Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act
Active
- Assistance listing
- 15.517
- Agency
-
Bureau of Reclamation
Department of the Interior
- Grant awards
- 793 $553,336,583 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Assistance types
-
- Cooperative Agreement
- Project Grant
- Block Grant
- Formula Grant
- Treasury account
-
- 14-0680-0-1-301
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation provides grants and cooperative agreements (CFDA 15.517) to improve fish and wildlife habitat associated with water systems affected by Reclamation projects, with the most recent award disbursed on October 1, 2025.
The program funds concrete habitat restoration and fish recovery activities across western water systems. Recent awards exemplify the portfolio scope: the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation received $144,500 to establish an aquatic invasive species monitoring program on Lake Roosevelt and Lake Rufus Woods; Sterling Wildlife Management Area received $519,971 to continue riparian habitat management and enhancement near American Falls Dam in Idaho; and a $5 million award supported the Yakima River Basin to procure water from irrigation districts and implement water stargrass removal to improve instream flows for fish. The program also funds invasive mussel prevention—watercraft inspection and decontamination stations, monitoring infrastructure, and regional coordination—along with genetic monitoring of native fish populations, endangered species recovery planning, riparian restoration, and scientific research on fish passage and habitat conditions.
Awards are predominantly Project Grants (512 awards, 65 percent) with a substantial share of Cooperative Agreements (276 awards, 35 percent). The Bureau of Reclamation dominates the program's funding portfolio, accounting for 791 of 793 awards obligating $551.8 million in federal dollars. Combined federal and non-federal dollars obligated total $676.9 million, indicating meaningful cost-share participation from recipients.
Recent award cadence runs 25 to 42 awards per year over the past five years, with 793 total awards spanning from 1908 onward. The most recent grant opportunity (R24AS00294, posted March 27, 2024, due June 3, 2024) invited proposals for FY 2024 activities in support of Reclamation's Yuma Area Office endangered species and environmental restoration programs. Eligible applicants include state and local governments, nonprofits, federally recognized tribes, tribal organizations, higher education institutions, and small businesses. No recently posted opportunities are currently open.
Objective and description
- Objective
To provide financial assistance, through grants or cooperative agreements, to public or private organizations for the improvement of fish and wildlife habitat associated with water systems or water supplies affected by Bureau of Reclamation projects.
- Description
To provide financial assistance, through grants or cooperative agreements, to public or private organizations for the improvement of fish and wildlife habitat associated with water systems or water supplies affected by Bureau of Reclamation projects.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
State and local governments, nonprofit organizations and institutions, public and private institutions and organizations, Federally recognized Indian Tribal Governments, individuals, small businesses, for-profit organizations, and Native American Organizations.
- Beneficiary eligibility
Anyone/general public, governmental entities, Tribal governments, Native American organizations, and/or public or private organizations in the specific project area.
- Uses of assistance
In accordance with the delegation of authority to the Bureau of Reclamation in the Department of the Interior Department Manual, Part 255, Chapter 1, Section 1.1.B, projects are limited to the improvement of fish and wildlife habitat associated with water systems or water supplies affected by Bureau of Reclamation projects, and in isolated cases, off-site locations not affected by Bureau of Reclamation projects.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Projects are generally awarded for 1 to 5 years.
How to apply
- Preapplication coordination
Environmental compliance for this program may be required depending on the scope of the specific project funded. This may result in the need for an environment impact assessment or environmental impact statement prior to the commencement of project activities.
- Criteria for selecting proposals
Specific evaluation criteria will be included in the funding announcements posted on www.grants.gov.
- Award procedure
For competitive awards: Proposals received in response to the Announcement were reviewed on the basis of a competitive, merit-based review process, and are rated in accordance with the evaluation criteria stated in the Announcement. Reclamation will make awards to the highest rated proposals based on the amount of funding available each year. For single-source awards, a Notice of Intent to Award is announced on www.grants.gov providing justification for the noncompetitive research award.
- Time to approval or disapproval
Varies depending on the type and complexity of the project. Further information will be available for each specific project at the time the funding opportunity announcement is posted on www.grants.gov and may be obtained by contacting the Reclamation personnel listed as the point of contact in the funding announcement.
- Renewals
If renewals or extensions are applicable to the project, this information will be included in the funding opportunity announcement. When renewals or extensions are applicable, continuation of funding for these activities is at the discretion of Congress and will be subject to availability of appropriated funds.
- Appeals
None. Final award decisions are not subject to appeal; however, the Bureau of Reclamation will provide all applicants with information on why their proposals were not selected for award.
Grant opportunities
Show 40 more
Latest 50 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 793 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | State Of California Department Of Water Resources | $267,559,287 | 48% |
| 2 | Kittitas Reclamation District | $44,066,887 | 8% |
| 3 | Farmers Conservation Alliance | $33,146,668 | 6% |
| 4 | California Department Of Fish & Wildlife | $20,963,167 | 4% |
| 5 | Lewiston Orchards Irrigation District | $18,835,600 | 3% |
| 6 | National Fish And Wildlife Foundation | $16,122,540 | 3% |
| 7 | County OF, Chelan | $13,221,699 | 2% |
| 8 | The Freshwater Trust | $10,933,766 | 2% |
| 9 | Arizona Dept Of Game And Fish | $8,800,694 | 2% |
| 10 | City Of Yuma | $8,779,400 | 2% |
10 of 165 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | -$1,557,631 |
| FY2025 | $51,010,888 |
| FY2024 | $232,680,189 |
| FY2023 | $83,534,530 |
| FY2022 | $51,273,656 |
| FY2021 | $25,668,582 |
| FY2020 | $26,576,977 |
| FY2019 | $35,413,186 |
| FY2018 | $24,011,780 |
| FY2017 | $29,059,883 |
| FY2016 | $22,201,423 |
| FY2015 | $21,680,625 |
| FY2014 | $24,747,861 |
| FY2010 | $15,375,627 |
| FY2009 | $20,616,094 |
| FY2008 | $31,737,350 |
| FY2007 | $10,138,460 |
| FY2006 | $2,136,433 |
| FY2005 | $30,958 |
| FY2004 | $120,535 |
| FY2003 | $102,146 |
Show all 21
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 15.517?
Assistance Listing 15.517 is Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, a federal grant program run by Bureau of Reclamation (Department of the Interior).
What is the CFDA number for Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act?
Its CFDA number is 15.517: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 15.517 awarded?
793 grant awards under 15.517 have obligated $553,336,583 in federal funds to 165 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 15.517?
The recipients obligated the most under Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act are State Of California Department Of Water Resources ($267,559,287), Kittitas Reclamation District ($44,066,887) and Farmers Conservation Alliance ($33,146,668).
How much did 15.517 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 15.517 obligated $51,010,888 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 15.517?
None of the latest 50 opportunities under 15.517 is open now. The latest, Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act Program Financial Assistance for Fiscal Year 2024, was posted on March 27, 2024.
On GovTribe
See this program's full record
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