The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) New Mexico Aquatic Resources Program conserves and restores riparian and wetland areas, aquatic habitats, and water resources (hereafter referred to as aquatic resources) to provide resource values and ecosystem services necessary to achieve the BLM’s multiple use mandate.
Donor Name: Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
Deadline: 04/03/2023
Size of the Grant: $297,000
Grant Duration: 5 years
Details:
The agencies aquatic resources and issues are diverse and include watersheds; riparian-wetland systems; springs, streams, rivers, and groundwater; ponds and lakes; fisheries; water quality; water rights and uses; and aquatic invasive species. These systems also support myriad species of plants, fish, and wildlife; provide ecosystem services such as drinking water, pollination, and nutrient cycling; attenuate wildfires, floods, and drought; and are key to the vitality of local economies and communities. The Program also works to support the thoughtful implementation of other aspects of BLM’s mission (e.g., locatable minerals, fluid minerals, range, forestry recreation, renewable energy), which could either impact aquatic resources or require restoration of such resources to achieve multiple-use and sustained yield management objectives.
The BLM New Mexico Aquatic Resources Program’s core functions include:
- Decision Support: Inventory, assess, and monitor aquatic resources to inform their understanding of condition and trend, guide the BLM’s management activities, and assess regulatory compliance.
- Conservation: Maintain and conserve the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of aquatic resources.
- Restoration: Restore aquatic resources affected by past and present impacts, aquatic invasive species, wildfire, drought, and floods; and increase their resistance, resilience, and adaptability to the impacts of climate change.
- Water Resource Sustainability: Identify the quantity and quality of water required to conserve and restore riparian and wetland areas and aquatic habitats , and secure water rights and protections so sufficient water is physically and legally available for all public land management purposes.
- Environmental Compliance: Ensure full compliance with applicable federal law, Executive Orders, regulations, and policy and with state laws where such compliance does not conflict with federal law mandates.
- Collaboration: Coordinate, cooperate, and consult with federal, state, tribal, and local governments and other programs, partners, and communities, to foster adaptive approaches to conservation and restoration and implement education and outreach programs.
The BLM New Mexico Aquatic Resources Program has an opportunity to work with partner organizations to assist with:
- Contributing to the above-described Program core functions.
- Combating climate change and habitat loss impacts to aquatic resources.
- Restoring and connecting degraded aquatic resources.
- Increasing ecosystem resistance, resilience, and adaptability to drought, wildfires, and floods.
- Determining acceptable levels of hydrologic and ecological change given BLM management objectives.
- Advancing inventory, assessment, and monitoring activities and tools.
- Preventing the establishment and spread of invasive species.
- Increasing public knowledge of aquatic habitats on BLM managed lands, including with a targeted focus on communities of color, low-income families, and rural and indigenous communities.
Funding Information
- Maximum Award $297,000
- Minimum Award $10,000
Eligible Applicants
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
Additional Information on Eligibility
- Individuals and For-Profit Organizations are ineligible to apply for awards under this NOFO.
- This program NOFO does not support entities hiring interns or crews under the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993. The Public Lands Corps Act of 1993, 16 USC, Chapter 37, Subchapter IIPublic Lands Corps, is the only legislative authority that allows BLM to “hire” interns under this authority. Therefore, eligible Youth Conservation Corps may only apply for projects developed under NOFO 15.243 – BLM Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
