Sacramento Valley Floodplain Enhancement For Salmon and Shorebirds 2025 Request For Proposals
RFP GUIDANCE
NFWF is committed to operating in full compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and Executive Orders. We continuously monitor legal and regulatory developments to ensure our policies, procedures, and operations align with current federal directives. We encourage all applicants to do the same.
The ability and extent to which NFWF is able to make awards is contingent upon receipt of funds from federal agencies and/or other funding partners. Final funding decisions will be made based on the applications received and the level and timing of funding received by NFWF.
TIMELINE
Dates of activities are subject to change. Please check the NFWF website for the most current dates and information: Sacramento Valley Floodplain Enhancement For Salmon and Shorebirds.
| Applicant Webinar (Register here) | July 10, 2025, 1:00 PM PDT/4:00 PM EDT |
| Full Proposal Due Date | August 5, 2025, 8:59 PM PDT/11:59 PM EDT |
| Review Period | August - October 2025 |
| Awards Announced | November 2025 |
OVERVIEW
Nearly the entire Sacramento River Basin is part of a floodplain complex that historically provided abundant habitat for fish and wildlife. The wetlands of the Sacramento Valley once helped support the largest Chinook salmon populations in California and provided crucial feeding and stopover habitat for tens of millions of shorebirds during their annual migration. In addition to providing benefits for a wide array of species, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is also an area of enormous agricultural value, with about 500,000 acres of land in rice production that is estimated to contribute $1 billion to California’s economy.1
Following the California Gold Rush of 1849, the massive influx of settlers rapidly altered this river valley, which was once a mosaic of millions of acres of wetlands connected to the Sacramento River and its tributaries. In particular, the drainage of wetlands and the physical containment of Sacramento River floodwaters within a system of levees dramatically impacted the natural ecology of the Sacramento Valley. This landscape-scale change to patterns of water flow has led to a decline in the quality and quantity of habitat available to migratory birds and fish, as well as greater vulnerability of nearby communities and agricultural lands to potential future floods and drought.
Today, farms in the Sacramento Valley have helped reconnect some of these wetlands with the advent of flooded rice fields. Flooded rice fields break down rice straw after harvest and provide waterfowl and shorebirds with important food resources for their journey along the Pacific Flyway. Sacramento Valley rice fields and neighboring wildlife refuges host approximately 1 billion birds migrating through the area annually, as well as nearly 4 million wintering waterfowl and 250,000 shorebirds. This is a result of over 30 years of relationships that farmers and conservation groups have forged to benefit birds and farms. These partners are now making a concerted effort to utilize flooded rice fields to also benefit salmon, as the fields provide excellent cover and food resources for anadromous fish.
Reactivating floodplains on both sides of the levees in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta provides multiple benefits to fish, wildlife, and people throughout the year. The slow spread of water across fallow rice fields creates critical off-channel habitat and food resources for anadromous fish like Chinook salmon in the fall and winter. Shallow flooded rice fields are also important for a suite of migratory shorebirds including the long-billed dowitcher, which is an indicator species of appropriate habitat for several priority shorebird species identified in the Pacific Americas Shorebird Conservation Strategy. Investments to expand the acreage of seasonally flooded rice fields are expected to provide additional habitat for this species and other migratory shorebirds.
GRANT AWARD INFORMATION
NFWF is partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to invite applications to the Sacramento Valley Floodplain Enhancement for Salmon and Shorebirds Request for Proposals (RFP). NFWF will award grant funding to support planning, design, implementation, and monitoring of multi-benefit floodplain restoration projects to benefit anadromous fish and migratory shorebirds and advance the long-term health of the Sacramento River Basin and the communities who live and work there. NFWF anticipates awarding eight to 12 projects with an estimated award range of $200,000 - $500,000 per project.
This RFP includes NRCS funding through NFWF’s Conservation Partners Program, which does not require match. However, NFWF recommends that applicants provide 1:1 nonfederal matching funds (i.e., for every dollar in grant funding, one dollar is recommended in match) to the extent practicable. The ratio of matching contributions to grant funding requested is an important criterion considered during the review process. While matching contributions are not required, applicants are encouraged to offer higher match ratios to be more competitive. Organizations that are unable to meet the 1:1 nonfederal matching contribution recommendation are eligible to receive grant funding but must contact NFWF to discuss potential match adjustment options prior to submitting a proposal. Discussing challenges and setting expectations will help ensure matching contributions do not become an undue barrier during the review process. Proposed projects should begin within six months of the award announcement date and should conclude by June 30, 2029.
GEOGRAPHIC FOCUS
Projects must be located on privately owned land in the Sacramento Valley Watershed.
PROGRAM PRIORITIES
Competitive proposals will address at least one of the following priorities:
Technical assistance to support implementation and/or conduct monitoring related to the project types listed below. Grant recipients will provide technical assistance to interested farmers, ranchers, and private forestland owners to build capacity, conduct outreach, develop management plans, design and implement conservation practices, share their experiences and lessons learned, and participate in Farm Bill programs, especially the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). Please note that applicants should ensure that the proposed project aligns with NRCS goals, priorities, and capacity needs by conferring with the NRCS California State Conservationist and their staff. Applicants should reach out to Jon Gustafson, State Resource Conservationist at Jon.Gustafson@usda.gov to initiate this process. A list of all California NRCS contacts can be found here. Additionally, grantees applying for capacity building technical assistance funds may be required to report on additional performance metrics related to capacity building and conservation planning which will be negotiated between NFWF and the grantee after funding decisions have been made. Outcomes proposed should comply with NRCS Conservation Practice Standards.
Floodplain restoration projects to improve access to habitat for anadromous fish and migratory shorebirds. Surrogate floodplain habitat can occur as vegetation decomposes in winter-flooded fields, producing a surge of aquatic invertebrates that become an invaluable source of sustenance for juvenile salmon. Designing and building high-quality, off-channel habitat with ample food resources available to these young fish through the winter enables them to grow robust enough to complete their migration to the ocean. Farm field floodplains also provide critical habitat for a suite of migratory shorebirds, including the long-billed dowitcher. Restoration of on-channel floodplain habitat also provides significant benefits for fish and wide variety of other wildlife and supports increased flood protection benefits.
Access improvement and fish passage projects to enhance the ability of fish to move through the Sacramento Valley during all life stages. Project examples include removing permanent or seasonal fish passage barriers, maintaining or modifying tributary mouths to ensure access to high quality rearing habitat, and installing fish screens on unscreened diversions.
Projects that incorporate baseline monitoring, take steps to measure and account for habitat and species impact, and that are collaborative in scope with multiple supportive stakeholders will be prioritized. Applicants are encouraged to incorporate recommendations from California NRCS’s recent Rapid Watershed Assessment Report into proposals, and to prioritize conservation challenges outlined in the Western Water and Working Lands Framework for Conservation Action. Applicants are also strongly encouraged to reference NFWF’s California Forests and Watersheds Business Plan and the California Forests and Watersheds Digital Business Plan for opportunities to enhance project competitiveness by linking Business Plan strategies and work in focal areas to benefit priority species whenever possible.
PROJECT METRICS
To better gauge progress on individual grants and to ensure greater consistency of project data provided by multiple grants, this funding opportunity has a list of metrics in Easygrants for applicants to choose from for future reporting. We ask that applicants select only the most relevant metrics from the list for their project (all possible program metrics are shown in the table in Appendix A). If you think an applicable metric has not been provided, please contact Erica Engstrom (erica.engstrom@nfwf.org, 415-490-5211) to discuss acceptable alternatives.
ELIGIBILITY
Eligible and Ineligible Entities
- Eligible applicants include: non-profit 501(c) organizations, state government agencies, local governments, municipal governments, Tribal governments and organizations, special districts (e.g., conservation districts, planning districts, utility districts), and educational institutions.
- Ineligible applicants include: international organizations, businesses, or unincorporated individuals.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
All proposals will be screened for relevance, accuracy, completeness and compliance with NFWF and funding source policies. Proposals will then be evaluated based on the extent to which they meet the following criteria.
| Conservation Outcomes | Budget | Technical |
|---|---|---|
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Partnership and Community Impact – The applicant organization partners and engages collaboratively with local community members, leaders, community-based organizations, and other relevant stakeholders to develop and implement the proposed project. This ensures long-term sustainability and success of the project, integration into local programs and policies, and community acceptance of proposed restoration actions. Partners or communities are enlisted to broaden the sustained impact from the project. Describe the community characteristics of the project area, identify any communities impacted, describe outreach and community engagement activities and how those will be monitored and measured. Use data to support descriptions and submit letters of support from community partners and/or collaborators demonstrating their commitment to the project and engagement in project activities as proposed.
Budget – Costs are allowable, reasonable and budgeted in accordance with NFWF’s Budget Instructions cost categories. Federally funded projects must be in compliance with OMB Uniform Guidance as applicable.
Matching Contributions – Matching Contributions consist of cash, contributed goods and services, volunteer hours, and/or property raised, spent, and acquired for the Project during the Period of Performance. Larger match ratios and matching fund contributions from a diversity of partners are encouraged and will be more competitive during application review. Please note that funding from another NFWF Program may not be listed as match for a proposed NFWF project.
Cost-Effectiveness – Cost-effectiveness analysis identifies the economically most efficient way to meet project objectives. Project includes a cost-effective budget that balances performance risk and efficient use of funds. Cost-effectiveness evaluation includes, but is not limited to, an assessment of effective direct/indirect costs across all categories in the proposed budget according to the type, size and duration of project and project objectives. Project budgets will be compared to similar projects to ensure proposed costs across all budget categories are reasonable for the activities being performed and the outcomes proposed.
Spatial Data – Project spatial data submitted to NFWF’s online mapping tool accurately represent the location(s) of conservation activity(ies) at the time of proposal submission. Successful projects will be required to submit improved spatial data for each conservation activity within the period of performance as necessary.
OTHER
Ineligible Uses of Grant Funds
- NFWF funds and matching contributions are strictly prohibited from being used for a number of reasons to include, for example, political advocacy, fundraising, lobbying, litigation, terrorist activities, or in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. See OMB Uniform Guidance for additional information.
- Equipment: Applicants are encouraged to rent equipment where possible and cost-effective or use matching funds to make those purchases. NFWF acknowledges, however, that some projects may only be completed using NFWF funds to procure equipment. If this applies to your project, please contact the program staff listed in this RFP to discuss options.
- Federal funds and matching contributions may not be used to procure or obtain equipment, services, or systems (including entering into or renewing a contract) that uses telecommunications equipment or services produced by Huawei Technologies Company or ZTE Corporation (or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entities) as a substantial or essential component, or as critical technology of any system. Refer to Public Law 115-232, section 889 for additional information.
- NFWF funds may not be used to support ongoing efforts to comply with legal requirements, including permit conditions, mitigation and settlement agreements. However, grant funds may be used to support projects that enhance or improve upon existing baseline compliance efforts.
Environmental Services – NFWF funds projects in pursuit of its mission to sustain, restore and enhance the nation's fish, wildlife, plants and habitats for current and future generations. NFWF recognizes that some benefits from projects may be of value with regards to credits on an environmental services market (such as a carbon credit market). NFWF does not participate in, facilitate, or manage an environmental services market nor does NFWF assert any claim on such credits.
Intellectual Property – Intellectual property created using NFWF awards may be copyrighted or otherwise legally protected by award recipients. NFWF may reserve the right to use, publish, and copy materials created under awards, including posting such material on NFWF’s website and featuring it in publications. NFWF may use project metrics and spatial data from awards to estimate societal benefits that result and to report these results to funding partners. These may include but are not limited to: habitat and species response, species connectivity, water quality, water quantity, risk of detrimental events (e.g., wildfire, floods), and carbon accounting (e.g., sequestration, avoided emissions).
Procurement – If the applicant chooses to specifically identify proposed Contractor(s) for Services, an award by NFWF to the applicant does not constitute NFWF’s express written authorization for the applicant to procure such specific services noncompetitively. When procuring goods and services, NFWF recipients must follow documented procurement procedures which reflect applicable laws and regulations.
Publicity and Acknowledgement of Support – Award recipients will be required to grant NFWF the right and authority to publicize the project and NFWF’s financial support for the grant in press releases, publications and other public communications. Recipients may also be asked by NFWF to provide high-resolution (minimum 300 dpi) photographs depicting the project.
Receiving Award Funds – Award payments are primarily reimbursable. Projects may request funds for reimbursement at any time after completing a signed agreement with NFWF. A request of an advance of funds must be due to an imminent need of expenditure and must detail how the funds will be used and provide justification and a timeline for expected disbursement of these funds. Requests for monthly advances will not be considered.
Compliance Requirements – Projects selected may be subject to requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act (state and federal), and National Historic Preservation Act. Documentation of compliance with these regulations must be approved prior to initiating activities that disturb or alter habitat or other features of the project site(s). Applicants should budget time and resources to obtain the needed approvals. As may be applicable, successful applicants may be required to comply with additional Federal, state or local requirements and obtain all necessary permits and clearances.
Quality Assurance – If a project involves significant monitoring, data collection or data use, grantees will be asked to prepare and submit quality assurance documentation (www.epa.gov/quality). Applicants should budget time and resources to complete this task.
Permits – Successful applicants will be required to provide sufficient documentation that the project expects to receive or has received all necessary permits and clearances to comply with any federal, state, or local requirements. Where projects involve work in the waters of the United States, NFWF strongly encourages applicants to conduct a permit pre-application meeting with the Army Corps of Engineers prior to submitting their proposal. In some cases, if a permit pre-application meeting has not been completed, NFWF may require successful applicants to complete such a meeting prior to grant award.
Federal Funding – The availability of federal funds estimated in this solicitation is contingent upon receipt from the agency. Funding decisions will be made based on level of funding and timing of when it is received by NFWF.
HOW TO APPLY
All application materials must be submitted online through National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Easygrants system.
1. Go to easygrants.nfwf.org to register in our Easygrants online system. New users to the system will be prompted to register before starting the application (if you already are a registered user, use your existing login). Enter your applicant information. Please disable the pop-up blocker on your internet browser prior to beginning the application process.
2. Once on your homepage, click the “Apply for Funding” button and select this RFP’s “Funding Opportunity” from the list of options.
3. Follow the instructions in Easygrants to complete your application. Once an application has been started, it may be saved and returned to at a later time for completion and submission.
APPLICATION ASSISTANCE
A Tip Sheet is available for quick reference while you are working through your application. This document can be downloaded here.
Additional information to support the application process can be accessed on the NFWF website’s Applicant Information page.
For more information or questions about this RFP, please contact:
Femke Freiberg
Program Director, Western Water Programs
Email: femke.freiberg@nfwf.org
Phone: 415-243-3104 (PST)
Erica Engstrom
Program Manager, Western Water Programs
Email: erica.engstrom@nfwf.org
Phone: 415-490-5211 (PST)
Dalton Schmitz
Program Coordinator, Western Water Programs
Email: dalton.schmitz@nfwf.org
Phone: 202-992-9456
For issues or assistance with our online Easygrants system, please contact:
Easygrants Helpdesk
Email: Easygrants@nfwf.org
Voicemail: 202-595-2497
Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm ET, Monday-Friday.
Include: your name, proposal ID #, e-mail address, phone number, program you are applying to, and a description of the issue.
1 https://www.ucdavis.edu/food/news/california-rice-and-wildlife-report-released
Appendix A
Applicable Metrics
Sacramento Valley Floodplain Enhancement for Salmon and Shorebirds
| Project Activity | Recommended Metric | Additional Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Habitat Restoration – Fish passage improvements | # passage barriers assessed and/or with design plans | Enter the # of instream barriers with assessments or engineering/design plans completed in this grant. In the “Notes” section, provide the barrier’s SARP ID (see aquaticbarriers.org/). If the barrier(s) is not in SARP, provide its latitude/longitude or its name and source. |
| Habitat Restoration – Fish passage improvements | # passage barriers rectified | Enter the # of instream barriers removed/rectified in this grant. In the “Notes” section, provide the barrier’s SARP ID (see aquaticbarriers.org/). If the barrier(s) is not in SARP, provide its latitude/longitude or its name and source. |
| Habitat Restoration – Fish passage improvements | Miles of stream opened | Enter the number of miles of stream made accessible to aquatic organism passage. NFWF prefers that this metric indicate the miles of upstream habitat until the next barrier upstream (or end of flowline) as well as the miles of downstream habitat until the next barrier downstream using PADnew (see California Fish Passage Assessment Database). This estimate should include both the mainstem of the stream or river and smaller tributaries. If another data source or methodology is used, please describe it in the metric’s “Notes” section. |
| Habitat Restoration – Floodplain restoration | Acres restored | Enter # of floodplain acres restored or reactivated to create habitat for juvenile Chinook salmon. In the “Notes” section, indicate % of vegetation on the pre-project site (0-20%, 21-40%, 41-60%, 61-80%, 81-100%) and the dominant vegetation being restored (broadleaf, conifer, redwood, shrub, grass, marsh, wet meadow, swamp). |
| Habitat Restoration – Instream restoration | # structures installed | Enter # of habitat structures installed, replaced, upgraded, or repaired for improvement of instream habitat. |
| Habitat Restoration – Instream restoration | Miles restored | Enter # of stream miles enhanced or restored. Include modifications to stream channel (shape, cross-section, or profile) or meander pattern, placement of large woody debris or log jams, etc. |
| Habitat Restoration – Riparian restoration | Acres restored | Enter # of riparian acres restored. In the “Notes” section, specify the landcover type prior to planting (barren, cropland, grassland, shrubland), the % of vegetation on the pre-project site (0-20%, 21-40%, 41-60%, 61-80%, 81-100%), the dominant vegetation being planted (broadleaf, conifer, shrub, grass), the buffer width, and the acreage. DO NOT include instream restoration miles in this measurement. |
| Habitat Restoration – Wetland restoration | Acres restored | Wetlands in this context refer to off- and side-channel habitat and ponds created to provide habitat for Chinook salmon and/or migratory shorebirds. Enter # of acres of wetland (not riparian or instream) habitat restored. In the “Notes” section, specify landcover prior to restoration (marsh, tidal marsh, wet meadow, swamp) and indicate % of vegetation on the pre-project site (0-20%, 21-40%, 41-60%, 61-80%, 81-100%). |
| Habitat Management – Improved management practices (Long-billed dowitcher) | Acres under improved management | Enter # rice agriculture acres to be flooded annually to a depth of less than four inches to benefit Long-billed dowitcher and other migratory shorebirds. |
| Habitat Management – Project footprint | Acreage of project footprint | Enter the total number of unique acres where one or more conservation practices were implemented. Only count an acre once, even if multiple activities or treatments will occur on that acre during the project. For crop management projects involving wheat, please indicate the total project acres in active wheat rotation in the “Notes” section. |
| Capacity, Outreach, Incentives – Economic benefits | # jobs created | Enter the # of individuals hired to directly work on the project (non-volunteers). Jobs should be directly engaged in grant activities, funded by the grant, and shouldn't have existed prior to the grant. The starting value for this metric should be zero and target value should be a whole number. In the “Notes” section, provide the FTE for the jobs created. |
| Capacity, Outreach, Incentives – Economic benefits | # jobs sustained | Enter the # of paid jobs that are partially or fully sustained through this grant. The starting value for this metric should be zero and target value should be a whole number. Jobs should have existed prior to the grant, be funded by the grant, and be directly engaged in project activities. |
| Capacity, Outreach, Incentives – Incentives | # participants receiving government agency cost share or financial assistance | Enter # of participants enrolled in government cost share or financial assistance programs. In the “Notes” section, specify which program(s) (e.g., NRCS EQIP), and how you will track enrollment. This should be equal to or less than the “# people with changed behavior” metric. |
| Capacity, Outreach, Incentives – Incentives | Acres covered by government agency cost share or financial assistance | Enter # of acres enrolled in government agency cost share or financial assistance. In the “Notes” section, specify which program(s) (e.g., NRCS EQIP). Number should be equal to or less than “Acreage of project footprint” metric. |
| Capacity, Outreach, Incentives – Incentives | Dollar value of government agency cost share or financial assistance | Enter the dollar value of federal, state, or local government agency cost share or financial assistance. In the “Notes” section, specify which program(s) (e.g., NRCS EQIP) and how the value was estimated. |
| Capacity, Outreach, Incentives – Outreach/ Education/ Technical Assistance | # people with changed behavior | Enter # of producers implementing new conservation practices with or without federal, state, local, or private financial assistance. This should be equal to or greater than the “# of participants receiving gov't agency cost share or financial assistance” metric. |
| Planning, Research, Monitoring – BMP development | # management plans into which BMPs were incorporated | Enter # of completed management plans into which Best Management Practices (BMPs) were incorporated. |
| Planning, Research, Monitoring – BMP development | # acres covered by conservation plans | Enter # of acres that are receiving conservation planning and other technical assistance to help producers meet eligibility requirements for USDA NRCS conservation programs and other federal, state, and local conservation programs. |
| Planning, Research, Monitoring – Research | # studies completed whose findings are used to adapt management/inform management decisions | Enter # of studies and reports with findings that will be produced to adapt and inform management decisions to benefit juvenile Chinook salmon and/or migratory shorebirds. |
| Planning, Research, Monitoring – Research | Acres assessed for improved management | Enter # of acres assessed to improve management of Chinook salmon and/or migratory shorebird habitat. |
| Planning, Research, Monitoring – Restoration planning/design/permitting | # engineering and design plans developed | Enter # of engineering and design plans, and/or compliance documents developed. Generally, there will be one plan per milestone (e.g., 10% design, 30% design, sampling design plan, final report/data compilation). |