State Wildlife Grants

 

The primary purpose of the the Competitive State Wildlife Grant (C-SWG) Program is to help State and Territory fish and wildlife agencies design and implement strategic, proactive conservation programs. C-SWG Program funds, pooled with recipient matching resources, enable these agencies to identify, study, and conserve species deemed most in need of conservation within each State and Territory. Proactive approaches to species conservation help agency grant recipients, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and our conservation partners avoid more prescriptive Federal regulatory requirements associated with listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). A core principle of the C-SWG Program is the utilization of effective partnerships demonstrating cooperation and leveraging of resources to achieve shared conservation goals.

Active 15.634 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of The Interior A - Formula Grants; B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2017 The discretionary (competitive) subprogram anticipates receiving 25 applications and issuing 12 to 18 awards. The number of applications for mandatory grants varies annually based on State priorities and capacity. SWG Program funds are positively impacting many Endangered Species Act listing decisions. The Program has likely helped to curtail growth of State and Federal expenditures on federally listed species since the Program was first created in 2001. The SWG Program was a key funding source for the conservation and recovery of more than 50 percent of threatened and endangered species that were de-listed by the Service for conservation-related reasons through 2015. The SWG Program has also helped States contribute to Service removal or withdrawal of a significant portion of Candidate species listings—those species found by the Service to be warranted for listing but not yet listed. The Service awarded 309 grants under the Formula (mandatory) subprogram in 2017. The number of applications for Formula grants varies annually based on State priorities and capacity. The discretionary (competitive) subprogram received 20 applications and issued 16 awards in 2017.
Fiscal Year 2018 In FY18 the Competitive SWG Program received 19 applications and issued 16 awards.
Fiscal Year 2019 In FY19 the discretionary competitive subprogram received 27 applications and issued 14 awards. The mandatory formula subprogram continues to issue awards through FY20.
Fiscal Year 2020 In FY20 the Formula SWG subprogram received an estimated 2500 applications and issued 2500 awards. In FY20 the Competitive SWG subprogram received 37 applications and issued 17 awards.
Fiscal Year 2021 In FY21 the Formula SWG subprogram received 448 applications and issued 448 awards. In FY21 the Competitive SWG subprogram received 38 applications and issued 20 awards.
Fiscal Year 2022 FY22: In FY 2022 the Formula SWG Program received 250 applications and issued 250 awards. The Competitive SWG Program received 23 applications and issued 16 awards.
Fiscal Year 2023 FY23: In FY 2023 the Formula SWG Program received 250 applications and issued 250 awards. The Competitive SWG Program received 30 applications and expects to issue 22 awards.
Fiscal Year 2024 In FY 2024, the Formula SWG Program expects to receive 250 applications and issue 250 awards. The Competitive SWG Program expects to receive 32 applications and issue 22 awards. Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023, Public Law 117-180 (H.R. 6833, 117th Cong. Div. A, Section 101 (7)), and prior-year appropriations acts., Public Law - Agencies from the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Territories of Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa with primary responsibility for fish and wildlife conservation may submit grant proposals for formula or competitive project grants to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service if they maintain a current, Service-approved State Wildlife Action Plan. The four regional Associations of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (NEAFWA, SEAFWA, MAFWA, and WAFWA) are eligible for competitive project grants at the discretion of recipient State fish and wildlife agencies. General Public (While direct participation is limited to fish and wildlife agencies, the public will ultimately benefit from these wildlife conservation measures.) The State, District of Columbia, Commonwealth, or Territory must have a Service- approved State Wildlife Action Plan on file to receive grant funds. The Action Plan must consider the broad range of the State, the District of Columbia, Commonwealth, or Territory agencies' wildlife and associated habitats, with appropriate priority placed on those species of greatest conservation need. 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. For application requirements, see the Funding Opportunity Announcement in GrantSolutions (Formula SWG subprogram only) or the Notice of Funding Opportunity (Competitive SWG subprogram only) in Grants.gov. SWG-Formula: The Regional Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or his or her designee approves or disapproves proposed projects. Regional offices are responsible for notification of grant approval to the grantee. SWG-Competitive: The Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or his or her designee approves or disapproves proposed projects, based on an objective scoring and ranking procedure as outlined in the Application Instructions, available at Grants.gov. Formula grants: Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate, for application deadlines. Competitive grants: February 17, 2023. SWG-Formula: Approximately 30-60 days. SWG-Competitive: Approximately 120 days. Regional Directors will consider differences of opinion concerning the eligibility of proposals. Final determination rests with the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. SWG-Formula: Grantees may renew projects on an annual basis if justifiable and if funds are available. SWG-Competitive: Not applicable. Formula Grants: Proposals submitted to the Service must address species and conservation actions identified in the State Wildlife Action Plans. Project Grants (competitive): Applications are scored and ranked based on criteria, subfactors, and priorities published annually in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). The NOFO is available at Grants.gov. Approved activities include those which develop and implement programs or projects for the benefit of wildlife and their habitat, including species that are not hunted or fished. In order to receive program funds, a State fish and wildlife agency must have an approved State Wildlife Action Plan. Approved activities may focus on Action Plan update and revision and/or implementation. Funds can be used for land acquisition and/or construction projects. 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. Records, accounts, and supporting documents must be retained for three years after submission of the final Financial Report. Statutory Formula: Statutory Formula: Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023, Public Law 117-180 (H.R. 6833, 117th Cong. Div. A, Section 101 (7)), and prior-year appropriations acts; Fish and Wildlife Act (16 U.S.C. §742 et seq.); and Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. §§661-666). Matching Requirements: Formula planning grants - Federal share not to exceed 75% of total costs. Formula implementation grants - Federal share not to exceed 65% of total costs. Competitive Project Grants - Federal share not to exceed 75% of total costs.

Matching is mandatory. Formula Grants: Formula planning grants require 25% matching; Federal share not to exceed 75% of total costs. Formula implementation grants require 35% matching; Federal share not to exceed 65% of total costs. Competitive Project Grants require 25% matching; Federal share not to exceed 75% of total costs.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. Formula SWG subprogram funds are available for obligation for two years ending September 30 of the Federal fiscal year after they were apportioned. Competitive SWG subprogram funds are not subject to this limitation. 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. For project- and Region-specific information, contact your Regional WSFR Office: Pacific / Northwest States: American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington r1fa_grants@fws.gov 503-231-6128 Southwest States: Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas fw2fa@fws.gov 505-248-7450 Midwest States: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin: R3fedaid@fws.gov 612-713-5130 Southeast States: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, and the U.S. Virgin Islands program_r4wsfr@fws.gov 404-679-4159 Northeast States: Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia fw5fareports@fws.gov 413-253-8508 Mountain-Prairie States: Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming fw6_fagrants@fws.gov 303-236-5420 Alaska: AK_FA@fws.gov 907-786-3631 Pacific Southwest States: California and Nevada R8fa_grants@fws.gov 916-786-3631 Paul Van Ryzin
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program
MS: WSFR
5275 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, VA 22041 USA
paul_vanryzin@fws.gov
Phone: 703-358-1849 https://www.fws.gov/program/state-wildlife-grants 14-5474-0-1-302 (Formula Grants) FY 22$56,199,999.00; FY 23 est $56,499,999.00; FY 24 est $56,499,999.00; - Funds are apportioned to states and territories through a congressionally defined formula.(Project Grants) FY 22$7,362,000.00; FY 23 est $7,611,999.00; FY 24 est $7,611,998.00; - Grants are competitively awarded based on merit. Range is $30,000 to $3,000,000; Average $500,000. Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (Public Law No. 116-94; H.R. 1865), 2 CFR 200 Fiscal Year 2017 Lesser Prairie Chicken Translocation in Colorado and Kansas: Since the mid-1990s, conservation concern for the lesser prairie-chicken has been elevated to consideration for listing under the Endangered Species Act, and in November 2016, the Service initiated a 12-Month Status Review of the species. The Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife will partner with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism, Kansas State University, and the United States Forest Service to help secure the long-term persistence, resiliency, and distribution of lesser prairie-chicken populations in the Sand Sagebrush Ecoregion, using SWG Program funding. Project goals include restoration of core populations and assessment of the feasibility of translocating the species to help restore population abundance and habitat occupancy. Reducing Impacts of Wind Turbines: Bats provide ecosystem services to the American people by helping to control disease vectors such as mosquitoes. A largely unanticipated impact of utility-scale wind energy development has been widespread mortality of tree-roosting bats, yet the geographic and demographic impact of this mortality is poorly understood because of a lack of tools for assessing movement and population size in these difficult-to-study species. Partnering States using SWG Program funding will collect data from bat tissue to obtain information on the scale and demographic impact of these mortalities. This information can be used by State and Federal agencies to assess and mitigate the impact of wind energy facilities on tree-roosting bats. Maintaining State Management Authority: Using SWG Program funding, partnering fish and wildlife agencies in Washington, Oregon, and California will help improve the population status of western pond turtles, a species currently under review by the Service for potential listing under the ESA. Working across State borders, the agencies will produce a comprehensive, range-wide population assessment using new genomic and field data. The results will provide critical information for identifying priority areas for conservation at the range-wide and local levels. Active habitat restoration will be conducted at five sites supporting key life functions of the turtle. These activities will provide vital information for the Service’s status review and help reduce the need for Federal listing of the species, thus helping maintain State authority for its management.
Fiscal Year 2018 The State Wildlife Grant (SWG) Program provides Federal grant funds to State, Commonwealth, and Territory fish and wildlife agencies for developing and implementing programs that benefit wildlife and their habitats, including species that are not hunted or fished. Examples include: monitoring and habitat restoration in Oklahoma to benefit the Rattlesnake Master Borer Moth, a candidate for Federal listing; oak savannah management in Wisconsin and Minnesota for Kirtland’s Warbler, a species proposed for de-listing by the Service; and raising and releasing rare and declining mussels in the river systems of Massachusetts.
Fiscal Year 2019 Program is funding projects that support State, Commonwealth and Territory fish and wildlife agencies to develop programs to benefit wildlife and their habitats, including species that are not hunted or fished. Projects include species monitoring and other research, habitat analysis, modeling and improvement, real property acquisition, and raising and releasing species of greatest conservation need in the wild.
Fiscal Year 2020 In Fiscal Year 2020, the Program (including the Formula and Competitive subprograms) funded projects benefiting State-identified animal Species of Greatest Conservation Need, targeting declining and at-risk species in danger of extinction or of potential future listing under the Endangered Species Act. In Fiscal Year 2020, projects included species monitoring, habitat analysis and improvement, acquisition of habitats, species captive rearing and release, research, modeling, and development of new conservation technologies and approaches. For example, significant funding was dedicated to addressing conservation needs of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service candidate species such as gopher tortoise, monarch butterfly, and a variety of candidate mussel species whose continued decline will require listing as threatened or endangered without immediate conservation intervention.
Fiscal Year 2021 In Fiscal Year 2021, the Formula and Competitive SWG Program provided apportioned and competitively awarded grant funds to all 56 State, Territory, and Washington D.C. fish and wildlife agencies for planning and implementation projects to protect and restore identified species of greatest conservation need and their habitats, and to update and enhance these agencies’ Wildlife Action Plans. Examples include: 1. Alaska’s Wildlife Action Plan currently highlights the presence or absence of species of greatest conservation need within nine broad geographic regions. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game will develop maps of species richness and quantify key climatic, topographic and habitat variables that correlate with biodiversity hotspots for groups of at-risk species that are categorized at different levels of conservation concern. 2. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources and its partners will analyze where Blanding’s turtle populations currently exist, increase habitat for the species on public and private lands, and document how the turtle responds to various management actions. The partners will use radio telemetry to evaluate the effectiveness of management approaches. Iowa DNR will also implement protocols for head-starting Blanding’s turtles, which will likely increase the population size in Iowa. 3. State agencies in Minnesota and Wisconsin will build on prior efforts to improve habitats to benefit pollinators, reptiles, amphibians, birds and other species associated with the prairie-savanna-oak woodland continuum of the Driftless Area. The agencies will engage private landowners directly in habitat management by providing technical and financial assistance to implement restoration actions in partnership with 50 families. Among other species, these activities will benefit the federally endangered rusty-patched bumble bee and the monarch butterfly, a candidate species.
Fiscal Year 2022 Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources is using State Wildlife Grant Program funds to address illegal collection of wild turtles, many of which are threatened with extinction. The agency will conduct turtle disease screening, genetic analysis, and identification of long-term housing facilities for illegally harvested Wood, Blanding’s, and Spotted Turtles.
Fiscal Year 2023 Guam Department of Agriculture is using State Wildlife Grant Program funds to conserve the Bumphead parrotfish, which is in danger of local extirpation due to overfishing and habitat degradation. The agency and its partners will conduct research on distribution and habitat needs and translocate farm-raised individuals to five Marine Protected Areas on Guam.
Fiscal Year 2024 The Program has not yet selected projects for funding. The Program anticipates funding projects that support State and Territory fish and wildlife agencies to develop programs to benefit wildlife and their habitats, with emphasis on species that are not hunted or fished. Anticipated projects include species monitoring, habitat analysis and improvement, acquisition of habitats, species captive rearing and release, research, modeling, and development of new conservation technologies and approaches.