Yukon River Salmon Research and Management Assistance

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) receives funds for implementation of the Yukon River Salmon Agreement with Canada which was reached in March 2001. The Yukon River Salmon Act of 2000 authorizes funds for implementation of the Agreement i

Each year, funding is available to support projects that focus on improving the knowledge and conservation of Yukon River salmon, with focus on Chinook and chum, via federal allocations linked to the Yukon Salmon Agreement of the Pacific Salmon Treaty. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service administers a portion of these funds through the Yukon River Salmon Research and Management Fund (R & M Fund).

The intended result of this funding is to improve the understanding of the biology and management of Yukon River salmon species.

Projects that are awarded money from this source will ultimately benefit the rural and urban American and Canadian public that subsist off of the salmon resources of the Yukon River.

This funding is intended to support projects that are focused on improving the understanding of the biology and management of Yukon River Chinook salmon and summer and fall chum salmon. Projects should address one or more of the following categories: (1) assess and achieve fishery management objectives; (2) Building and maintain public support of, and meaningful participation in, salmon resource management; (3) improve understanding of salmon biology and ecology; (4) assess, conserve, and restore salmon habitats. This funding is not intended to fund real property acquisition and/or construction.

This funding is intended to support projects that are focused on improving the understanding of the biology and management of Yukon River Chinook salmon and summer and fall chum salmon. Projects should address one or more of the following categories: (1) assess and achieve fishery management objectives; (2) Building and maintain public support of, and meaningful participation in, salmon resource management; (3) improve understanding of salmon biology and ecology; (4) assess, conserve, and restore salmon habitats. This funding is not intended to fund real property acquisition and/or construction.

The period of performance for projects funded under this program is for approximately one year, starting May 1 and ending no later than June 30, with final reports due and funding spent within 90 days after completion of the project.

Review criteria are based on the application's requirements as posted in the call for proposals. Selections for funding are principally based on the merit of the project and how well the project addresses one or more of the priorities and factors identified in the call for proposals. Applicant's success in previous projects and their ability to successfully and efficiently execute the new project is also taken into consideration. Finally, timeliness in the submission process is also used as a criterion for approval.

Detailed project proposals will be evaluated by an interagency review committee which will provide recommendations to the U.S. Section of the Yukon River Panel (Panel) for final approval. The Panel will review the prioritized list and select proposals to be funded in the spring of each fiscal year. Service staff will notify applicants of review results by either sending them an approval letter stating their selection and a project agreement to sign and return to the Service or by sending written notification to the applicant that the application was not selected. Potential recipients must sign the project agreement and return it before funds can be obligated. Once the potential recipients sign the project agreement, the Service will obligate funds and issue a fully executed Award either electronically or through the mail.

Applicants will receive notice of approval/disapproval within 60 calendar days of submitting an initial proposal and within 60 calendar days of submitting a detailed proposal.

Recipients may request funding for a subsequent year/cycle of a currently funded project. However, these requests are subject to the same submission, review, and approval requirements as all new applications. This program will fund any approved renewal application as a new award, not as an amendment to an existing award. Recipients may request approval for budget and project plan revisions of funded projects, including period of performance and reporting due date extensions, in accordance with 2 CFR 200.