during drought periods. On-farm
water conservation project proposals should consider a productive grounds analysis, provide
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qualified information on baseline water use, integrate soil moisture sensing, demonstrate water
quality benefits, or define the volume of water conserved. On-farm water conservation projects
include:
• Conversion of irrigation type to reduce volume of water diverted (e.g., wildland flood
irrigation to buried mainlines or sprinklers)
• Installation of soil moisture monitoring systems
• Transition to alternative stock watering systems
Conservation Partners Program:
Total funds available: $2,000,000
Projects to be awarded: 3 - 5
Anticipated award range: $200,000 - $700,000
This year, the Conservation Partners Program will award competitive grants that accelerate the
adoption of regenerative agriculture principles and conservation practices on private working lands
in the Klamath Basin. Grant recipients will provide technical assistance to interested farmers and
ranchers to help them develop management plans, design and implement conservation practices,
share their experiences and lessons learned, and participate in Farm Bill programs, especially the
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).
Grants will be targeted to projects that can both fulfill unmet technical assistance needs and
maximize the soil, water, and wildlife benefits of the Farm Bill conservation programs listed above.
A particular emphasis should be placed on promoting, designing, and implementing Agriculture and
Forestry conservation practices and projects that support the Western Water and Working Lands
Framework for Conservation Action. Successful projects will also seek to increase Farm Bill
program participation and practice implementation among Historically Underserved and Special
Emphasis producers and forestland owners. Please ensure that the project is in alignment with
NRCS goals and priorities by conferring with the NRCS State Conservationist and their staff in the
state in which your project is located. A list of NRCS contacts can be found here. Please note that
grantees applying for capacity building funds may be required to report on additional performance
metrics related to capacity building and conservation planning to be negotiated between NFWF and
the grantee after award decisions have been made. Outcomes proposed should comply with NRCS
Conservation Practice Standards.
Upper Klamath Watershed Resilience:
Total funds available: $1,793,000
Projects to be awarded: 2 - 4
Anticipated award range: $100,000 - $500,000
An additional funding agreement with NRCS will offer grants to organizations or private
landowners within the Upper Klamath Basin in Oregon. Program funds will be used to provide
outreach and technical assistance to private landowners to develop conservation plans that restore
and protect instream and off-channel habitat, restore cold-water springs and refugia habitat, improve
aquatic organism passage, improve water quality, enhance instream habitat in flow-limited
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watersheds, restore the form and function of wetland ecosystems, or improve forest management to
benefit watershed resilience and native fish conservation. This funding is intended to increase the
delivery and implementation of Farm Bill programs and practices including, but not limited to, the
Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Conservation Stewardship Program, Conservation
Reserve Program, Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, and Working Lands for Wildlife
priorities. Details for each of these programs can be found by clicking on the hyperlinks above.
Fremont-Winema National Forest Headwaters Enhancement and Monitoring:
Total funds available: $720,000
Projects to be awarded: 2 - 4
Anticipated award range: $50,000 - $450,000
The Fremont-Winema National Forest is host to some of the most important headwaters in the
entire Klamath Basin. These key rivers are home to the threatened northern spotted owl, redband
rainbow trout, endangered Lost River sucker, endangered shortnose sucker, and the state-sensitive
Miller Lake lamprey. Adjacent freshwater marshes, springs, and meadows are not only critical
sources of water during the hot summer months, but also can act as natural fuel breaks, and are
important thermal refuges to key aquatic species. These forests and associated habitats will soon see
the return of salmonids as a result of Klamath River dam removal.
Wood River: The Wood River flows 18 miles through the Fremont-Winema National Forest,
Bureau of Land Management land, and private property in southern Oregon. Its watershed
consists of 220 square miles of conifer forest, rural pastureland, and marsh. The river
provides habitat for many species of wildlife including resident populations of redband
rainbow trout.
Sprague River: The Sprague River is a tributary of the Williamson River and is
approximately 75 miles long. It drains an arid volcanic plateau region east of the Cascade
Range in the watershed of the Klamath River. It joins the Williamson River from the east at
Chiloquin, about 10 miles north of the Williamson River mouth on Upper Klamath Lake.
Williamson River: The Williamson River is approximately 100 miles long and drains 3,000
square miles east of the Cascade Range. Its largest tributary is the Sprague River and
together, the two rivers provide over half the inflow to Upper Klamath Lake.
Funded in partnership with U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, this solicitation
will support comprehensive strategic forest health investments at the intersection of communities,
National Forests, fish and wildlife, and water quality. Program funds will be used to support
projects that increase forest resilience and enhance habitat for fish and wildlife through
implementation of the USFS Wildfire Crisis Implementation Plan. Priority project types include:
Forest health restoration: These projects are designed to address the historic wildfire challenges
faced by western forests. Investments in these projects will improve the capacity of the Fremont-
Winema National Forest to effectively identify and address resource management issues caused by
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wildfires, aid ecological management and recovery, and build fuel breaks to support the goals of
ecological restoration.
Forest health restoration projects may include implementation, planning, or design for the following
activities:
• Shaded fuel breaks: Projects using shaded fuel breaks to provide defensible space and
increase the probability of successful protective actions during fire events, while including
considerations for ecological function and integrity beyond that which would be provided by
standard fuel break lines.
• Thinning: In this context, thinning refers to any management strategies utilizing mechanical
or hand treatments to remove and process selected vegetation from the landscape to improve
overall forest health, increase resistance to severe wildfire and other environmental stressors,
and help increase recovery and persistence of ecosystems when fire, drought, or other
disruptive events occur.
• Prescribed fire: Projects using fire to reduce the build-up of fuels and reintroduce fire as part
of the natural processes in fire-adapted ecosystems to help reduce the intensity and severity
of future fires and improve the health and resilience of the forest environment.
Reforestation projects: These projects include the replanting of native trees, shrubs, and other
plant species to restore ecological function and recover areas impacted by wildfire. Areas for
reforestation should be thoughtfully considered, and conducted where natural recovery is unlikely,
or where certain conditions exist that demand a faster and more certain outcome (e.g., to ensure
invasive vegetation does not establish), and where/as appropriate in the face of climate change.
Reforestation includes all aspects of site recovery – from seed collection and plant propagation, to
site preparation, to planting, to post-planting watering (if necessary) and maintenance until the
restored plants are established.
Meadow restoration projects: The Fremont-Winema National Forest contains mountain meadows
that provide important habitat for many animal species, especially during dry summer months.
However, development, conifer encroachment, and high-intensity wildfire have resulted in the
deterioration of many of the Fremont-Winema’s mountain meadows. Meadow restoration can
increase groundwater levels, recharge streams, and enhance habitat for fish and wildlife.
Key conservation actions include:
• Repairing meadow degradation: supporting restoration projects in meadow systems in which
it will be possible to quantify benefits;
• Ensuring long-term protection: supporting land protection and deploying best management
practices;
• Garnering support of ranching community: improving information flow and providing
technical assistance; and,
• Monitoring and documenting ecological and biological responses to meadow restoration.
Forest health species monitoring: Forest health projects are an important tool for reducing the
threat of high intensity wildfire. Much of this work thins unnaturally overgrown forested areas and
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helps eliminate “ladder fuels” in strategic areas in the forest’s understory to reduce the severity of
fires. While doing this work, it is also critically important to get baseline and post-project species
monitoring to showcase efficacy and response and inform fuel treatment design to maximize
benefits to fish and wildlife across the landscape.
Species monitoring plays a key role not only in understanding the efficacy of a project, but also the
ability to celebrate the successes of species presence and abundance after implementation actions.
Monitoring plans should clearly articulate the key management or conservation questions to be
addressed, expected data types and sources to be used, and analysis methods employed. Successful
projects will develop initial species abundance and post-project outcomes to provide pre-project and
long-term utility for developing best management practices for forest health work during future
project implementation.
Collaborative projects that align conservation actions which emanate on the Fremont-Winema
National Forest, link with private landowners downstream through both the Upper Klamath
Watershed Resilience and the Fremont-Winema National Forest Headwaters Enhancement and
Monitoring funding sources, and showcase a watershed approach, will be prioritized.
PROJECT METRICS
To better gauge progress on individual grants and to ensure greater consistency of project data
provided by multiple grant projects, the Klamath Basin Forests and Watersheds Restoration RFP
has a list of metrics in Easygrants for full proposal applicants to choose from for reporting
(commonly used metrics are shown in the table below). We ask that you select the most relevant
metrics from this list for your project. If you do not believe an applicable metric has been provided,
please contact Erica Engstrom (Erica.Engstrom@nfwf.org) to discuss acceptable alternatives.
Project Activity Recommended Metric Additional Guidance
Habitat Restoration – Fish # Passage barriers assessed Enter the # of instream barriers with
passage improvements and/or with design plans assessments or engineering/design
plans completed in this grant. In the
NOTES, provide the barrier’s SARP
ID (see aquaticbarriers.org). If the
barrier(s) is not in SARP, provide its
latitude/longitude or its name and
source.
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Habitat Restoration – Fish # Passage barriers rectified Enter the # of instream barriers
passage improvements removed/rectified in this grant. In the
NOTES, provide the barrier’s SARP
ID (see aquaticbarriers.org). If the
barrier(s) is not in SARP, provide its
latitude/longitude or its name and
source.
Habitat Restoration – Fish Miles of stream opened Enter the number of miles of stream
passage improvements made accessible to aquatic organism
passage. NFWF prefers that this
metric indicate the miles of upstream
habitat until the next barrier upstream
(or end of flowline) as well as the
miles of downstream habitat until the
next barrier downstream using
PADnew (see
https://www.calfish.org/ProgramsDat
a/HabitatandBarriers/CaliforniaFishPa
ssageAssessmentDatabase.aspx). This
estimate should include both the
mainstem of the stream or river and
smaller tributaries. If another data
source or methodology is used, please
describe it in the NOTES.
Habitat Restoration – Acres restored Enter # of floodplain acres restored.
Floodplain restoration In the NOTES, indicate % of
vegetation on the pre-project site (0-
20%, 21-40%, 41-60%, 61-80%, 81-
100%) and the dominant vegetation
being restored (broadleaf, conifer,
redwood, shrub, grass, marsh, wet
meadow, swamp).
Habitat Restoration – Instream # Structures installed Enter the number of habitat structures
restoration installed, replaced, upgraded, or
repaired for improvement of instream
habitat.
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Habitat Restoration – Instream Miles restored Enter the number of stream miles
restoration enhanced or restored. Include
modifications to stream channel
(shape, cross-section, or profile) or
meander pattern, placement of large
woody debris or log jams, etc.
Habitat Restoration – Land Acres of trees planted Enter the number of acres of trees
restoration planted. In the NOTES, specify
landcover type prior to planting
(barren, cropland, grassland,
shrubland), average number of trees
per acre planted, and forest type
(broadleaf, conifer, redwood, shrub).
Habitat Restoration – Land Acres restored Enter the number of acres of habitat
restoration restored. In the NOTES, specify
landcover prior to restoration (barren,
cropland, grassland, shrubland) and
post-restoration (broadleaf, conifer,
redwood, grassland, shrubland, marsh,
wet meadow, tidal marsh, swamp).
Habitat Restoration – Riparian Acres restored Enter the number of riparian acres
restoration restored. In the NOTES, specify the
landcover type prior to planting
(barren, cropland, grassland,
shrubland), the % of vegetation on the
pre-project site (0-20%, 21-40%, 41-
60%, 61-80%, 81-100%), the
dominant vegetation being planted
(broadleaf, conifer, shrub, grass), the
buffer width, and the acres. DO NOT
include instream restoration miles in
this measurement.
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Habitat Restoration – Wetland Acres restored Wetlands in this context refer to off
restoration and side channel habitat and ponds
created to provide refugia for coho.
Enter # acres of WETLAND (not
riparian or instream) habitat restored.
In the NOTES, specify landcover
prior to restoration (marsh, tidal
marsh, wet meadow, swamp) and
indicate % of vegetation on pre-
project site (0-20%, 21-40%, 41-60%,
61-80%, 81-100%).
Habitat Management – Acre feet of water conserved Enter the number of acre feet of water
Improved irrigation practices expected to be conserved annually.
Habitat Management – BMP Acres burned Enter the number of acres with
implementation for prescribed prescribed burning. In the NOTES,
burns specify if private or public land,
average frequency (in years) for
future burning, dominant vegetation
burned (forest, shrubland, grassland).
If forest, note if trees were planted in
the last ten years (yes/no) and type of
forest (aspen-birch, maple-beech-
birch, Douglas fir, lodgepole pine,
ponderosa pine, mixed conifer, oak-
hickory, oak-pine, spruce-balsam fir,
white-red-jack pine, redwood).
Habitat Management – Fuels # Acres treated Enter the number of acres of
management treatment vegetation treated by mechanical or
(mechanical/hand) hand treatments. In the NOTES,
indicate dominant forest type (aspen-
birch, maple-beech-birch, Douglas fir,
lodgepole pine, ponderosa pine,
mixed conifer, oak-hickory, oak-pine,
spruce-balsam fir, white-red-jack
pine, redwood), average frequency (in
years) for future treatments, and
whether the removed vegetation will
be left on site to decompose (yes/no).
Capacity, Outreach, Incentives # People reached by outreach, Enter the number of people reached
– Outreach/ Education/ training, or technical by outreach, training, or technical
Technical Assistance assistance activities assistance activities.
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Planning, Research, # Engineering and design Enter the number of Engineering and
Monitoring – Restoration plans developed Design plans, and/or compliance
planning/ design/ permitting documents developed. Generally,
there will be one plan per milestone
(e.g., 10% design, 30% design,
sampling design plan, final report/data
compilation).
Planning, Research, # Studies completed whose Enter the number of studies and
Monitoring – Research findings are used to adapt reports with findings that will be
management/inform produced to adapt and inform
management decisions management decisions.
Planning, Research, Acres assessed for improved Enter the number of acres assessed.
Monitoring – Research management
All applicants applying for Conservation Partners Program funding are required to include
the following metrics with metric notes:
Project Activity Recommended Metric Additional Guidance
Capacity, Outreach, # Jobs created Enter the # of individuals hired to
Incentives – Economic directly work on the project (non-
benefits volunteers). Jobs should be directly
engaged in grant activities, funded by
the grant, and shouldn't have existed
prior to the grant. The starting value
for this metric should be zero and
target value should be a whole
number. In the NOTES section,
provide the FTE for the jobs created.
If applicable, in the NOTES, report
the number of new jobs created for
people in the Historically
Underserved or Special Emphasis
categories.
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Capacity, Outreach, # Jobs sustained Enter the # of paid jobs that are
Incentives – Economic partially or fully sustained through
benefits this grant. The starting value for this
metric should be zero and target
value should be a whole number.
Jobs should have existed prior to the
grant, be funded by the grant, and be
directly engaged in project activities.
If applicable, in the NOTES section
report the number of jobs sustained
for people in the Historically
Underserved or Special Emphasis
categories.
Capacity, Outreach, # Participants receiving Enter the number of participants
Incentives – Incentives government agency cost share enrolled in government cost share or
or financial assistance financial assistance programs. In the
NOTES section, specify which
program(s) (e.g., NRCS EQIP), how
you will track enrollment, and if
applicable, note the number of
participants in the Historically
Underserved or Special Emphasis
categories. This should be equal to or
less than the “# people with changed
behavior” metric.
Capacity, Outreach, Dollar value of government Enter the dollar value of federal,
Incentives – Incentives agency cost share or financial state, or local government agency
assistance cost share or financial assistance. In
the NOTES section, specify which
program(s) (e.g., NRCS EQIP) and
how the value was estimated.
Capacity, Outreach, Acres covered by government Enter the number of acres enrolled in
Incentives – Incentives agency cost share or financial government agency cost share or
assistance financial assistance. In the NOTES
section, specify which program(s)
(e.g., NRCS EQIP). If applicable,
number should be equal to or less
than “Acreage of project footprint”
metric.
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Capacity, Outreach, # People with changed Enter the number of producers
Incentives – Outreach/ behavior implementing new conservation
Education/ Technical practices with or without federal,
Assistance state, local, or private financial
assistance. This should be equal to or
greater than the “# of farmers
receiving gov't agency cost share or
financial assistance” metric.
Habitat Management – Project Acreage of project footprint Enter the total number of unique
footprint acres where one or more
conservation practices were
implemented. Only count an acre
once, even if multiple activities or
treatments will occur on that acre
during the project. For crop
management projects involving
wheat, please indicate the total
project acres in active wheat rotation
in the NOTES section.
Planning, Research, # Management plans into Enter the number of completed
Monitoring – BMP which BMPs were management plans into which Best
development incorporated Management Practices (BMPs) were
incorporated.
Planning, Research, # Acres covered by Enter the number of acres that are
Monitoring – BMP conservation plans receiving conservation planning and
development other technical assistance to help
producers meet eligibility
requirements for USDA NRCS
conservation programs and other
Federal, State, and local conservation
programs.
ELIGIBILITY
• Eligible applicants include: local, state, and Tribal governments and agencies (e.g.,
townships, cities, boroughs), special districts (e.g., conservation districts, planning districts,
utility districts), non-profit 501(c) organizations, and educational institutions.
• Ineligible applicants include: international organizations, businesses, or unincorporated
individuals.
Ineligible Uses of Grant Funds
• Equipment: Applicants are encouraged to rent equipment where possible and cost-effective
or use matching funds to make those purchases. NFWF acknowledges, however, that some
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projects may only be completed using NFWF funds to procure equipment. If this applies to
your project, please contact the program staff listed in this RFP to discuss options.
• Federal funds and matching contributions may not be used to procure or obtain equipment,
services, or systems (including entering into or renewing a contract) that uses
telecommunications equipment or services produced by Huawei Technologies Company or
ZTE Corporation (or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entities) as a substantial or essential
component, or as critical technology of any system. Refer to Public Law 115-232, section
889 for additional information.
• NFWF funds and matching contributions may not be used to support political advocacy,
fundraising, lobbying, litigation, terrorist activities, or Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
violations.
• NFWF funds may not be used to support ongoing efforts to comply with legal requirements,
including permit conditions, mitigation, and settlement agreements. However, grant funds
may be used to support projects that enhance or improve upon existing baseline compliance
efforts.
FUNDING AVAILABILITY AND MATCH
Shasta Valley Program
Total funds available: $7,040,000
Projects to be awarded: 4 - 6
Anticipated award range: $200,000 - $2,000,000
Match: Required; 1:1 (for every dollar in grant funding, 1 dollar is required in match)
Conservation Partners Program
Total funds available: $2,000,000
Projects to be awarded: 3 - 5
Anticipated award range: $200,000 - $700,000
Match: Required; 35% (for every dollar in grant funding, 35 cents is required in match)
Upper Klamath Watershed Resilience
Total funds available: $1,793,000
Projects to be awarded: 2 - 4
Anticipated award range: $100,000 - $500,000
Match: Required; 25% (for every dollar in grant funding, 25 cents is required in match)
Fremont-Winema National Forest Headwaters Enhancement and Monitoring
Total funds available: $720,000
Projects to be awarded: 2 - 4
Anticipated award range: $50,000 - $450,000
Match: Required; 30% (for every dollar in grant funding, 30 cents is required in match)
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EVALUATION CRITERIA
All proposals will be screened for relevance, accuracy, completeness, and compliance with NFWF,
NRCS, USFS, and USFWS policies, as applicable. Proposals will then be evaluated based on the
extent to which they meet the following criteria.
Program Goals and Priorities – Project contributes to the overall habitat and species conservation
goals outlined in the appropriate funding opportunity and has specific, quantifiable performance
metrics to evaluate project success. Applicants are also strongly encouraged to reference NFWF’s
California Forests and Watersheds Business Plan for opportunities to enhance project
competitiveness by linking Business Plan strategies and work in focal areas for priority species
whenever possible. Additionally, projects that incorporate baseline monitoring and take steps
to measure and account for habitat and species impact will be prioritized.
Technical Merit – Project is technically sound and feasible, and the proposal sets forth a clear,
logical, and achievable work plan and timeline. Project engages appropriate technical experts
throughout project planning, design, and implementation.
Collaboration and Community Engagement – The applicant organization partners and engages
collaboratively with diverse local community members, leaders, Tribal Nations, community-based
organizations, and other relevant stakeholders to develop and implement the proposed project. This
ensures long-term sustainability and success of the project, integration into local programs and
policies, and community acceptance of proposed restoration actions. Non-traditional partners or
communities are enlisted to broaden the sustained impact from the project. Describe the community
characteristics of the project area, identify any communities impacted, describe outreach and
community engagement activities and how those will be monitored and measured. Use demographic
data to support descriptions and submit letters of support from community partners and/or
collaborators demonstrating their commitment to the project and engagement in project activities as
proposed.
Cost-Effectiveness – Cost-effectiveness analysis identifies the most economically efficient way to
meet project objectives. Project includes a cost-effective budget that balances performance risk and
efficient use of funds. Cost-effectiveness evaluation includes, but is not limited to, an assessment of
effective direct/indirect costs across all categories in the proposed budget according to the type,
size, and duration of project and project objectives. Project budgets will be compared to similar
projects to ensure proposed costs across all budget categories are reasonable for the activities being
performed and the outcomes proposed.
Spatial Data – Project spatial data submitted to NFWF’s online mapping tool accurately represent
the location(s) conservation activity(ies) at the time of proposal submission. Successful projects will
be required to submit improved spatial data for each conservation activity within the period of
performance as necessary.
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Transferability – Project has potential and plans to transfer lessons learned to other communities
and/or to be integrated into government programs and policies.
Long-term Sustainability – Project will be maintained to ensure benefits are achieved and
sustained over time. This should include how future funding will be secured to implement necessary
long-term monitoring and maintenance activities.
Past Success – Applicant has a proven track record of success in implementing conservation
practices with specific, measurable results.
OTHER
Applicant Demographic Information – In an effort to better understand diversity in our
grantmaking, NFWF is collecting basic demographic information on applicants and their
organizations via a voluntary survey form (available in Easygrants). This information will not be
shared externally or with reviewers and will not be considered when making grant decisions. For
more details, please see the tip sheet and the Uploads section of Easygrants.
Budget – Costs are allowable, reasonable, and budgeted in accordance with NFWF’s Budget
Instructions cost categories. Federally-funded projects must be in compliance with OMB Uniform
Guidance as applicable. Applicants to the Shasta Valley Program will be asked to complete a
separate budget template as part of their full proposal. For Shasta Valley Program projects, indirect
costs are not allowable.
Environmental Services – NFWF funds projects in pursuit of its mission to sustain, restore and
enhance the nation's fish, wildlife, plants, and habitats for current and future generations. NFWF
recognizes that some benefits from projects may be of value with regards to credits on an
environmental services market (such as a carbon credit market). NFWF does not participate in,
facilitate, or manage an environmental services market nor does NFWF assert any claim on such
credits.
Intellectual Property – Intellectual property created using NFWF awards may be copyrighted or
otherwise legally protected by award recipients. NFWF may reserve the right to use, publish, and
copy materials created under awards, including posting such material on NFWF’s website and
featuring it in publications. NFWF may use project metrics and spatial data from awards to estimate
societal benefits that result and to report these results to funding partners. These may include but are
not limited to: habitat and species response, species connectivity, water quality, water quantity, risk
of detrimental events (e.g., wildfire, floods), carbon accounting (e.g., sequestration, avoided
emissions), environmental justice, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Matching Contributions – Matching Contributions consist of cash, contributed goods and services,
volunteer hours, and/or property raised and spent for the Project during the Period of Performance.
Larger match ratios and matching fund contributions from a diversity of partners are encouraged
and will be more competitive during application review.
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