NFWF will make investments in planning, design, and implementation of natural and nature-based solutions. The goal is to enhance protection for coastal communities from the impacts of storms, floods, and other natural coastal hazards and to improve habitats for fish and wildlife. NFWF will award approximately $140 million in grants to create and restore natural systems to increase protection for communities from current and future coastal hazards and improve habitats for fish and wildlife species.

Quagga and Zebra Mussels are aquatic invasive species that are rapidly expanding their range in the Western United States. Popular recreational reservoirs on or connected to the lower Colorado River are one major source of invasive mussels, which are easily transported via trailered watercraft to areas that have not yet been invaded. This Request For Proposals (RFP) will fund proposals in the listed principal areas towards the fulfillment of the top priorities in the Quagga/Zebra Mussel Action Plan for Western U.S. Waters (QZAP 2.0) and will be limited to states within the boundaries of the Western Regional Panel within the United States, not including Canada and Mexico (see map).

USFWS invites proposals to support the eradication of a newly introduced or established species in terrestrial or aquatic habitats of the United States, including the U.S. territories (aquatic habitats include freshwater, wetland, riparian, estuarian, and marine). While preference will be given to proposals that result in eradication of invasive species, research proposals that advance research that increases the effectiveness and availability of eradication tools will be considered

APHIS anticipates awarding around $5.5 million to control and prevent chronic wasting disease (CWD) in wild cervids. Funded projects will allow recipients to further develop and carry out CWD management and response activities in line with the following priorities:

• Improving CWD management of affected wild cervid populations
• Improving CWD management of affected areas or premises
• Conducting additional research on amplification assays and other new test methods
• Conduct research on developing and/or applying predictive genetics for wild cervids
• Developing and/or delivering educational outreach materials or programs

The Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program (WCPP) is a competitive grant program with the goal of reducing Wildlife Vehicle Collisions (WVCs) while improving habitat connectivity for terrestrial and aquatic species. $145 million is available for the combined application years of FY2024-FY2025. Applications are due Sept 4, 2024.

In August 2024, NIDIS announced up to $4 million in funding for 8 two-year projects as part of the Fiscal Year 2025 NIDIS Coping with Drought: Understanding and Assessing Drought in a Changing Climate competition. This competition seeks projects focused on improving drought indicator performance to account for non-stationarity with the goal of more accurate drought assessments that support communities in preparing for, mitigating, and responding to drought.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is soliciting proposals to further conservation of species and habitats in Alaska. The Alaska Fish and Wildlife Fund (AFWF) invests in projects that achieve or substantially lead to measurable on-the-ground conservation outcomes and fill key information gaps through assessments and strategic monitoring that result in improved habitat or population management actions. Since 2008, the AFWF has awarded $19.8 million to 224 projects. These projects have leveraged almost $33.1 million in matching funds and in-kind contributions for a total conservation impact of $52.9 million. In 2025, the AFWF expects to award approximately $500,000 in grants.

Grants will be awarded to projects that occur within the geographies highlighted in Map 1, and as listed below:

•    Alaska North Slope
•    Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta
•    Cook Inlet/Matanuska-Susitna Basin/Kodiak Archipelago
•    Chugach and Tongass National Forests

The National Fish Passage Program (NFPP) is a voluntary program that provides direct technical and financial assistance to partners to remove instream barriers and restore aquatic organism passage and aquatic connectivity for the benefit of Federal trust resources. In doing so, NFPP aims to maintain or increase native fish populations to improve ecosystem resiliency and provide quality fishing experiences for the American people.