EBTJV FY27 Funding to Open Monday June 22
Intro:
The Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture (EBTJV), as one of the 20 partnerships under the National Fish Habitat Partnership, will open its FY27 funding opportunity on June 22. Come back or Sign up for EBTJV e-news to hear when it is announced.
Each year, the EBTJV requests project proposals that are focused on conserving and restoring habitat that will support healthy and productive populations of wild brook trout. Federal funding is available through the National Fish Habitat Partnership as outlined under the America’s Conservation Enhancement Act of 2020 (Ace Act), re-authorized in 2025.
Dates and important awarding steps:
June 22 - RFP opens. A short pre-proposal form will go live later in the day.
June-July 15 - Applicants need to initiate communication with state or federal agency EBTJV contact about the location and project methods.
July 15 - Pre-application due by applicant to EBTJV, via online form.
Early August: From the pre-proposal applicant pool we will be selecting five applicants to advance to the full proposal stage.
September 2 - Deadline for full proposals, including support letter from state or federal agency contact.
November 15 - Deadline for the EBTJV to submit a compiled project list for consideration by the National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP).
Winter - NFHP submits a project list from all 20 FHPs to the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
May-June 2027 - NFHP project list decision or approval by USFWS, award notices and funding amounts determined. This step is dependent on the federal budget and out of the control of EBTJV or NFHP. We anticipate that the EBTJV allocation will allow funds for 1-2 projects at $50,000 each.
May-June 2027 - Selected applicants must submit additional project information and award agreement paperwork (such as budget, scope of work, compliance documents) to the USFWS before funds are distributed.
Summer 2027 - after FWS approves the grant agreement, projects may begin grant-funded activities.
Funding notes:
Due to limited funding this year we expect 1-2 project awards to be funded this cycle.
Award notifications are dependent on the federal FY27 budget and are anticipated to be announced in the spring of 2027.
What types of projects does EBTJV support?
In short, we are most interested in projects that improve brook trout populations through habitat improvements that address the root reason brook trout have declined in that catchment. There is also a priority on activities that improve or maintain public access, that improve fishing opportunities, and that educate and involve the local community. Recent projects are showcased on the EBTJV website, and include actions such as culvert replacement, strategic wood addition, removal of non-native salmonids and repatriation of brook trout guided by genetics, and riparian restoration.
Funds can only be used for on the-ground brook trout habitat conservation and restoration projects in the native eastern range, and related design and monitoring activities; they may not be used for research projects.
Examples of past year RFP and winning projects can be found at https://easternbrooktrout.org/projects
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