Highlands Conservation

 

To conserve priority lands and natural resources and recognize the importance of the water, forest, agricultural, wildlife, recreational, and cultural resources, and the national significance of the Highlands region of the United States. Preserve and protect high-priority conservation land in the Highland regions.

Active 15.667 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of The Interior B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2017 We expect to receive applications from 4 states and are uncertain of the number awards that will be issued. In FY 17, the program received 4 applications (one from each State in the Highlands Region) and issued 4 awards, with funding distributed evenly among States. Total funding awarded was $9,680,000. All funds have been obligated.
Fiscal Year 2018 In FY18, the program received 9 applications and issued 9 awards.
Fiscal Year 2019 In FY19, we received 11 applications and issued 11 awards.
Fiscal Year 2020 In FY20, we received 3 applications for 6 projects and issued 3 awards for 6 projects.
Fiscal Year 2021 In FY21, the program received 4 applications and issued 4 awards.
Fiscal Year 2022 Program awarded 3 applications to fund 10 land conservation projects.
Fiscal Year 2023 Program anticipates receiving 8 applications and issuing 6 awards.
Fiscal Year 2024 Program anticipates receiving 8 applications and issuing 6 awards. Highlands Conservation Act (Pub. L. 108-421 [H.R. 1964], 118 Stat. 2375), and Emergency Wetlands Resources Act of 1986 (16 U.S.C. §3930). Any State Agency with authority to own and manage land located within the Highlands region for conservation purposes may apply by identifying the source of non-Federal funds, describing the management objectives for the project land, identifying the purpose of the use of the land, and providing that the land will not be converted, used or disposed of for a purpose inconsistent with land conservation. State Conservation Agencies, or Counties and Municipalities within the Highlands Region, are eligible to receive grant funds and hold the fee or conservation easement interest in the acquired land. Beneficiaries are State Agencies with authority to own and manage land within the Highlands region for conservation purposes, including the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, as well as Counties and Municipalities located within the Highlands Region. Must be a State Agency with the authority to own and manage land within the Highlands region for conservation purposes, or a County or Municipality located within the Highlands region. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles, applies to this program. Preapplication coordination is not applicable. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. It is the responsibility of the Highland States to submit projects to the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service for funding. Only lands available from willing sellers in the Highlands region will be considered in the program. The Department of the Interior (DOI) has the sole responsibility for project grants. The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service will award grants to the States or their entities for the acquisition of land, or interests in land, for conservation purposes in the Highlands. Please contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Regional Office for application deadlines. Not applicable. Not applicable. Not applicable. The Notice of Funding Opportunity directs the Highland States apply directly to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for eligible land acquisition projects in the Highlands region. Only lands with high conservation value that can be obtained by fee acquisition or conservation easement from willing sellers will be considered. A State Agency with authority to own and manage land located within the Highlands region, as well as Counties and Municipalities located within the Highlands Region, may use a land conservation partnership project to acquire conservation-valued land, either through fee acquisition or conservation easement, from a willing seller to permanently protect, conserve, or preserve land. The Federal grant share of the land conservation partnership project will not exceed 50% of the total cost of partnership to acquire conservation-valued land. Funds are 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. Final performance reports and final SF-425, Federal Financial Reports are 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. Cost records must be maintained separately for each grant award. 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 is mandatory. The Federal share of the project cost shall not exceed 50 percent of the total project cost.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. Funds will be made available in the fiscal year they are appropriated. Awarded projects must be completed within 4 years, with the possibility of an additional one-year extension. 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. None/Not specified. Shelley Dibona
US Fish and Wildlife Service, Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration, 300 Westgate Center Drive
Hadley, MA 01035 US
shelley_dibona@fws.gov
Phone: (413)253-8509 https://fws.gov/program/highlands-conservation-act 14-5020-0-1-806 (Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 22$20,000,000.00; FY 23 est $9,700,000.00; FY 24 est $9,700,000.00; FY 21$9,680,000.00; FY 20$9,680,000.00; FY 19$19,680,000.00; FY 18$9,680,000.00; FY 17$4,840,000.00; - Range: $646,600 to $1,940,000; Average $970,000. Per https://www.fws.gov/grants/atc.html, 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 If funding is available, the Program anticipates funding State land acquisition projects that protect land of high conservation value in the Highlands regions of Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey. In FY 17, Highlands Conservation Act funding was awarded to the following project areas: Head of the Highlands, Connecticut (CT DEEP); Musconetcong-Upper Raritan Watershed, New Jersey (NJ Highlands Council); Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve and Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park, New York (NY OPRHP); Schuylkill Highlands, Pennsylvania (PA DCNR).
Fiscal Year 2018 In FY18, the program funded land acquisition projects that are expected to result in the permanent protection of approximately 2,600 acres of land of high conservation value in the Highlands regions of Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey.
Fiscal Year 2019 In FY19, the Program funded land acquisition projects that are expected to result in the permanent protection of approximately 6,800 acres of land of high conservation value in the Highlands regions of Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
Fiscal Year 2020 In FY20, the Program funded land acquisition projects that are expected to result in the permanent protection of approximately 3,000 acres of land of high conservation value in the Highlands regions of Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
Fiscal Year 2021 In FY21, the Program funded State Conservation Agency land acquisition projects that will protect land of high conservation value in the Highlands region by supporting the acquisition of 13 parcels totaling 1,967 acres in Connecticut, New York, and Pennsylvania.
Fiscal Year 2022 Program funded land acquisition projects within the eligible Highlands region that will protect lands with high conservation value.
Fiscal Year 2023 Program has not yet selected projects for funding. The Program anticipates funding eligible State Agency, County, or Municipal land acquisition projects that protect land of high conservation value in the Highlands region of Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
Fiscal Year 2024 Program has not yet selected projects for funding. The Program anticipates funding eligible State Agency, County, or Municipal land acquisition projects that protect land of high conservation value in the Highlands region of Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.