Columbia Basin Restoration Program

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is requesting proposals to enhance, restore, and protect aquatic ecosystems for native fish species in the Columbia Basin. This funding opportunity is built on the success of the Columbia Basin Water Transaction Program (CBWTP), which funds water transactions development and implementation in the United States portion of the Columbia Basin and is the largest voluntary instream flow restoration program in the country.

This year, the Request for Proposals (RFP) is soliciting proposals for water transaction development as well as water management and conservation projects that will benefit fish habitat through three funding partnerships:

1. Columbia Basin Programmatic Water Transaction Grant (Partnership with Bonneville Power Administration): Approximately $2.2 million will be available for programmatic support allowing for staff time, limited travel, supplies/materials, and other associated costs of developing water transactions. Funding for this program will be primarily provided by Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). Once an entity is selected through this Request for Proposals (RFP), they will be considered a Qualified Local Entity (QLE) and will be able to apply for funding to pay for individual water transactions during the term of their grant agreement through a competitive process. Qualification status will last three years from the time a full proposal is approved, pending satisfactory annual performance reviews. Existing QLEs will have the option to submit an abbreviated proposal in lieu of a full proposal in the two subsequent years post initial selection. More information on the water transaction solicitation process can be found here.
2. National Forest Lands Habitat Improvement Grants (Partnership with U.S. Forest Service Region 6): Up to $300,000 is available to support flow restoration and aquatic ecosystem enhancement activities for projects that take place within the boundaries of U.S. Forest Service Region 6 National Forests. Priority strategies include voluntary water transactions, projects that improve access to and connectivity of habitat for native fish, and instream habitat enhancement projects in flow limited watersheds. Projects must also be located in stream systems that are part of the Columbia Basin drainage.
3. Working Lands Habitat Improvement Grants (Partnership with Natural Resources Conservation Service): Approximately $1.1 million in funding will be available for habitat improvement projects on working lands within Columbia Basin watersheds located in Washington State.