Delaware Estuary Watershed Grants Program 2008

Request for Proposal

Online Applications must be completed by: August 1, 2008.

Launched in 2003, the Delaware Estuary Watershed Grants Program provides support to organizations working on a local level to protect and improve watersheds in the estuary, while building citizen-based resource stewardship. The mission of the grants program is to address the living resources of the three states that share the land and water of the estuary - Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

The Grants Program seeks to:

• Encourage innovative, community or locally-based programs or projects that restore important habitats and living resources within the Delaware Estuary Watersheds;
• Develop the capacity of local governments, citizens groups and other organizations to promote community based stewardship and enhance local watershed-based resource management; and
• Promote a greater understanding of the Delaware Estuary and the interrelationship between the health of the Estuary and the condition of local watersheds.

Major Support for the DEWGP
Major financial support for this program is provided by "Clear into the Future: A DuPont Delaware Estuary Initiative" an ongoing commitment to maintain and improve the Delaware River Estuary. The initiative focuses on using DuPont science, volunteerism, education and special projects to help preserve and protect the estuary. Go to www.clearintothefuture.com to learn more about the initiative

Other key funders include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, William Penn Foundation, settlement funds provided to National Fish and Wildlife Foundation by the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (National Marine Fisheries Services Restoration Center), and from ConocoPhillip SPIRIT of Conservation Migratory Bird Program. Funds to operate the program are provided, in part, by the Fair Play Foundation.

Key DEWGP Partners
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation administers DEWGP with partner agencies including: the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, City of Philadelphia Water Department, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regions 2 and 3

Eligible Applicants
Public or nonprofit private agencies, institutions, and organizations, educational institutions, and local and state government are eligible for funding. Governmental agencies are encouraged to involve nonprofits in their projects.

Awards
Under the 2008 DEWGP grants of $20,000 to $50,000 will be awarded on a competitive basis. The maximum amount will be awarded to projects that provide for physical restoration of habitat. Please note applications smaller than $20,000 will not be considered for support. A maximum of three applications will be accepted per organization.

Geographic Scope
Projects will be considered for DEWGP funding that are located in the boundaries of the Delaware Estuary, as established by the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan for the Delaware Estuary (CCMP). This includes the major tributaries to the Lower Delaware River and Bay including the Schuylkill River, Maurice River and Brandywine Creek Watersheds. In addition, any project in the Delaware River Watershed (including its tributaries) from the downstream boundary of the Delaware Water Gap Recreation Area (mile 209.5) south to the mouth of the Delaware Bay (River Mile 0) are included in the geographic scope. Funds may be sought for projects occurring in New Jersey from Warren County South to Cape May and in Pennsylvania from Northampton County South to New Castle County, Delaware, as well as the coastal watersheds of Delaware. 

General Funding Priorities
Preference will be given to projects that include 1) measurable outputs linked to project activities at the close of the project (i.e. remove one barrier to fish passage); and then potential long term outcomes (i.e. all barriers to fish passage along a complete river system will be configured or removed and fish populations are healthier); 2) specific provisions for long-term maintenance, management and protection, as appropriate; 3) activities consistent with the goals of established state and federal resource conservation plans; and 4) education, training, and public outreach components to enhance the community benefits of the project.

Specific Funding Priorities
The following priorities will be used by an advisory team of state and federal agency experts to evaluate proposals requesting support under the DEWGP:

• Restore coastal, riverine and associated upland habitat as well as naturally functioning shoreline and littoral habitat. Applicants may request funding for actual physical site restoration as well as for engineering assessments and evaluations necessary to develop restoration plans.
• Restore freshwater, anadromous and diadromous fish and other aquatic species through restoration and enhancement of spawning and rearing habitat including such projects as reconfiguring or removing barriers to fish passage (removing small dams, culverts or other physical barriers which can also benefit communities through reduced flood impacts and removal of potential liability), maintenance of critical in-stream flows for fish passage, and promoting stewardship activities involving angler groups and other community-based organizations.
• Enhance or restore shellfish habitat.
• Control or manage invasive species. Invasive species control projects must clearly articulate why this project has a high probability of success; a long-term plan and commitment to maintaining the project area free (or nearly so) of invasive plants, and how the invasive species is impacting native species.
• Species Conservation: Projects to protect or restore populations of endangered, threatened, or at-risk species as identified by state and federal agencies. Project types include:
  • Restore nesting habitat and managing vegetational succession in beach areas used by beach and island ground nesting birds, transient waterfowl and near-shore fisheries - particularly habitat for Horseshoe crabs and Red knot stopover sites;
  • Implement stewardship programs of beaches during key nesting and migration periods to minimize disturbance to those areas; and
  • Implement programs that reduce the presence of feral domestic species and wildlife predators on beach and ground-nesting birds.
• Promote sustainable watershed assets in integrated approach to land use and water quality in Pennsylvania and New Jersey that advance redevelopment and revitalization of older central or inner city communities and strategic conservation of critical open space and natural areas, through:
  • Policies and systems that will result in more effective protection, conservation, and restoration of water resources; and
  • Permanent conservation of critical watershed lands and significant regional landscapes; and
  • Place-based demonstration projects.
• Support watershed-based planning and stewardship. Projects to support and educate municipalities in watershed planning and management, development and implementation of projects identified in watershed management plans, and development of new watershed management plans or stewardship projects associated with implementing elements of the plans.
  
  Watershed planning proposals should demonstrate a strong commitment to implementation, such as financing strategies, priorities, responsible parties, an implementation schedule and a means for monitoring progress.

Important Background Information to Reference when Preparing an Application

• Applicants should demonstrate how their project relates to and advances the goals of the CCMP. This and the Water Resources Plan for the Delaware River Basin. The CCMP is available upon request from the Partnership, One River Riverwalk Plaza, 110 S. Poplar Street, Suite 202, Wilmington DE 19801 (302) 665-4990).
• Vulnerable species and habitats - At-risk Communities and Species. Essential fish habitat (EFH) species, Habitat Areas of Particular Concern (HAPC), and species considered as the Nations "Living Marine Resources" - Species/habitat descriptions/listings/classifications.

How to Prepare a Successful Application

Technical Assistance
Technical assistance is available from our state and federal partners for help in developing your application and project planning, design and implementation. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Technical Assistance page, contact one or more of the technical advisors in advance of sending in your application, and to incorporate technical assistance into your projects as appropriate. We have found that the assistance of a technical advisor is one major factor in creating a successful proposal. Please follow the hotlink to the list of technical advisors and their contact information.

Participate in the New Remote Workshops!! EVEN IF YOU HAVE PREPARED A PROPOSAL IN THE PAST - CONSIDER JOINING US.

NEW ONLINE APPLICATION FORM WILL BE EXPLAINED!!

Yes, we know many of you are seasoned applicants of this grant program. However, we have a new online application form. The workshop will focus on how to complete this form. You are strongly encouraged to join us at the remote workshop planned for Tuesday, July 8, 2008, from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm. See information about On-line Workshops .  After the workshop you can use the following link to register in our new Easy Grants online system and access the grant application http://www.nfwf.org/grantapplication Also, please use the following link to access other useful information for applicants, including videos that demonstrate the Easy Grants online system http://www.nfwf.org/applicantinfo

Number of Applications
Please do not submit more than three applications per organization. However, given the high degree of competition for limited funds, it is not likely that more than a single grant will be awarded to an organization.

Time Period for Project Completion
Projects should be completed within one year to 15 months upon receipt of grant award letter. We understand a grant may only cover one year of a project which has multiple parts. However, the part of the project you are applying for must be completed in that time period. You can explain in the application that the funding will only be for the first phase of the project and that there are more elements to be developed and implemented to complete the larger project, but the part that is funded in this grant round must be completed in the time period described above.

Match
Although match is not required for DEWGP, preference will be given to projects with strong match. Applicants are encouraged to show federal partner contributions as well, although these contributions may not count towards match.

To be eligible, matching contributions must be:

• Non-federal in origin (federally appropriated or managed funds are ineligible e.g., Pittman-Robertson, Dingell-Johnson, Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act);
• Raised and dedicated specifically towards the project;
• Voluntary in nature (mitigation, restitution, or other permit or court-ordered settlements are ineligible for use as match); and
• Applied only to the Foundation's grant to your organization and not used for other federal matching programs.
• The cost of recent land acquisitions may also qualify as match for a project involving work at that site. Federal regulations require that the land purchase occur during the award period in order to count as match. Grantees can also include an easement put on the land, if this occurs during the award period.

Please note, waiver of university administrative and/or overhead costs are not eligible for match. If you are having trouble developing match or have questions about forms of eligible match please contact lynn.dwyer@nfwf.org with questions.

Permitting
It is very important you provide sufficient documentation, if appropriate, that you are pursuing, expect to receive or have received all necessary permits and clearances for your project to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Endangered Species Act, and any other Federal, State, or local regulations or ordinances. Please note the DEWGP technical advisors are excellent sources of information if you have any questions about required permits.

Federal agencies must analyze the potential environmental impacts, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), for applicant projects or proposals which receive federal funding. More information about NEPA. To aid in NEPA analysis, applicants should provide detailed information on the activities to be conducted, locations, sites, species and habitat to be affected, possible construction activities, and any environmental concerns that may exist (e.g. the use and disposal of hazardous or toxic chemicals, introduction of non-indigenous species, impacts to endangered and threatened species, and aquaculture projects).  Representatives of federal funding agencies may contact applicants to gather more information about the project, and applicants may also be requested to assist the agency in drafting an environmental assessment, if the agency determines an assessment is required.

Evaluation Logic Framework
The ELF examples provided will help applicants prepare this section of the application.

Restrictions
Grant funds cannot be used for political advocacy, fundraising, lobbying or litigation activities or to support projects resulting from legally mandated mitigation projects. The Foundation cannot provide funds for general administrative overhead or indirect expenses. If you are uncertain about categories of budget items which may or may not be funded, please review the budget section in the application which provides examples and directions. If you need further help send an email to Lynn.Dwyer@nfwf.org. Please note proposals for research projects are not eligible for support under the DEWGP.

Submission Format and Content
A complete application package should include the following:

• A completed and signed original application form;
• A proposal narrative not to exceed 12 pages (see application for details);
• A map indicating the location of the project (e.g., see application for details);
• Letters documenting partner contributions, support and participation; and
• Additional materials as appropriate (e.g., figures, photos).
• All proposals, even design and planning proposals, should describe a plan for project implementation, including a funding strategy, a timeline, and partnerships.
• A completed Evaluation Logic Framework describing short-term outputs and long term conservation outcomes.

Submission Format and Content for Habitat Restoration and Fish Passage Projects
In addition to the items described above, when preparing the proposal narrative or Habitat Restoration and Fish Passage projects, please make sure to address the following in detail where appropriate in the application:

• Background information that establishes that the habitat to be restored exists or existed at the site and that the site is currently degraded;
• Estimated extent of area to be restored (i.e., acreage, square footage, or river miles);
• List of applicable permits, estimated timeframe for permit processing (i.e., 1 year from submission date), and status (i.e., in preparation, submitted or approved);
• Maps and if available photographs of the site. Maps should identify the project area;
• If you have available please provide for construction projects -- a scaled plan view and elevations, an implementation design, or a narrative of details on the implementation plan; and
• Details on long-term maintenance and monitoring of the project.

Timeline

• Remote workshop for prospective applicants: Tuesday, July 8, 2008, 10am to 12:30pm
• Applications must be completed by: August 1, 2008.
• Anticipated announcement of awards: December 2008*
  *Please do not contact the Foundation regarding the status of your proposal until after the award announcement date.
  

Need Administrative and Programmatic Help?
Contact us with general administrative and program questions at: lynn.dwyer@nfwf.org.

Post-Award Procedures for Recipients
Upon project selection and after an official grant award letter is sent, Foundation staff will begin to prepare grant agreements. Please note that preparation of grant agreements will take approximately 6-10 weeks. However, the Foundation will work with grant recipients on a case-by-case basis to expedite grant awards as necessary especially where the grantee has a "critical need for funds." If this is the case please notify us of that critical need at Lynn.Dwyer@nfwf.org.

The standard procedure at the Foundation is once a grant agreement is completed and signed by all parties to the agreement, we advance funds associated with the approved categories/activities on a phased basis as described in the agreement. Because some awards are for ongoing rather than new projects, funds may be paid on a reimbursable basis for expenses/activities described on the approved project budget and incurred after the date you made your original application for funds to DEWGP.

Grantees will be expected to submit interim and final financial and programmatic reports. Additional information on the grant process will be provided to successful applicants after project selection. If you have questions about any of the information described in this section of the Request for Proposals, please send us a note at lynn.dwyer@nfwf.org.

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Delaware map (Microsoft Word Document)