National Coastal Wetland Conservation Grant Offering for Restoration Grants

Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board sent this bulletin at 01/31/2024 09:30 AM PST

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The Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) is pleased to announce the FY2025 National Coastal Wetland Conservation Grant (NCWCG) Program solicitation for restoration projects.

 

Grant Information 

NCWCGs are awarded annually with funding from the US Fish and Wildlife Service to acquire, restore, and enhance coastal wetlands. NCWCG projects are collaborative grants for which state agencies are eligible to apply. OWEB serves as the official grantee of the federal award and makes the federal funds available to local partners through sub-grants.

 

Awards typically range from $125,000 to a maximum of $1,000,000 and require a 25% non-federal match contribution. OWEB funding can be used to satisfy the 25% non-federal match requirement. Eligible projects must ensure the long-term conservation of coastal wetland ecosystems.

  

OWEB is currently accepting applications for coastal wetland ecosystem restoration activities including enhancement and management projects.

 

Note: A separate solicitation for NCWCG land acquisition projects (permanent conservation easement or fee title) will be announced in the fall of 2025.

 

Application Deadline 

NCWCG projects proposing restoration activities are due by 5:00 pm on April 29, 2024, and must be submitted via OWEB’s online grant application.

  

How To Apply 

  • Log into OWEB’s online grant application. If you already have an online application login, you may access the application directly. If you do not have a login, please email Leilani Sullivan to request one. 
  • Coastal wetland projects proposing restoration activities must be submitted through the Restoration Open Solicitation Offering via OWEB's online grant application. A pre-application consultation is required. Please contact Jillian McCarthy (971-345-7016) to schedule. 
  • All applications must include the following documents as attachments to the OWEB restoration application in accordance with the USFWS current Notice of Funding Opportunity: 
  1. Completed draft Project Summary
  2. Project Narrative
  3. Budget Narrative
  4. Ranking Criteria

 

Timeline for Coastal Wetlands Restoration Grant Projects 

February 2024 – March 2024  

  • Local partner (applicant) initiates pre-application consultation with Jillian McCarthy​. 

April 2024  

  • Local partner submits restoration application via OWEB’s online system, including the required attachments described above.  
  • OWEB submits a draft application on behalf of the local partner to USFWS for preliminary review and feedback.  
  • At this point, the grant application still requires technical review by the appropriate OWEB Regional Review Team and an award of funds by the OWEB Board at the October 2024 board meeting. If the OWEB Board does not award the project funding, the federal application will be withdrawn.

May 2024 – June 2024  

  • The Regional Review Team reviews grant applications, conducts site tours, and makes funding recommendations.  
  • OWEB seeks legislative approval to submit the NCWCG application.  
  • Local partners and OWEB work together to address USFWS feedback and develop the final grant application. 

June 2024  

  • OWEB submits the final application on behalf of the local partner to the USFWS. 

October 2024  

  • OWEB Board makes the funding decision on the OWEB grant application. If not awarded, OWEB withdraws the federal application. 

January 2025 – April 2025  

  • USFWS grant awards are announced. 

 

Contact Information 

Please direct questions about the grant program and project eligibility to Jillian McCarthy, Coastal Programs Coordinator.