This cooperative agreement approves federal funds of $55,000,000 and awards funds of $10,000,000 to the national fish and wildlife foundation (nfwf) for administration of the small watershed grants…

This cooperative agreement approves federal funds of $55,000,000 and awards funds of $10,000,000 to the national fish and wildlife foundation (nfwf) for administration of the small watershed grants (SWG) program. The purpose of SWG is to promote community-based efforts that develop and implement conservation strategies that protect and restore the chesapeake BAY and its watershed in support of the goals and outcomes of the 2014 chesapeake BAY watershed agreement and any future watershed agreements. Federal funds of $45,000,000 are contingent upon availability. Activities:activities that will be performed under this award include implementation of a competitive SWG subaward program; technical and grants management assistance to develop capacity to manage federal funding and deliver on-the-ground watershed restoration and conservation efforts; monitoring, reporting, and evaluation to ensure comprehensive understanding, accounting, and communicating of the SWG program's environmental outcomes and to support ongoing adaptive management efforts that enhance outcomes through time; and networking, information-sharing, communications, and outreach to promote program awareness, engagement, and shared learning.subrecipient:nfwf will issue subawards on a competitive basis to local governments and nonprofit organizations in the chesapeake BAY region working to improve the condition of their local watersheds while building community-based stewardship.outcomes:the SWG program supports advancement of the chesapeake BAY program partnership's achievement of the goals and outcomes of the chesapeake BAY watershed agreement. The expected outcome is the creation, restoration, protection, or enhancement of living resources and habitats associated with the chesapeake BAY ecosystem, as well as improved organizational ability to advance environmental and community goals within the chesapeake BAY and its watershed. Beneficiaries include local governments and environmental organizations, the chesapeake BAY program partnership, and residents of the chesapeake BAY watershed.