BLM-(WO), Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Support | L17AS00038

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the BLM-(WO) Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Support opportunity?

It is a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) cooperative agreement program under the Department of the Interior focused on protecting and improving aquatic resources across the western United States through partner-driven outreach, planning support, and on-the-ground restoration that benefits fisheries and associated habitats.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this program?

The Funding Opportunity Number is L17AS00038.

Which agency is offering this funding?

The opportunity is offered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) within the Department of the Interior.

What funding activity area and CFDA number are associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity sits within the Natural Resources funding activity area and is associated with CFDA 15.231.

What is the overall purpose of the program?

The program is designed to pair BLM with partners who can help deliver coordinated invasive species prevention outreach, support aquatic resource assessments for BLM land use planning using established tools, implement cold-water fisheries and riparian habitat restoration, advance conservation through working lands/conservation ranching approaches, and build BLM staff capacity through professional development and networking.

When was the opportunity posted and what was the closing date?

It was posted on March 17, 2017, with an original closing date of May 19, 2017.

How many awards were anticipated and what was the maximum award size?

The notice anticipated up to three awards, with a maximum award size of $90,000.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning any entity type may apply, subject to any additional eligibility conditions that may be included elsewhere in the full notice.

What is the cooperative agreement intended to support (in plain terms)?

The opportunity supports a combination of (1) high-visibility invasive species prevention messaging, (2) implementation-focused restoration for cold-water fisheries and riparian systems, (3) technical support that strengthens aquatic analyses used in BLM land use planning, (4) working-lands conservation approaches that maintain viable operations while improving aquatic and riparian conditions, and (5) professional development and networking for BLM fisheries and aquatic staff.

What is the program's emphasis regarding aquatic invasive species?

A major emphasis is preventing the spread of aquatic invasive plants and animals through coordinated public outreach aimed at people most likely to unintentionally spread them, specifically anglers, hunters, and boaters.

What prevention message does the opportunity prioritize?

The opportunity prioritizes collaborative development and deployment of messaging and materials that reinforce the widely used Clean Drain Dry standard.

Which outreach channels are specifically mentioned as priorities?

Practical, high-visibility channels are highlighted, including paid advertisements in state hunting/fishing and boating regulation booklets, placements in sportsmen magazines, and production of awareness materials intended for use at public boat launches and similar access points.

What is the intent behind placing outreach materials at boat launches and access points?

The intent is to reduce spread and impacts by making prevention steps routine and easy to remember at the exact moments when users are entering or leaving the water.

Does the opportunity support on-the-ground restoration projects?

Yes. Beyond outreach, it supports tangible habitat improvement for cold-water fisheries, described as "on-the-ground" projects, indicating a preference for implementation rather than purely planning or research.

What types of fisheries and species are emphasized for restoration?

Restoration is focused on cold-water fisheries, specifically projects that benefit native trout and other cold-water species.

What kinds of outcomes are restoration actions expected to support?

Restoration actions are framed around improving stream function, water quality, and habitat complexity in ways that support resilient fish populations, especially where cold-water refugia are critical.

How does the opportunity connect fisheries restoration with Greater Sage-Grouse priorities?

The program encourages cold-water fisheries habitat restoration that simultaneously advances riparian restoration in Greater Sage-Grouse priority habitats, signaling a preference for integrated projects with overlapping benefits for aquatic species and sage-grouse priority areas.

What riparian improvements are implied by the integrated approach?

Examples described include enhancing riparian vegetation structure, stabilizing streambanks, and improving hydrologic function where it influences adjacent habitats, while also supporting healthier riparian corridors for aquatic species.

What is included under "technical support for aquatic resource assessments" in BLM planning?

This component supports strengthening the scientific and analytical foundation for BLM land use planning by helping integrate fisheries and aquatic considerations into land use plans using established methodologies and comparable metrics.

Are applicants expected to build new assessment tools from scratch?

No. Applicants are expected to leverage existing landscape-scale or regional assessment tools and datasets rather than starting from scratch.

Which assessment tools or datasets are specifically cited as examples?

The notice specifically calls out examples such as the Conservation Success Index and the Native Salmonid Population Viability Analysis.

What does the opportunity mean by supporting conservation through working lands or conservation ranching?

It refers to initiatives intended to maintain viable operations while applying land management practices that protect or enhance native trout fisheries and sustain healthy, balanced ecosystems.

Who might be involved in working-lands or conservation ranching efforts?

The description implies collaboration with private landowners, grazing operators, and local partners.

What kinds of practices are implied for working-lands aquatic and riparian conservation?

The opportunity implies practices that improve riparian function, manage grazing pressure, maintain streambank stability, and protect water quality, while keeping the land economically productive.

Is there a workforce development or capacity-building component?

Yes. The grant includes a capacity-building and workforce development element for BLM staff through professional development and networking.

What types of professional development activities are supported?

It supports participation in a national professional society, including attendance and involvement at regional and national annual meetings, with the goal of improving skills, information sharing, and connection to best practices and emerging science.

Is the opportunity primarily research-focused or implementation-focused?

Based on the description, there is an explicit preference for implementation in restoration (described as "on-the-ground" projects), alongside outreach and planning/assessment support using existing tools rather than creating entirely new frameworks.

What geographic area does the opportunity target?

The program focuses on aquatic resources across the western United States.

What audiences are most directly targeted by the outreach portion of the program?

Anglers, hunters, and boaters are identified as the key audiences most likely to unintentionally spread aquatic invasive plants and animals.

What is the overarching delivery model of this grant opportunity?

It is structured around partnership-driven delivery, pairing BLM with partners to combine invasive species prevention messaging, field restoration, planning and assessment support, working-lands conservation collaboration, and professional development to improve aquatic resource outcomes across the West.