Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network

The National Park Service - Chesapeake Bay Office aims to connect people with the Chesapeake Bay's natural and cultural heritage by supporting conservation, public access, education, and recreation through the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails

NPS Chesapeake technical and financial assistance strategically supports projects and programs that meet DOI's key responsibilities in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act authorizes the NPS to: identify, conserve, restore, and interpret natural, recreational, historical, and cultural resources within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed; identify and utilize the collective resources sites for enhancing public education of and access to the Chesapeake Bay; link sites with trails, tour roads, scenic byways, and other connections; develop and establish watertrails comprising water routes and connections to sites and other land resources within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed; and create a network of sites and watertrails.

PLEASE NOTE: While applicants can be from outside the Chesapeake watershed, only projects that take place in the watershed will be considered. Projects that take place outside the watershed will not be considered.

General Public.

Recipients of financial assistance must comply with all applicable federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations. Local planning offices can provide advice on Federal, state or local permits that will be necessary; and NPS - Chesapeake staff can advise on compliance and permitting processes. As advised by NPS Chesapeake, Recipients may be required to (1) document local support for the project; (2) document consultation with their State Historic Preservation Office, state agencies in charge of endangered species, local planning and zoning officials, and other affected agencies in developing their projects and gaining approval for project implementation; and (3) complete an Environmental Screening Form for their proposed project. All facilities and programming developed with NPS Chesapeake Bay funding must be accessible to persons with disabilities. It is the responsibility of the award recipient to comply with the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968, Section 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 as amended. All construction projects must be designed and engineered in accordance with applicable law. The services of a professional, registered engineer or architect are advised to assure that necessary provisions are being met with respect to public safety, codes, and standards. All projects involving physical development must incorporate specific objectives to "green" the project, such as developing environmentally sensitive designs, incorporating low impact development approaches (e.g., incorporating storm water management, rain gardens, pervious surfaces, green roofs, etc.), incorporating eco-friendly materials into structural elements of your project, utilizing native, non-invasive plant species, and using green procurement practices. All projects proposed to develop new or enhanced public water access facilities must develop one or more of the following types of public water access facilities: boat-related access, swimming access, fishing access and/or viewing access for water, wildlife, and shoreline areas. For proposed development projects located on the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, NPS Chesapeake Office may supply standardized CAJO trail-marking and orientation, and possibly interpretation, signage appropriate to the site.

Assistance length and time depends on project complexity. Funds are available from the start date to the end date of the period of performance. The project period is set by the requirements of the project but is typically for a time period not to exceed 24 months.

This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Specific evaluation criteria will be included in the funding announcements posted on www.grants.gov. Specific priorities include: • Supporting implementation of new water access sites along the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, with a priority on sites on the lower James and York Rivers, lower Potomac River and lower Susquehanna River segments. • Providing interpretation, media, visitor services, and educational programming (especially on-water programming) focused on Chesapeake Bay natural and cultural resources at visitor contact stations and associated sites on the lower James and York Rivers, lower Potomac River and lower Susquehanna River segments as well as through the mobile Roving Ranger program. • Fostering public engagement in conservation, recreation, and resource stewardship through the mobile Roving Ranger offered at partner parks and sites. • Supporting increased visibility of the Chesapeake's special places through expansion of Find Your Chesapeake and related web media. • Providing front-line staff and interpretive guide training and resources on Chesapeake themes. • Expanding youth engagement through the Chesapeake Youth Corps program through teams in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia and Kids in Kayaks program. • Advancing local, state, private, and federal collaborative conservation in the watershed through activities and initiatives that support Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement outcomes, including supporting the Chesapeake Conservation Partnership and high-priority land conservation targets. • Identifying, documenting and planning for landscapes and sites important to American Indian tribes within the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Proposals received in response announcements on grants.gov are reviewed on the basis of a competitive, merit-based review process, and are rated in accordance with the evaluation criteria stated in the announcement. Awards may be made to the highest rated proposals based on the amount of funding available each year.

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 Program Manager listed as the point of contact. Generally 30 - 120 days.

None. Final award decisions are not subject to appeal; however, the National Park Service will provide applicants with information on why their proposals were not selected for award, upon request.