Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network

 

The National Park Service Chesapeake Bay Office connects people to the natural and cultural heritage of the Chesapeake Bay watershed through the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network and supports efforts to implement the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. Assistance supports implementation of: The Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act, which authorizes the NPS to: identify, conserve, restore, and interpret natural, recreational, historical, and cultural resources within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed; identify and utilize the collective resources sites for enhancing public education of and access to the Chesapeake Bay; link sites with trails, tour roads, scenic byways, and other connections; develop and establish watertrails comprising water routes and connections to sites and other land resources within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed; and create a network of sites and watertrails. The Chesapeake Bay Program, a collaborative watershed restoration partnership among the states of Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York, and West Virginia, the District of Columbia, the Chesapeake Bay Commission and the federal government. The six Governors and the other partners signed the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement establishing specific goals, outcomes, management strategies and work plans for conservation and restoration. The NPS is responsible for fostering interjurisdictional collaboration to add 300 new public boating, fishing and water access sites to the Bay and tributaries and conserve 2 million acres of hunting, fishing, wildlife and other conservation lands by 2025. NPS also participates in and supports other initiatives advancing the agreement. The partnership-based Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail (NHT). This 3,000 mile trail extends from Norfolk Virginia to Cooperstown New York and along all the Bays major tributaries. The Chesapeake NHT was created through the National Trails System Act (Public Law 90-543, as amended) which provides for technical and financial assistance to States or their political subdivisions, landowners, private organizations, or individuals to operate, develop, and maintain any portion of such a trail either within or outside a federally administered area. To advance these, the NPS collaborates with partners to increase access to the Chesapeake and rivers, to conserve important landscapes and resources, to promote tourism and local economies, to engage youth in meaningful work and placed-based education, to improve recreational opportunities, and to interpret the natural and cultural resources of the Chesapeake region.

Active 15.930 National Park Service, Department of The Interior B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2016 No information available. Since 2000, the National Park Service Chesapeake financial assistance program has provided more than $15 million for a variety of community projects.
Fiscal Year 2017 Since 2000, the National Park Service Chesapeake financial assistance program has provided more than $16 million for a variety of community projects.
Fiscal Year 2018 13 applications received and 11 awards made.
Fiscal Year 2019 Nine (9) project received funding.
Fiscal Year 2020 Twelve agencies received funding supporting the watershed initiatives.
Fiscal Year 2021 Eight organizations within the Chesapeake Bay Network were awarding funds for projects supporting the mission of the network and associated programs.
Fiscal Year 2022 In Fiscal Year 2022, this program provided funding for 2 new projects in addition to modifications to existing projects. Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998, Part as amended by PL 114-141, Section 502(A) Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network Recipients must either be a non-profit organization qualified as such under section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code or a state or local government. NPS Chesapeake technical and financial assistance strategically supports projects and programs that meet DOI's key responsibilities in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act authorizes the NPS to: identify, conserve, restore, and interpret natural, recreational, historical, and cultural resources within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed; identify and utilize the collective resources sites for enhancing public education of and access to the Chesapeake Bay; link sites with trails, tour roads, scenic byways, and other connections; develop and establish watertrails comprising water routes and connections to sites and other land resources within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed; and create a network of sites and watertrails. Other specific plans and strategies which guide NPS -Chesapeake implementation include: o Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement and implementing management strategies and work plans, including the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Public Access Plan o Captain John Smith Chesapeake NHT planning documents, including: Comprehensive Management Plan, Interpretive Plan, Conservation Strategy and segment plans for the James, Potomac and Lower Susquehanna rivers. General Public. 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. The following submissions should be supplied as directed by NPS - Chesapeake as part of the award process. SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance; and SF424A, 424B, 424C or 424D as appropriate Scope of Work - Task List and Schedule Detailed Project Budget DUNS Number, SAM Registration and ASAP Registration Additional Supporting Information as appropriate. Awards are made to the highest priority projects based on the amount of funding available each year. Recipients selected for funding collaborate with NPS Chesapeake staff to complete award requirements Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines Not applicable. None. Final award decisions are not subject to appeal. Not applicable. Recipients include State and local governments and non-profit organizations, whose projects have been identified and prioritized in the plans and strategies noted above in Section 081. Specific priorities include: o Supporting implementation of new water access sites along the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, with a priority on sites on the lower James and York Rivers, lower Potomac River and lower Susquehanna River segments. o Providing interpretation, media, visitor services, and educational programming (especially on-water programming) focused on Chesapeake Bay natural and cultural resources at visitor contact stations and associated sites on the lower James and York Rivers, lower Potomac River and lower Susquehanna River segments as well as through the mobile Roving Ranger program. o Fostering public engagement in conservation, recreation, and resource stewardship through the mobile Roving Ranger offered at partner parks and sites. o Supporting increased visibility of the Chesapeake's special places through expansion of Find Your Chesapeake and related web media. o Providing front-line staff and interpretive guide training and resources on Chesapeake themes. o Expanding youth engagement through the Chesapeake Youth Corps program through teams in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia and Kids in Kayaks program. o Advancing local, state, private, and federal collaborative conservation in the watershed through activities and initiatives that support Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement outcomes, including supporting the Chesapeake Conservation Partnership and high-priority land conservation targets. o Identifying, documenting and planning for landscapes and sites important to American Indian tribes within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Recipients of financial assistance must comply with all applicable federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations. Local planning offices can provide advice on Federal, state or local permits that will be necessary; and NPS - Chesapeake staff can advise on compliance and permitting processes. As advised by NPS Chesapeake, Recipients may be required to (1) document local support for the project; (2) document consultation with their State Historic Preservation Office, state agencies in charge of endangered species, local planning and zoning officials, and other affected agencies in developing their projects and gaining approval for project implementation; and (3) complete an Environmental Screening Form for their proposed project. All facilities and programming developed with NPS Chesapeake Bay funding must be accessible to persons with disabilities. It is the responsibility of the award recipient to comply with the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968, Section 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 as amended. All construction projects must be designed and engineered in accordance with applicable law. The services of a professional, registered engineer or architect are advised to assure that necessary provisions are being met with respect to public safety, codes, and standards. All projects involving physical development must incorporate specific objectives to “green” the project, such as developing environmentally sensitive designs, incorporating low impact development approaches (e.g., incorporating storm water management, rain gardens, pervious surfaces, green roofs, etc.), incorporating eco-friendly materials into structural elements of your project, utilizing native, non-invasive plant species, and using green procurement practices. All projects proposed to develop new or enhanced public water access facilities must develop one or more of the following types of public water access facilities: boat-related access, swimming access, fishing access and/or viewing access for water, wildlife, and shoreline areas. For proposed development projects located on the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, NPS Chesapeake Office may supply standardized CAJO trail-marking and orientation, and possibly interpretation, signage appropriate to the site. Not applicable. 2 CFR, Part 200, Subpart F Per 2 CFR Part 200.333 - 200.337. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching is mandatory. 50% Recipient cost share is required for most awards under this program.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. Funds are available from the start date to the end date of the period of performance. The project period is set by the requirements of the project but is typically for a time period not to exceed 24 months. Award recipients will be required to register in Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP). ASAP is the required payment system used by the National Park Service for financial assistance awards. Jamie Cupples, Administrative Officer, 410 Severn Avenue, Suite 314, Annapolis, Maryland 21403, Email: Jamie_Cupples@nps.gov Phone: (410) 260-2473 NER Chief Financial Assistance Program
Department of the Interior, National Park Service, US Custom House, 200 Chestnut Street - 3rd Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19106 US
Jamie_cupples@nps.gov
Phone: (215) 597-9153 https://www.nps.gov/chba/learn/management/financial-assistance-for-partners.htm 14-1042-0-1-303 (Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements)) FY 22$1,237,353.00; FY 23 est $1,300,000.00; FY 24 est $1,300,000.00; FY 21$2,069,670.00; FY 20$2,123,583.00; FY 19$1,525,653.00; FY 18$1,717,821.00; FY 17$206,313.00; FY 16$253,000.00; - FY23 and FY TB24D (subject to appropriation) Range: $60,000 - 650,000 Average: $170,000 2 CFR Part 225 and check www.baygateways.net Fiscal Year 2016 No information available. Projects for education, youth employment and stewardship programs, and public access and trail development. Each project is leveraged through matching funds, in-kind services, and volunteer hours.
Fiscal Year 2017 Projects for education, youth employment and stewardship programs, and public access and trail development. Each project is leveraged through matching funds, in-kind services, and volunteer hours.
Fiscal Year 2018 Projects for K-12 educational and public recreational programming (esp. on-water programs), teacher and docent training, youth employment, resource conservation, public access development, stewardship engagement, visitor services, and interpretive exhibits.
Fiscal Year 2019 Seven (7) projects received funding.
Fiscal Year 2020 Funded organizations that support cultural education, natural conservation and preservation within the wathershed included; Corazon Latino Inc. Annapolis Maritime Museum, Inc. Quebec-Labrador Foundation, Inc., the Susquehanna Heritage Corporation Conservation Fund, a nonprofit corporation, the Sultana Projects Inc James River Association Conservation & Natural Resources, Pennsylvania Department of Potomac Riverkeeper Inc Conservation and Recreation, Virginia Department of Anacostia Watershed Society Inc Susquehanna Heritage Corporation Quebec-Labrador Foundation, Inc., the Lancaster County Conservancy Conservation and Recreation, Virginia Department of Natural Resources, Maryland Department of Potomac Conservancy.
Fiscal Year 2022 Projects that connect people to cultural and natural heritage