Freshwater Fish Conservation Initiative

Conservation Objective

Through its Freshwater Fish Conservation Initiative, the Foundation and its partners seek to increase populations of flagship freshwater, anadromous and diadramous fish species and other aquatic species through the protection, restoration and enhancement of spawning and rearing habitat in the upper reaches of targeted watersheds, removal of barriers to fish passage and maintenance of critical in-stream flows.

Strategy and Funding Priorities

The Foundation seeks to make a significant impact on fish and other aquatic species conservation by working in conjunction with the recently-released National Fish Habitat Action Plan and implementing projects that meet the goals to: a) protect and maintain intact and healthy aquatic systems; b) prevent further degradation of fish habitats that have been already affected; c) reverse declines in the quality and quantity of aquatic habitats to improve overall health of fish and aquatic organisms, and d) increase the quality and quantity of fish habitats that support a broad natural diversity of fish and other aquatic species.

The Foundation will target investments towards the following key activities:

• Developing regional "Fish Habitat Partnerships"; around flagship fish species or habitats consistent with the objectives identified through the National Fish Habitat Action Plan. Visit www.fishhabitat.org for a list of current Fish Habitat Partnerships.
• Implementing habitat protection, enhancement and restoration projects identified through regional "Fish Habitat Partnerships" that demonstrate the highest impact in restoring targeted fish populations in a watershed context. [If a formal Fish Habitat Partnership does not yet exist in the applicants area of interest, the applicant may still apply for a grant for a project that supports the goals listed above]
• Stimulating development of effective plans for those species for which no strategy is currently available, and revising those that need improvement or updating
• Evaluating which species conservation plans are succeeding, and why
• Expanding environmental water transaction programs and water conservation efforts to increase streamflows during critical migration periods for fish passage and spawning.
• Removing small dams, culverts or other physical barriers to fish passage that maximize the access to miles of upstream spawning and rearing habitat.
• Supporting methods to improve/recover populations of imperiled fish species by managing/removing invasive and/or non-native fish that outcompete native fish in their habitats
• Protecting and maintaining intact fish habitat through various conservation methods, tools and incentive programs.
• Promoting stewardship activites involving angler groups and other community-based organizations.

Measuring Outcomes

As part of the Foundation's Freshwater Fish Conservation Initiative, we will be working with our partners and grantees to measure the outcomes of our investments in trying to achieve the overall objective for fish conservation. Specific outcomes include:

• Track changes in populations of flagship species where on-the-ground conservation actions are implemented
• Identify key metrics for successful conservation plans.
• Measure miles of spawning and rearing habitat protected, restored or opened.
• Quantify the increased capacity of regional "Fish Habitat Partnerships" and local angler organizations to address priority fish habitat conservation needs.

Grant Size and Match

Grants generally range from $50,000-$300,000. A minimum of 1:1 non-federal match is required; however, most competitive projects have at least 2:1 in non-federal match.

More coastal or marine fish species, please see Marine and Coastal Keystone Initiative.