National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program

[rich_greenwood@mail.fws.gov]

     NATIONAL COASTAL WETLANDS CONSERVATION GRANT PROGRAM
     
     The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is now accepting Grant Proposals 
     for the National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program for 
     Federal FY 2000.  Deadline for receiving Grant Proposals is June 8, 
     1999.
     
     PURPOSE:  The Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration 
     Act Authorizes the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to 
     grant funds to coastal states, including states bordering the Great 
     Lakes, to carry out coastal wetlands conservation projects.
     
     Funds for Coastal Wetlands Grants are made available for: 1) the 
     acquisition of coastal lands and waters; and 2) the restoration, 
     management, or enhancement of coastal wetland ecosystems.  Eligible 
     projects must provide for the long-term conservation of such lands and 
     waters and the hydrology, water quality, and fish and wildlife.
     
     Guidance for administration of this program define Great Lakes coastal 
     wetlands ecosystem as including wetlands adjacent to any of the Great Lakes 
     including Lake St. Clair and connecting waters, and mouths of river or 
     stream systems draining directly into the Great Lakes.  Shorelands, dunes, 
     offshore islands, and barrier islands and associated headlands are included 
     in the definition since these interrelated features are critical to Great 
     Lakes fish, wildlife and their habitats.
     
     FUNDING:  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service may reimburse up to 75 percent 
     of the cost of such projects; the applicant must provide the rest of the 
     project funding from a nonfederal source(s). Federal Grants awarded under 
     this program cannot exceed $1,000,000.
     
     PROJECT APPLICATION/SELECTION PROCESS:  Applicants submit proposals through 
     their designated State Federal Aid Coordinator (See contacts listed below) 
     to the Service Regional Office by June 8, 1999.  These are then reviewed 
     for eligibility, and forwarded to the Service's Washington Office where 
     they are ranked according to nationally established criteria, and compete 
     against all eligible projects.  The Washington Office makes the final 
     determinations, and the Service's decisions are announced by October 1.
     
     STATE FEDERAL AID CONTACTS:
     
     Illinois: Mike Sweet, Department of Natural Resources, 217-785-8280
     
     Indiana: Mark Burch, Department of Natural Resources, 317-232-8166
     
     Michigan: Eric Sink, Department of Natural Resources, 517-335-3051
     
     Minnesota: Laurie Caspers, Department of Natural Resources, 651-297-2424
     
     Ohio:  Ron Schaefer, Division of Wildlife, 614-265-6335
     
     Wisconsin:  Tom Niebauer, Department of Natural Resources, 608-266-5893
     
     Pennsylvania and New York states are also eligible, contact the Service 
     contacts below for their State Federal Aid Coordinators.
     
     U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE CONTACTS:
     
     Rich Greenwood, Liaison to U.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office, 
     312-886-3853; rich_greenwood@mail.fws.gov
     
     David Pederson, Coastal Wetlands Grant Administrator, 
     612-713-5143; david_pederson@mail.fws.gov
     
     Web Home Pages:  http;//www.fws.gov and, 
     http://www.fws.gov/cep/coastweb.html