Partners for Fish and Wildlife (15.631)

Program

15.631 Partners for Fish and Wildlife

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of the Interior
Office: Fish and Wildlife Service

Authorization

Partners for Fish and Wildlife Act of 2006, 16 U.S.C. 3771-3774; Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956; 16 U.S.C. 742a-c, 742e-j; Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1958, 16 U.S.C. 661-667(e).

Program Number

15.631

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

Provide technical and financial assistance to private landowners and Native American Tribes interested in voluntarily restoring or otherwise improving native habitats for fish and wildlife on their lands.

Types of Assistance

DIRECT PAYMENTS FOR A SPECIFIED USE

Uses and Use Restrictions

Assistance provided to private landowners (defined to include individuals, local governments, non-government organizations) and Native American Tribes. Program goal is to achieve a 50 percent cost share on projects with matching funds and in-kind contributions provided by the landowners and other partners.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Projects must be located on private lands. Private land is defined by the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Act of 2006, 16 U.S.C. 3771-3774, as any land this is not owned by the Federal Government or a State. Private land includes tribal land and Hawian homeland. Private landowners, Tribal Governments, local governments, educational institutions and organizations are eligible for financial and technical assistance from the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Private landowners, Tribal Governments, local governments, educational institutions and organizations and the general public.

Credentials/Documentation

No Credentials or documentation are required. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is not applicable. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. The local Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program Coordinator works with private landowners and makes a site visit to design a project that will benefit Federal trust resources and is acceptable for the landowner's needs. Contact the appropriate Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program Office for application procedures. Information is also available at http://www.grants.gov.

Award Procedure

After a project has been designed and the cost calculated, the local Partners Program coordinator will be able to inform the private landowner whether or not the Service will provide cost-share assistance. When the landowner has signed a cooperative agreement (a minimum of 10 years) work can begin on the project. The Service reimburses the landowner after the project is completed.

Deadlines

Not Applicable.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Not Applicable.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

None. Private land owners may request additional projects on their lands.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.

Matching Requirements: The Program goal is to obtain a 50 percent match of Federal monies by partnering with landowners, local community groups and other local and national conservation organizations.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Cost-share is a one time event that occurs after project construction. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Information not available.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Reporting requirements are stated in each cooperative agreement. Contact the appropriate Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program Office for additional information and specific requirements. Detailed biological reports are prepared on a percentage of projects funded. All projects are monitored for accurate construction. Cash reports are not applicable. Progress reports are not applicable. Federal Financial Report SF 425 is required. Performance monitoring is not applicable.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

Accomplishments are recorded for each project in the Habitat Information Tracking System (HabITS). HabITS tracks habitat improvement accomplishments and program-specific technical assistance workloads associated with the Coastal Program and Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: In Fiscal Year 2008, the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program helped restore or enhance an estimated: 43,000 acres of wetlands; 346,000 acres of native grasslands and other uplands; 860 miles or riparian corridors, streambanks and in-stream habitats; and 160 fish passage barriers. This was accomplished using approximately 1,698 landowner agreements for fish and wildlife habitat restoration on private lands. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

14-1611-0-1-303.

Obligations

(Direct Payments for Specified Use) FY 08 $42,600,000; FY 09 est $42,000,000; FY 10 est $40,000,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Cost-share range per project is from $200 to $25,000. The average cost per project is $5,400.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

For information about Program policy and guidelines see the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program Management Policy in the Fish and Wildlife Service Manual, 640 FW1 (at http://www.fws.gov/policy/640fw1.html).

Related Programs

15.630 Coastal Program

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. See http://www.fws.gov/partners for addresses and contact information.

Headquarters Office

Director U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Fish and Wildlife Management and Habitat Restoration, Branch of Habitat Restoration, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, MS 730, Arlington, Virginia 22203 Phone: (703)358-2201 Fax: (703)358-2232

Web Site Address

http://www.fws.gov/partners.

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Typical wetland restoration and enhancement techniques involve restoring the natural hydrology of a site through the blocking of surface ditches, breaking sub-surface drain tiles, building shallow berms to trap water, filling in concentration pits, removing eroded sediment which fills in basins, installing grass buffers, or installing fences along wetlands or stream corridors that prevent cattle grazing within the stream or wetland. Other wetland enhancement activities include working with the landowners to better manage the wetlands through the use of grazing, haying, discing, and burning. Upland restoration and enhancement and riparian areas are restored and enhanced through re-seeding or planting native grass, forbs, woody shrubs and trees. The installation of cross fencing along with providing alternative sources of water, assist landowners develop grassland/grazing management plans that have greater benefits for wildlife. Removing barriers to fish migration and using natural channel design techniques is the main focus of the Partners Program in-stream restoration work. Riparian fencing and improved grazing systems compliments stream restoration work. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

In general, projects must benefit Federal trust species, involve on-the-ground habitat restoration, and be cost-effective. Specific criteria for reviewing and ranking projects were established in the national Partners policy, at http://www.fws.gov/policy/640fw1.html. The program gives high priority to proposed projects that benefit the National Wildlife Refuge System and/or species at risk. Projects also receive priority if they: were identified as priority by Service ecosystem teams; reduce habitat fragmentation; conserve globally or nationally imperiled habitats; and are self-sustaining. Also take a look at the annual Notice of Availability of Federal Assistance referenced in http://grants.gov.