Adaptive Science

 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) uses a science-based, adaptive framework for setting and achieving broad-scale conservation objectives that strategically address the problems fish and wildlife will face in the future. This framework, called Strategic Habitat Conservation, is based on the principles of adaptive management and uses population and habitat data, ecological models, and focused monitoring and assessment efforts to develop and implement strategies that result in measurable fish and wildlife population outcomes. This process uses the best available scientific information to predict how fish and wildlife populations will respond to changes in the environment, thus enabling the USFWS to focus habitat conservation and other management activities where they will be most effective. In addition, the USFWS needs focused, applied science directed at high impact questions surrounding threats to fish and wildlife resources for which management and/or mitigation is required to maintain species at healthy, sustainable, desired levels. USFWS must base its decisions on the best science available, in order to defend its regulatory decisions, biological opinions and species conservation recommendations to land managers.

Active 15.670 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of The Interior B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2017 Program anticipates receiving 50 applications and issuing 20 awards. Program received 15 applications and issued 7 awards.
Fiscal Year 2018 In FY18 the program received 19 applications and issued 12 awards.
Fiscal Year 2019 In FY19 the program received 39 applications and issued 27 awards.
Fiscal Year 2020 In FY20 the program received 37 applications and issued 29 awards.
Fiscal Year 2021 The Adaptive Science program received 54 applications and funded 47 awards. The DWCF program received 57 applications and funded 31 awards.
Fiscal Year 2022 Program received 67 applications and issued 23 awards.
Fiscal Year 2023 Program anticipates receiving 75 applications and issuing 35 awards.
Fiscal Year 2024 Program anticipates receiving 75 applications and issuing 35 awards. The Fish and Wildlife Act, 16 U.S.C. §§742a-742j, not including §742 d-1; National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act, 16 U.S.C. §§668dd-ee; Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. §1531 et seq.; Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act,16 U.S.C. §2901 et seq.; Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, 16 U.S.C. §§661-666; Migratory Bird Treaty Act, 16 U.S.C. §703 et seq.; Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act—Delaware River Basin Restoration, Pub. L. 114-322 [S.612], 130 STAT. 1774; America’s Conservation Enhancement Act—Chesapeake WILD, Pub. L. 116-188 [S.3051], 134 STAT. 923. Not applicable. Not applicable. Not applicable. Preapplication coordination is required. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Funding opportunity announcements and complete application instructions are posted online at Grants.gov at http://www.grants.gov. All applicants must submit a complete, signed Standard Form 424, Application for Federal Assistance. The USFWS Directorate identifies priority needs. Applications for funding will be reviewed and approved by USFWS staff based on the project-specific review criteria to be detailed in the funding opportunity posting. USFWS staff will notify applicants of review results by either issuing a fully executed Award either electronically or through the mail, or by sending written notification to the applicant that the application will not be funded. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate, for application deadlines. The FY23 request for proposals for the Delaware River Basin Restoration and the Chesapeake WILD programs will open in February, 2023. Typically within 180 days of proposal receipt. Not applicable. Not applicable. Proposed projects will be selected on the basis of how well they meet the program and/or project-specific criteria detailed in individual Adaptive Science funding opportunity postings. Criteria will vary depending on the scope of the program or project for which applications are being accepted. Support will be provided for science projects: to include species risk and vulnerability assessments, inventory and monitoring, population and habitat assessments, biological planning and conservation design, ecosystem services, indigenous knowledge management evaluation and research, decision support, data management, and conservation genetics; to identify and implement landscape-scale conservation solutions to such issues as adaptation, land use change, invasive species spread, and fire frequency changes; and to address high impact questions surrounding threats to fish wildlife, and plants, providing answers needed to manage species to healthy, sustainable, desired levels. Support will provided for science projects and collaborative partnerships that identify and address shared conservation priorities and science needs; inform landscape-scale planning and tools that support decision-making for at-risk and listed fish and wildlife species and their habitats; and link science to coordinated, efficient resource management actions. Support will be provided to communicate science information, tools, assessments, and other products. This program is administered in compliance with the Federal Grants and Cooperative Agreements Act of 1977, as amended. These funds may not be used towards training U.S. Federal Government personnel or purchase of real property. 100% of funding is discretionary. Performance Reports: Performance reports are required. Recipients must monitor and report on project performance in accordance with the requirements in 2 CFR 200.329. A final performance report is due within 120 calendar days of the award period of performance end date, unless the awarding program approves a due date extension. The FWS details all reporting requirements including frequency and due dates in Notices of Award. Not applicable. Recipients will maintain records in accordance with 2 CFR 200. Program-specific legislation/regulation may dictate additional records retention requirements. Program will detail all non-standard records retention requirements in the notice of award. Cost records must be maintained separately for each grant. Records, accounts, and supporting documents must be retained for three years after submission of the final reports. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. Assistance is available after program funds are appropriated and allocated to program. Funding must be spent during the award period of performance, which is specific to each project. Program obligates funds and sends a notice of award to successful applicants. Recipients request funds in accordance with 2 CFR 200, Subpart E-Cost Principles, unless otherwise dictated by program-specific legislation or special award terms. Program will include any special payment terms and conditions in the notice of award. Contacts for regional science programs can be found on the Internet at: Region 1- http://www.fws.gov/pacific/ Region 2- http://www.fws.gov/southwest/ Region 3- http://www.fws.gov/midwest/ Region 4- http://www.fws.gov/southeast/ Region 5- http://www.fws.gov/northeast/index.cfm Region 6- http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/ Region 7- http://alaska.fws.gov/ Region 8- http://www.fws.gov/cno/ Anna-Marie York
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, 5275 Leesburg Pike MS: SA
Falls Church, VA 22041-3803 US
anna-marie_york@fws.gov
Phone: (703)358-1881 https://www.fws.gov/ 14-1611-0-1-302 (Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 22$20,548,594.00; FY 23 est $22,000,000.00; FY 24 est $24,000,000.00; FY 21$4,100,000.00; FY 20$5,303,670.00; FY 19$4,290,000.00; FY 18$2,007,000.00; FY 17$744,977.00; - Range is $1,000 - $1,000,000. Average award amount varies by project type and duration. Acceptance of a Federal Financial award from the Department of the Interior carries with it the responsibility to be aware of and comply with the terms and conditions of the award. Acceptance is defined as starting work, drawing down funds, or accepting the award via electronic means. Awards are based on the application submitted to, and as approved by the Department of the Interior and are subject to the terms and conditions incorporated in to the Award either directly or by reference to the following: Program legislation/regulation, assurances, special conditions, the Code of Federal Regulations, and other regulatory requirements, as applicable. Fiscal Year 2017 Assessment of Impacts of Feral Horses and Livestock Grazing on Sage-Grouse and their Habitats will estimate sage-grouse demographic responses to grazing by horses and livestock and to relate these responses to key vegetation variables. Assessment of Impacts of Feral Horses and Livestock Grazing on Sage-Grouse and their Habitats will estimate sage-grouse demographic responses to grazing by horses and livestock and to relate these responses to key vegetation variables.
Fiscal Year 2018 Capturing improved density and abundance estimates of monarch butterfly populations overwintering in California and Mexico using LiDAR scanning.
Fiscal Year 2019 Monitor Pronghorn antelope population movements in the West Desert of Utah to detect barriers to migration and define migration corridors to connect populations and prevent wildlife/human conflicts.
Fiscal Year 2020 Funds to the National Alliance of Forest Owners (NAFO) and the NCASI Foundation, an association organized to serve the forest products industry as a center of excellence providing unbiased, scientific research and technical information necessary to achieve the industry’s environmental and sustainability goals, to create demonstration projects to evaluate the relationships between species persistence and forest stand and landscape-level forest characteristics under sustainable forest management on private forest lands owned by NAFO members and managed under forest certification standards of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative.
Fiscal Year 2021 Conservation without Conflict provides a collaborative approach to fish and wildlife conservation challenges where government agencies, land owners and stakeholders work cooperatively to achieve shared goals and objectives. The Delaware River Basin Restoration Program’s (DRBRP) goal is to invest in projects that conserve, restore, and connect people with fish and wildlife habitat in the Delaware River watershed. Projects funded under the program included: (Delaware) $237,000 via the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund (DWCF) to National Wildlife Federation to implement “Sacred Grounds Program: Installing Pollinator Gardens and Engaging Communities of Faith”; (Delaware) $179,500 to the New Castle Conservation District via the DWCF to implement “Dam Removal in the White Clay Creek”; (New Jersey) $500,000 via the DWCF for the Upstream Alliance to engage the local community in “Developing a Water Trail and Recreational Programming in Camden”; (New York) $75,000 to Catskill Mountainkeeper via the DWCF for “Protecting Eastern Brook Trout Habitat through Invasive Management in the Beaverkill Valley”; (Pennsylvania) $255,000 through the DRRF to Berks Nature to improve water quality by “Implementing Agricultural Best Management Practices in the Middle Schuylkill Cluster”. The Chesapeake Watershed Investments for Landscape Defense (Chesapeake WILD) was authorized in 2021, however the program was not provided an appropriation that year.
Fiscal Year 2022 Washington Shrubsteppe Restoration and Resiliency Initiative: Defining Shared Spatial Priorities
Fiscal Year 2023 Characterizing the Natal Origins and Host Plants of Western Monarchs
Fiscal Year 2024 The Program anticipates funding projects that support the best available scientific information to predict how fish and wildlife populations will respond to changes in the environment.