Columbia Basin Water Transactions Program 2024

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is requesting proposals to enhance, restore, and protect stream flows for key fish habitat in the Columbia Basin. The Columbia Basin Water Transaction Program (CBWTP) 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.

Approximately $1.8 million will be available for programmatic support allowing for staff time, limited travel, supplies/materials, and other associated costs of developing a water transaction(s). NFWF will only accept proposals for programmatic support to develop water transactions under this solicitation, not for water acquisitions. Applicants must show organizational history and competency of implementing water transactions and dedicating water instream in this region. Funding for this program will be primarily provided by Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). A portion of the funding from BPA is dedicated to the areas of the Columbia River basin that are covered by the Columbia Basin Fish Accords with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. Proposals in these geographies should be separate from proposals for other geographies.

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.