Request for Proposals for Klamath Basin Salmon Restoration Projects

DAVIS, Calif., January 16, 2024 - The Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation announced today $4 million is available for Klamath Basin salmon restoration projects and technical assistance. Funding is provided by Reclamation and NRCS, with NFWF administering the grant programs. Through this solicitation, funding up to $500,000 is available for Klamath River projects, up to $1 million for Trinity River projects, up to $2 million for Shasta Valley projects, and up to $500,000 for drought resilience technical assistance.

On Jan. 17, from 1 to 2 p.m. PST, Reclamation, NRCS, and NFWF will host a joint pre-proposal webinar to provide an overview of each grant program’s purpose and objectives; program focal area and potential project types; and application, selection process, and environmental compliance process. Potential applicants may register for the webinar here: Registration (gotowebinar.com).

Eligible applicants, including local, state, and Tribal governments; special districts; non-profit organizations; schools; and universities are encouraged to apply. Applicants are required to submit pre-proposals by Feb. 20. Application information and the formal Request for Proposals can be found at: Klamath Basin Salmon Restoration 2024 Request for Proposals | NFWF.

A timeline of key due dates, review periods, and award announcements is provided below:

• Applicant Webinar: Jan. 17, at 1:00 p.m. PST
• Pre-Proposal Due Date: Feb. 20, by 8:59 p.m. PST
• Full Proposal Due Date: April 23, by 8:59 p.m. PST
• Review Period: May 2024
• Awards Announced: Aug. 2024

Proposals that are of the highest priority for Reclamation’s Klamath River Coho Restoration Grant Program should include riparian and instream habitat restoration and improvements, address fish passage barrier removal, and provide access to cold water pools, as well as design, planning and monitoring activities, and water conservation projects. The grant program efforts in the Klamath River Basin will focus on the mainstem of the Klamath River below Iron Gate Dam and tributaries from Klamath River mile 190 to the Klamath River estuary. The Klamath River Coho Restoration Grant Program is required pursuant to the Endangered Species Act Section 7(a)(2) Biological Opinion, and Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Essential Fish Habitat Response for Klamath Project Operations from April 1, 2019, through March 31, 2024.

Proposals that are of the highest priority for Reclamation’s Trinity River Restoration Program should include activities that improve aquatic habitat to benefit the mainstem fisheries of the Trinity River, with priority to proposals that implement projects identified for the relevant tributary watershed in the Klamath Basin Integrated Fisheries Restoration and Monitoring Plan. Trinity River projects will be directed towards habitat restoration activities within tributary watersheds of the Trinity River between Lewiston Dam and Weitchpec, including the South Fork Trinity River and its tributaries. Reclamation is required to support the Trinity River Restoration Program pursuant to the Record of Decision – Trinity River Mainstem Fishery Restoration Final Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report issued by the Department of the Interior on Dec. 19, 2000.

Proposals that are of the highest priority for USDA NRCS Shasta Valley Regional Conservation Partnership Program should include activities that improve instream flows and water quality throughout the Shasta River watershed by leaving more water instream for longer periods and reducing diversion volume. Shasta Valley projects must be located within the Shasta River watershed, including the Shasta River above county road A12 to Dwinnell Dam, as well as the river’s tributaries, including Big Springs Creek and Parks Creek.

Proposals that are of the highest priority for USDA NRCS Drought Resilience Technical Assistance will implement actions that improve upstream water management, conveyance efficiency, and on-farm water management to enhance instream flows, improve water quality, and address inadequate habitat for fish, wildlife, and invertebrates and occur within the Klamath River Basin below Iron Gate Dam.

For more information about work to protect water and related resources in Klamath Basin:

Klamath Basin Area Office at https://www.usbr.gov/mp/kbao/,
Trinity River Restoration Program at www.trrp.net, and
Klamath Basin Restoration Program at Klamath Basin Restoration Program | NFWF

If you have any questions, contact:

Mary Lee Knecht, 916-978-5100, mgarrisonknecht@usbr.gov 
Rob Blumenthal, 202-857-0166, rob.blumenthal@nfwf.org
Jonathan Groveman, 530-792-5690,  Jonathan.Groveman@usda.gov

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