FEDERAL AGENCY:

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

AUTHORIZATION:

Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, 16 U.S.C. 442 (a)- 754, Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1958, 16 U.S.C. 661-667(e).

OBJECTIVES:

To provide financial and technical assistance via partnerships to identify, protect, and restore habitats in priority coastal areas.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Funds are used for habitat assessments, acquisition, and restoration of coastal habitats on private or public lands.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Federal, State, interstate and intrastate agencies; local and tribal governments; sponsored organizations; public nonprofit institutes and organizations (such as conservation organizations, watershed councils, land trusts, schools and institutions of higher learning); Federally recognized Indian tribes; U.S. territories and possessions; private landowners (including individuals/families, minority groups, and businesses).

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Federal, State, interstate and intrastate agencies; local and tribal governments; sponsored organizations; public nonprofit institutes and organizations (such as conservation organizations, watershed councils, land trusts, schools and institutions of higher learning); Federally recognized Indian tribes; U.S. territories and possessions; individuals/families, minority groups, and businesses.

Credentials/Documentation:   None.

Pre-application Coordination:   None. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   Contact the appropriate Coastal Program Office for application procedures.

Award Procedure:   Field Office reviews the applications and awards the funding.

Deadlines:   Deadline for State proposals: Contact the appropriate Coastal Program Office for application deadline.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   Not applicable.

Appeals:   Not applicable.

Renewals:   None. However, private landowners may request additional projects on their lands.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   This program has no statutory formula.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Projects normally funded through annual segments. Cost-sharing is a one time event that occurs after the project is completed.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Contact the appropriate Coastal Office for reporting requirements.

Audits:   None.

Records:   Accomplishments are recorded for each project in the Habitat Information Tracking System (HabITS). HabITS tracks habitat improvement accomplishments and program-specific technical assistance workloads associated with the Coastal Program and Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   14-1611-0-1-303.

Obligations:   (Grants) FY 01 $9,300,000; FY 02 est $11,300,000; and FY 03 est $9,600,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  
$5,000 to $50,000.

As of fiscal year 2001, the Coastal Program has: restored 77,870 acres of coastal wetlands and 22,850 acres of coastal uplands; protected over 1,066,460 acres through conservation easements; restored 825 miles of coastal riparian habitat; and reopened 3,330 miles of coastal streams for anadromous fish passage.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

None.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  
See Regional Agency Offices. See http://www.fws.gov/coastal for contact information and addresses

Headquarters Office:  
John Schmerfeld Branch of Habitat Restoration, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS: NWRS, , Falls Church, Virginia 22041-3803 Phone: (703) 358-2332

Web Site Address:  
http://www.fws.gov/coastal

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

See web page. Restoration of tidal flow to a degraded salt marsh, customized habitat assessments using GIS, dam removal for fish passage.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

All projects must benefit Federal trust species and be cost-effective. Project selection occurs at the field level.