Financial assistance agreement project abstract agreement requirements funding opportunity number: f-FWS-FAC-24-0542024 national fish habitat action plan 15.686 fish and wildlife management assistance…

This federal Cooperative Agreement award from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the National Fish Habitat Partnership program (CFDA 15.686) provides $196,607 in funding to the Valley Stewardship Network, a non-profit organization in Wisconsin. The funding will support the organization's efforts to work with local farmer-led watershed councils and the Hill Country Watershed Alliance to promote regenerative watershed stewardship practices. Key activities include providing technical assistance, developing watershed plans, establishing prairie strips, and conducting water quality monitoring. The award aims to engage an estimated 50 farmers, plant 20 acres of native prairie strips, support 36 watershed council meetings and events, and complete initial steps for a 9-key element watershed plan. The project will run from August 1, 2024 through July 31, 2026.

Financial assistance agreement project abstract agreement requirements funding opportunity number: f-FWS-FAC-24-0542024 national fish habitat action plan 15.686 fish and wildlife management assistance fish wildlife restoration to provide technical and financial assistance to other federal agencies, states, local governments, native american tribes, non-governmental organizations, citizen groups, and landowners on the conservation and management of fish and wildlife resources, including minimizing the establishment, spread, and impact of aquatic invasive species. Requirements purpose of award (summary of the goals and objectives of the project): with fishers and farmers funding, valley stewardship network will support landowner-led councils in four watersheds, assist with development of the umbrella group, hill country watershed alliance, plant prairie strips, and conduct water quality assessments in the kickapoo region of southwest wisconsin.summary of project specific activities: a. Provide organizational support and assist with watershed wide management goals for the tainter creek farmer-led watershed council, west fork neighbors watershed council, bad AXE watershed stewards, coon creek community watershed council, and rush creek watershed conservation council. B. Support development of the hill country watershed alliance, including facilitating setup of an accounting system and providing bookkeeping. C. Complete a 9 key element watershed plan for the timber coulee subwatershed of coon creek and begin watershed planning steps for one additional watershed.d. Conduct outreach and planting for prairie strips. E. Conduct water quality monitoring at 27 sampling sites.performance goals including milestones and expected outcomes: 1. Consult directly with an estimated 50 farmers and landowners in five watersheds to promote regenerative watershed stewardship practices. 2. Manage, demonstrate, monitor, and promote prairie strips and other watershed stewardship practices with council partners. 3. Plant 20 acres with native prairie strips and follow-up with landowners to ensure that preparation and after-planting care is continuing. 4. Support existing watershed councils for 36 meetings and events through watershed stewardship technical assistance and outreach. 5. Provide networking, resources, and logistics support for the continued development of the hill country watershed alliance. 6. Complete initial steps of 9 key elements watershed plans in one additional watershed based on activities in coon creek. 7. Collect water quality samples at 27 stream locations once per month from august-OCT 2024 and may-OCT2025. 8. Analyze data to compare water quality parameters with pre-project data collected since 2015. Beneficiaries: valley stewardship network hill country watershed alliance