Tribal Wildlife Grants

 

To develop and implement programs for the benefit of wildlife and their habitat, including species that are not hunted or fished.

Active 15.639 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of The Interior B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2017 74 proposals were received; 20-30 awards expected to be issued. 74 proposals were received; 25 awards issued.
Fiscal Year 2018 102 proposals were received; 28 awards issued.
Fiscal Year 2019 Estimated between 74-130 proposals are expected; 20-30 awards expected to be issued.
Fiscal Year 2020 Estimated between 74-130 proposals are expected; 20-30 awards expected to be issued. Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, Pub. L. 115-123; Consolidated Appropriations Act FY 2017 P.L. 114-113; and prior appropriations acts., Public Law 108-108, 16 U.S.C. 4601-4 thru 11 Participation is limited to Federally recognized Indian tribal governments. Anyone/General Public (While direct participation is limited to Federally recognized Indian tribal governments, the general public will ultimately benefit from these wildlife conservation measures). Only Federally recognized Tribes in all parts of the United States are eligible to receive grants under this program, including Federally recognized Tribes, Pueblos, Rancherias, and Alaska Native Villages or traditional councils as defined by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. Federally recognized Tribes are listed on page 60810 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 190 / Friday, October 1, 2010 / Notices. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program. Preapplication coordination is not applicable. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Applicant must complete the Application for Federal Assistance SF 424, and the appropriate Budget and Assurances forms, SF 424A and SF424B - Non Construction; or SF 424C and SF 424 D - Construction. Application procedures are spelled out in the "Tribal Wildlife Grant Application Kit" available electronically at: http://grants.fws.gov/tribal.html. To receive a paper copy, contact the regional Office of the Native American Liaison. The Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service or his or her designee approves or disapproves proposed projects. Regional offices are responsible for notification of grant approval to the grantee and will coordinate the development of the grant agreement. July 5, 2019 Proposals will be scored, ranked and selected approximately 90 working days after the deadline for submitting proposals. Any differences of opinion over the eligibility of proposed activities or differences arising over the conduct of work may be appealed to the Director, Fish and Wildlife Service. Final determination rests with the Secretary of the Interior. Not applicable. The following criteria is used to select proposals: (1) Resource Benefit: What are the expected benefits to fish and wildlife resources, including species that are not hunted or fished, and their habitat if this program is successfully completed? The Service requires that the Tribe articulate how the benefits of its proposal support the goals and objectives of the TWG and Service and Tribal Performance Goals in their proposal narratives. (2) Performance Measures: To what extent does the proposal provide obtainable and quantifiable performance measures and a means to monitor, evaluate, and report on these measures compared to an initial baseline? The measures should be specific and clear, and should provide demonstrable benefits to the target species of the action. These actions must support the goals and objectives of the TWG, the Service and the Tribe. (3) Work plan: Are the program activities and objectives well-designed and achievable? (4) Budget: Are all major budget items justified in relation to the program objectives and clearly explained in the narrative description? (5) Capacity Building: To what extent does the program increase the grantee's capacity to provide for the benefit of wildlife and their habitat? (6) Contributions and Partnerships: To what extent does the applicant display commitment to the project proposal through in-kind contribution or matching funds and to what extent does it incorporate contributions from other nonfederal partners in the form of either cash or in-kind services?. Approved activities include those which develop and implement programs for the benefit of wildlife and their habitat, including species of Native American cultural or traditional importance and species that are not hunted or fished. Activities may include, but are not limited to: Planning for conservation of fish and wildlife, and their habitats; Conservation management actions for fish and wildlife, and their habitats; Field and laboratory research related to fish and wildlife resources; Natural history studies; Habitat mapping or evaluation; Field surveys and population monitoring; Restoration of habitat; Management of invasive species; and Public education relevant to the proposed project. Performance Reports: Performance reports are required. Recipients must monitor and report on project performance in accordance with the requirements in 2 CFR 200.328. A final performance report is due within 90 calendar days of the award period of performance end date, unless the awarding program approves a due date extension. The FWS details all reporting requirements including frequency and due dates in Notices of Award. Not applicable. Cost records must be maintained separately for each project. Records, accounts, and supporting documents must be retained for three years after submission of the final Federal Financial Report (SF-425). Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. Grant funds are available once the proposal review process is complete and FWS Director award concurrence is signed and all of the necessary NEPA compliance documentation is completed. Proposals should be written for the shortest duration needed to accomplish project objectives and funding is available until the closing date of the project grant. Grants may be extended if necessary. Program obligates funds and sends a notice of award to successful applicants. Recipients request funds in accordance with 2 CFR 200, Subpart E-Cost Principles, unless otherwise dictated by program-specific legislation or special award terms. Program will include any special payment terms and conditions in the notice of award. See Regional Agency Offices: Region 1 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Native American Liaison Eastside Federal Complex 911 NE 11th Avenue Portland, OR 97232-4181 Region 2 Fish and Wildlife Service Native American Liaison 500 Gold Avenue, SW P.O. Box 1306 Albuquerque, NM 87103-1306 Region 3 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Native American Liaison 5600 American Blvd. West, Suite 990 Bloomington, MN 55437 Region 4 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Native American Liaison 1875 Century Boulevard Atlanta, GA 30345 Region 5 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Native American Liaison 300 Westgate Center Drive, Hadley, MA 01035-9589 Region 6 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Native American Liaison P.O. Box 25486 Denver, CO 80225 Region 7 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Native American Liaison 1011 East Tudor Road Anchorage, AK 99503-6199 Region 8 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Tribal Partnerships Specialist Habitat Restoration Division 2800 Cottage Way, Rm W-2606 Sacramento, CA 95825. Scott Aikin
National Native American Programs Coordinator, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, 1211 SE Cardinal Court, Suite 100,
Vancouver, WA 98683 US
scott_aikin@fws.gov
Phone: (360)604-2531
Fax: (360)604-2505 http://www.fws.gov/nativeamerican/ 14-5474-0-1-302 (Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 18$4,209,000.00; FY 19 est $4,209,000.00; FY 20 Estimate Not Available FY 17$4,414,427.00; - Range $0 - $200,000; Average $167,000. Application Kit is located at http://www.fws.gov/nativeamerican/ Fiscal Year 2017 Program has not yet selected projects for funding. Program anticipates funding projects that develop or implement programs that benefit wildlife and their habitat, including species of Native American cultural or traditional importance and species that are not hunted or fished. Activities may include, but are not limited to: Planning for conservation of fish and wildlife, and their habitats; Conservation management actions for fish and wildlife, and their habitats; Field and laboratory research related to fish and wildlife resources; Natural history studies; Habitat mapping or evaluation; Field surveys and population monitoring; Conservation easements; Restoration of habitat; Management of invasive species; and Public education relevant to the proposed project. FY17 Tribal Wildlife Grants Award Examples: Passamaquoddy Tribe – Indian Township Reservation ($200,000) Monitoring White-tailed Deer Migration, Survival and Mortality Characteristics from a Deer Wintering Area (DWA) on Passamaquoddy Reservation Land Tribal land DWA protects 200-400 white tail deer, and the Tribe harvest 20-60 deer/year. The Tribe will collect data on deer movement and survival to understand why deer densities are low in and around tribal land. Objectives include: 1) Track the migration corridors, distances traveled and timing of migrating deer to and from the Indian township DWA. 2) Identify important habitats for fawning, feeding and early wintering conditions. 3) Assess seasonal survival rates and cause specific mortality for the adult female (2: 1.5 years) segments of the population. 4) Assess feasibility of future fawn captures using clustered GPS locations. Partners include: ME DIF&W, Penobscot Nation, Downeast Lakes Land Trust. Aleut Community of St. Paul Island Alaska ($99,265) Sustainable Reindeer Management on St. Paul Island, Alaska St. Paul Island is located in the middle of the Bering Sea. Reindeer are an important subsistence food resource for tribal and community members on the island. The goal of the project is to enhance reindeer management to ensure long-term sustainability and resiliency of the herd by 1) Understanding bull:cow ratios and recruitment rates via unmanned aircraft system surveys; 2) Collaborating with subsistence hunters to assess body condition, presence of disease and genetic testing; 3) Assessing grazing pressure and feasibility of temporary exclusion fencing to rehabilitate rangeland; and 4) Educating tribal and community members in responsible and ethical hunting practices via hunter education and implementing reindeer curriculum in schools. In 2013, USDA's NRCS conducted a vegetation survey on St. Paul and concluded the range can support a herd of no more than 200 reindeer. As of October 2017, the herd was estimated at 400 reindeer. The Tribal Ecosystem Conservation Office has managed a hunting permit and reporting system since 1996 and recently updated the Reindeer Management Plan to keep the herd size near 200 with a bull:cow ratio at 1:5. Their plan is to manage a spring velvet season so hunters can identify male and barren female reindeer to harvest. Pregnant females can be identified by their hard antlers and will not be harvested in order to sustain the herd into the future. Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe ($199,075) Mille Lacs Band Identifying Key Habitats for the Conservation of Juvenile and Adult Walleye in Mille Lacs Lake The research project will aid in the development of a management plan to restore walleye stocks in Mille Lacs Lake. Recruitment of young walleye to the adult population has been limited in recent years and was identified as a high priority for future research efforts by a blue ribbon panel of university experts brought together to ponder the numerous biological issues that plague this world renowned lake. To address this problem, and expand on previous research, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe along with Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, proposed a telemetry study to track both juvenile and adult walleye life stages in the summer and fall of 2018. Project objectives include: 1) assess the thermal niche of juvenile and adult walleye across seasons, 2) identify aquatic habitats that are key for adult and juvenile life stages, and 3) identify temporal, spatial, and thermal overlap of juvenile and adult habitats. FY 2017 Tribal Wildlife Grants Awards: ALASKA: St. Paul Island ($99,265) Sustainable Reindeer Management on St. Paul Island, Alaska Sun'aq Tribe of Kodiak ($198,764) Distribution, Movement and Diet of Invasive Crayfish Populations in Buskin River Watershed on Kodiak Island, Alaska Sitka Tribe of Alaska ($200,000) Shellfish Population and Habitat Research in Southeast Alaska ARIZONA: Cocopah Tribe ($82,000) Colorado River Habitat Enhancement Project CALIFORNIA: Pit River Tribe ($199,092) The XL Reservation Great Basin Native Sage-Steppe, Grassland and Wildlife Habitat Restoration Monitoring Program Robinson Rancheria ($140,300) Robinson Creek Restoration and HAMP Update Cachil Dehe Band of Wintun Indians ($190,950) Cortina Ranch Tule Elk Habitat Restoration -Phase 2 Wiyot Tribe ($200,000) Long Term Monitoring Plan Implementation, Invasive Predator Control, and Barrier Remediation Kashia Band of Pomo Indians ($199,059) Kashia’s Wildlife Management FLORIDA: Seminole Tribe of Florida ($200,000) Seminole Tribe of Florida Tribal Wildlife Program KANSAS: Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska ($162,127) A Fish Community Assessment in Streams with Focus on Rare Species MAINE: Passamaquoddy Tribe – Indian Township Reservation ($200,000) Monitoring White-tailed Deer Migration, Survival and Mortality Characteristics from a Deer Wintering Area (DWA) on Passamaquoddy Reservation Land Penobscot Indian Nation ($200,000) Atlantic Salmon and Diadromous Fisheries Management on Tribal Trust Lands MICHEGAN: Sault Ste. Marie Tribe ($196,321) Developing an Adaptive Management Process for Ruffed Grouse in the 1836 Ceded Territory MINNESOTA: Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe ($199,075) Mille Lacs Band Identifying Key Habitats for the Conservation of Juvenile and Adult Walleye in Mille Lacs Lake MONTANA: Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribe (81,235) Grizzly Bear and Northern Gray Wolf Conflict Management on the Flathead Indian Reservation NEW MEXICO: Pueblo of Tesuque ($199,754) Mule Deer Management and Habitat Enhancement Program NORTH CAROLINA: Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians ($200,000) Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Wildlife Action Plan Implementation (FY18-19) OKLAHOMA: Tonkawa Tribe of Oklahoma ($155,000) Tonkawa Tribal Bat Conservation Project OREGON: Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon ($123,609) Fox Creek Habitat Restoration Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians ($189,887) Dole Road Elk Population Dynamics and Habitat Utilization Study WASHINGTON: Kalispell Tribes of Indians ($96,081) South Selkirk Mountain Caribou Maternal Penning Project Puyallup Tribe of Indians ($199,592) South Rainier Elk Herd Habitat Enhancement and Population Monitoring Snoqualmie Indian Tribe ($200,000) Priority Habitat Restoration Actions for Lake Sammamish Native Kokanee Skokomish Indian Tribe ($142,524) Cougar Population and Predation Effects on Elk in the Southeast Olympic Peninsula
Fiscal Year 2018 FY 2018 Tribal Wildlife Grants Award Examples: Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe ($199,998) Native Plants Restoration and Capacity Building - The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe (Tribe) is building Tribal resource management capacities to improve and restore the Tribal Territory fish and wildlife habitats. The Native Plants Restoration and Capacity Building project will accomplish this goal by working with key partners to develop Tribal capacities for operating and managing a native plant nursery. The Tribe will utilize partner resources and support to develop a native plant nursery and greenhouse with the focus for propagation of native plants on Tribal lands and providing long term sustainability. The project will restore riparian, forest, and shrub-land within targeted areas and will include propagation of native plants significant to Tribal cultural and traditional importance. Expected outcomes directly address wildlife resource priorities identified by the Akwesasne Wildlife Management Plan and the Tribe’s EPA Performance Partnership Agreement 2016-20. The planned results will include reduction of nonpoint source pollution; substantial improvement of fish and wildlife habitats; and enhanced community member education and awareness on the importance of re-establishing and sustaining native plant species. The Tribe’s valued project partners and supporting organizations include the NYSDEC Saratoga Tree Nursery; the Mid-Atlantic Regional Seed Bank; the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon; the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; the Franklin County Soil and Water Conservation District; the Akwesasne Cultural Center; the Akwesasne Task Force on the Environment; and the Akwesasne Freedom School. Swinomish Indian Tribal Community ($89,979) Quantifying Dungeness crab larval supply and settlement in Swinomish management regions - Dungeness crab are an important species in Puget Sound because they not only provide a lucrative commercial fishery co-managed by Washington State and tribes, but they also fill a critical ecological role in marine and estuarine food webs. The Dungeness crab commercial fishery in Washington State is a $61 million a year industry of which the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community earns an average of $5 million annually. Despite the obvious economic importance of this species, very little research has been done with regard to the early life stages of Dungeness crab in Puget Sound and even less within the Whidbey Basin region of the Sound. Although Whidbey Basin supports a healthy adult Dungeness crab population it is unclear whether larvae and, subsequently, juveniles are recruiting to and surviving in the region or if subadults or adults are migrating into the system from other areas. Understanding larval supply and juvenile settlement could have far-reaching implications for continued successful management of this essential fishery and provide essential baseline data to inform future management practices as environmental conditions change. The three primary objectives of our 18-month research plan are to (1) develop a Dungeness crab monitoring plan focusing on larval and juvenile phases, (2) quantify Dungeness crab larval flux and settlement patterns within Whidbey Basin, and (3) disseminate project outcomes through reports and community outreach. Results from this project will build the foundation for addressing SITC’s ultimate goal of utilizing larval abundance data to forecast future Dungeness crab catch in Puget Sound. Hoonah Indian Association ($185,835) Strategic Stream Restoration Through Hoonah Native Forest Partnership - Salmon and deer are highly important resources for the community of Hoonah. Habitat was negatively impacted by clear cut logging practices in the 1980s. Building on a comprehensive community partnership, this project will restore nearly 400 m of stream, plan for another 600 m of stream restoration in the future, and enhances fish and wildlife habitat by thinning riparian vegetation. The thinned trees will be a source of wood for building in-stream habitat structures and restore the form and function of the channel. Thinning will increase sunlight to the understory, promote abundant and diverse vegetation for wildlife, and produce large trees faster for future large wood recruitment.
Fiscal Year 2019 Program has not yet selected projects for funding. Program anticipates funding projects that develop or implement programs that benefit wildlife and their habitat, including species of Native American cultural or traditional importance and species that are not hunted or fished. Activities may include, but are not limited to: Planning for conservation of fish and wildlife, and their habitats; Conservation management actions for fish and wildlife, and their habitats; Field and laboratory research related to fish and wildlife resources; Natural history studies; Habitat mapping or evaluation; Field surveys and population monitoring; Conservation easements; Restoration of habitat; Management of invasive species; and Public education relevant to the proposed project.
Fiscal Year 2020 Program has not yet selected projects for funding. Program anticipates funding projects that develop or implement programs that benefit wildlife and their habitat, including species of Native American cultural or traditional importance and species that are not hunted or fished. Activities may include, but are not limited to: Planning for conservation of fish and wildlife, and their habitats; Conservation management actions for fish and wildlife, and their habitats; Field and laboratory research related to fish and wildlife resources; Natural history studies; Habitat mapping or evaluation; Field surveys and population monitoring; Conservation easements; Restoration of habitat; Management of invasive species; and Public education relevant to the proposed project.