Overview of Aquatic Habitat Connectivity Funding Opportunities

Connectivity among aquatic habitats is critical for the health of our waterways and the condition of our fisheries.  Today, however, barriers such as dams and poorly performing road crossings block passage of aquatic organisms in most of the rivers and streams within the United States.  Agencies, non-governmental organizations and private entities are increasingly focused on restoring aquatic connectivity in these systems, and substantial funding for this work is available through a variety of sources.  In the Great Lakes basin alone, millions of dollars in competitive grant funding are available annually through several programs that emphasize aquatic organism passage and stream restoration.  The Sustain Our Great Lakes program, a public–private partnership administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, awards grants for habitat restoration across the basin and has identified restoration of aquatic connectivity as one of its four key funding priorities.  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offers grant funding for restoration through multiple sources, including the National Fish Passage Program, the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act, and the Great Lakes Basin Fish Habitat Partnership.  Through its Great Lakes Habitat Restoration Program, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provides funding for projects within the basin, often with a focus on Great Lakes Areas of Concern.  Work supported by these programs spans a wide range of activities, including barrier inventory and prioritization, replacement of culverts, removal of small and large dams, and installation of fish passage structures.  This presentation will provide information on these and other funding opportunities across the country and provide examples of projects they have supported.