Alaska BLM Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Program | L20AS00048

Opportunity Information: Apply for L20AS00048

The Alaska BLM Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Program (Funding Opportunity Number L20AS00048) is a discretionary federal grant offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM). It is structured as a cooperative agreement, which generally means the selected recipient and BLM are expected to work closely together during project implementation rather than operating completely independently. The program falls under the Natural Resources funding activity category and is listed under CFDA 15.244.

The main purpose of the opportunity is to support on-the-ground and technical work that helps maintain, protect, restore, and reconnect aquatic habitats on BLM-managed public lands in Alaska. The BLM is focused on improving habitat conditions across lakes, wetlands, rivers, streams, and riparian areas (the transitional zones along waterways). Projects supported under this program are intended to benefit both native aquatic species and game species by restoring ecological function, improving connectivity, and strengthening overall habitat quality.

A second major goal is improving recreational fishing opportunities on BLM lands. This includes efforts aimed at conserving and restoring habitat in ways that increase fish productivity, sustain healthier fish populations, and ultimately enhance both the quality and quantity of angling experiences available to the public. In practice, this can involve actions that directly affect fish habitat conditions, as well as work that supports long-term resiliency of aquatic systems so they can better withstand stressors such as changing hydrology, erosion, habitat fragmentation, or other pressures.

The opportunity also emphasizes the importance of data-driven management. Activities may include collecting, analyzing, and applying habitat and water resource data needed to make effective decisions about aquatic resource protection and restoration. This could involve assessments of habitat condition, water availability, stream function, wetland health, riparian stability, or related resource indicators that help guide where treatments are needed and how successful they are. The program additionally calls for applying professional expertise not only to improve ecological outcomes, but also to evaluate and improve the public experience on BLM lands, aligning conservation results with practical recreational and public-use benefits.

Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in that nonprofit category). This mix of eligible applicants suggests BLM is looking to partner with agencies, tribes, universities, and conservation organizations that can bring technical capacity, local knowledge, and on-the-ground implementation ability to aquatic restoration and fisheries-related work.

In terms of funding scale and timing, the maximum award amount listed is $50,000, and the program anticipated making about four awards. The opportunity opened on January 22, 2020 and closed on March 23, 2020, with applications due by 5:00 PM Alaska Standard Time on the closing date. Applications were required to be submitted in English, and late submissions were not accepted or reviewed.

• The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Alaska BLM Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.244.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jan 22, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 23, 2020 Open from January 22, 2020 through March 23, 2020. Applications must be submitted by 500 PM AST on March 23, 2020. Applications must be submitted in English. Late applications will not be accepted or reviewed.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $50,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

Apply for L20AS00048

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: