Cooperative Agreement 301818J117

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service awarded a $208,028 Cooperative Agreement to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources under the National Wildlife Refuge System Enhancements program (CFDA 15.654) to restore and enhance wetland habitats on Waterfowl Production Areas in the state's Prairie Pothole region. The project aims to restore uplands and wetlands to improve wildlife habitat, carbon sequestration, groundwater recharge, and flood resiliency within seven priority wetland complexes managed...

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) awarded a $1,000,000 Project Grant under the National Wildlife Refuge System Enhancements program (CFDA 15.654) to the South Dakota Game Fish & Parks Wildlife Division. The grant funding will be used to directly restore, enhance, create, or manage 5,000 acres of grassland and wetland habitat in the Prairie Pothole Region of South Dakota by September 30, 2026. The key activities include seeding 1,300 acres of new native grasses and forbs, removing or...

The Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 9 Headquarters awarded Ducks Unlimited Inc. $2,114,031 under the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund program to permanently protect, enhance, and restore wetlands and associated uplands in South Dakota. Funds will be used to acquire conservation easements on 2,190 acres, enhance 5,330 acres, and restore 705 acres of wetlands and habitat in the Prairie Pothole Region for the benefit of migratory birds and wildlife. Work will be...

This federal Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service under the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund (CFDA 15.623) will provide $4,444,071 to The Nature Conservancy of Canada to secure and enhance wetland and upland habitat within the Prairie Habitat Joint Venture region in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. The grant will fund the permanent protection of at least 350 acres of wetlands and 1,325 acres of associated uplands through fee-simple...

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service awarded a $5,950,000 Project Grant under the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund (CFDA 15.623) to The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC). This 3-year grant, awarded on January 1, 2024, supports activities that contribute to the Prairie Habitat Joint Venture's vision of healthy and diverse prairie, parkland, and boreal landscapes. Key project activities include: Securing at least 700 acres of wetlands and 2,119 acres of associated upland habitat through...

The Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 9 Headquarters awarded Pheasants Forever, Inc. a $3,037,662 Project Grant under the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund program. Funds will be used to permanently protect 704.20 acres through fee title acquisition, enhance 682.90 acres, and restore 370.45 acres of wetlands and associated uplands in Minnesota's Prairie Pothole Region. Completing these conservation activities will benefit migratory birds and other wildlife by...

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources received a $980,000 Project Grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the National Wildlife Refuge System Enhancements program (CFDA 15.654). The award will fund a landscape-scale wetland and grassland restoration project located in the Prairie Pothole Region of Iowa. The project aims to restore or enhance 250 acres of wetland habitat and 200 acres of upland habitat by December 31, 2028. Key activities include addressing invasive species,...

The Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 9 Headquarters awarded $241,500 under the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund program to acquire a 292-acre conservation easement in northeastern Montana. The Nature Conservancy will use the June 28, 2022 award to prohibit destructive land uses that could degrade critical habitat along the migration pathway for northern sage steppe pronghorn. The easement encompasses wetlands, riparian woodlands, and grasslands important to...

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), under a $162,534 cooperative agreement from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), will enhance wetland habitats on ten Waterfowl Production Areas in priority prairie pothole complexes in Iowa from July 1, 2023 to December 31, 2025. FWS and IDNR will oversee restoration projects including repairing and enhancing wetland basins, seeding a newly acquired area from cropland to prairie, and developing long-range management plans. The work...

The U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 9 Headquarters awarded Pheasants Forever, Inc. a $3.96 million Project Grant under the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund program to permanently protect 987.77 acres of land through fee title acquisition, enhance 467.9 acres, and restore 330.45 acres of wetlands and associated uplands in Minnesota. The total funding will support conserving 1,786.12 acres of habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife in the state from...