A Review of Some Grant-Funded Watershed Projects in Central Illinois: Part IIIllinois Lake Management AssociationGrant Opportunities and Funding Options forLake and Watershed Projects Workshop February 18, 2009

Trent ThomasIllinois Department of Natural ResourcesDivision of Fisheries

I pursued multiple funding sources to earn my spot on the teamConservation 2000

Wildlife Habitat Incentive ProgramEnvironmental Quality Incentive Program

Section 319

Landowner Incentive ProgramState Wildlife GrantFish Habitat Restoration FundIDNRDept. of AgricultureEPAUS Fish & Wildlife Service

Successful Grant FundingUSFWS State Wildlife Grant ($126,981)USFWS Fish Habitat Restoration Fund ($25,000)EPA Section 319: restoration funds ($950,000)EPA Section 319: monitoring funds ($200,000)

IDNR Bike Path Grant ($200,000)IDNR OSLAD Grant ($400,000)National Recreation Trail Grant ($400,000)

City match from Storm Water Utility FundDeveloper match from donated land value

State Wildlife GrantFor implementation of the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan

see handout or http://dnr.state.il.us/orc/wildliferesources/theplan/home.htm

State Wildlife GrantSpecies in Greatest Need of ConservationThe more species you can link to your project the better

For the Kickapoo Creek Project,I was able to link 8 Species in Greatest Need of ConservationSlippershell - STCreek HeelsplitterPondhornRainbow - SEAmerican Brook LampreyLargescale StonerollerHighfin CarpsuckerBanded Topminnow

Links to existing high quality Natural AreasBiologically Significant Stream reach for high mussel diversity about 5 miles downstream from project site

Kickapoo Creek among the most diverse streams of the Sangamon River basin with 51 fish species and 23 mussel species

Conservation Opportunity Areas(COAs)

State Wildlife Grant Funding Cycle January: Request for pre-proposals

Mid-April: Pre-proposals due

August: Applicants notified & full proposals requested

August: Project Manager & Applicants meetingDecember 31: Final Grant Proposals & Grant Agreements due to ORC Federal Aid

March-September: Proposals reviewed by U.S. Fish & Wildlife

Grant duration is for one to three years

State Wildlife Grants$20,000 to $350,000

50:50 Match

Fish Habitat Restoration FundsU.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Chicago Ecological Services Office http://www.fws.gov/midwest/Chicago/fundsources.htm

Challenge Cost-Share and Flex-Funding Grants

Amounts Awarded: Typical $2500-$10,000; Max $25,000

Grant Cycle: Annual; Request for Proposals mailed late summer to early autumn

Bellrose Nature PreserveSugar Creek Stream Enhancement ProjectPartially funded by theLandowner Incentive Program

Landowner Incentive Program (LIP)A cooperative grant program through the US Fish & Wildlife Service, IL Dept. of Natural Resources, Dept. of Agriculture Soil & Water Conservation DistrictsAvailable only in the lower Sangamon River basin and Alton Bluffs areaFor implementation of the Illinois Wildlife Action PlanLast funding cycle: Press Release in April and Applications due by June 1.

Questions?