Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands Opportunity!

[rich_greenwood@mail.fws.gov]

     Time is getting short ... but the window of opportunity is still open!
     
     Please contact the appropriate State Federal Aid Coordinator as 
     listed.
     
     
     
     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, for the 
     Federal share.
     
     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
     
     New York:  Don Slingerland, Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine      
                Resources, 518-457-0696
     
     Ohio:  Ron Schaefer, Division of Wildlife, 614-265-6335
     
     Pennsylvania:  Brian Barner, Fish and Boat Commission, 717-657-4033;   
               or:  Dennis Neideigh, Game Commission, 717-787-6400;
               or:  Tom Horne, Department of Environmental Protection,      
                    717-783-2284
     
     Wisconsin:  Tom Niebauer, Department of Natural Resources,             
                 608-266-5893
     
     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