NOAA's Restoring Fish Passage through Barrier Removal Grants Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law- Round 3 | NOAA NMFS HCPO 2025 29043

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is NOAA's Restoring Fish Passage through Barrier Removal Grants (Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Round 3)?

This is a discretionary federal funding opportunity from NOAA focused on reopening rivers and streams for native migratory and sea-run fish by removing dams and other in-stream barriers. The goal is to restore fish passage in ways that produce durable, measurable biological results while also improving watershed health, supporting resilient ecosystems and communities, and strengthening local economies (including job creation tied to restoration work).

What law funds this opportunity?

Funding comes from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law), Public Law 117-58.

Which NOAA office administers this grant program?

NOAA's Office of Habitat Conservation administers this opportunity through the Community-based Restoration Program.

What is the core purpose of the program?

The core purpose is to restore fish passage by removing dams and other in-stream barriers, reopening habitat for U.S. native migratory and sea-run fish, and delivering lasting, measurable biological outcomes. The program also emphasizes watershed health, climate resilience, and community and economic co-benefits.

What types of fish must the project benefit?

Projects are expected to directly benefit U.S. migratory fish populations as defined by the program's objective, including native migratory and sea-run fish.

What are NOAA's main program priorities for this funding round?

NOAA is looking for proposals that clearly align with four priorities:

• Delivering measurable and lasting benefits for migratory fish populations.
• Improving community resilience to climate-related hazards while generating additional co-benefits.
• Advancing regionally important habitat restoration goals.
• Providing benefits to, and meaningfully engaging, underserved communities, including through partnerships with Indian tribes and other Indigenous communities.

What kinds of outcomes does NOAA highlight as especially relevant?

Competitive proposals may explain how the work advances one or more highlighted outcomes, such as:

• Helping recover threatened or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act.
• Sustaining or rebuilding fish stocks and prey species managed under the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
• Improving passage for native Great Lakes fish.
• Supporting the sustainability of saltwater recreational fisheries.
• Boosting climate resilience by addressing aging infrastructure and delivering related co-benefits (especially for tribal, Indigenous, and underserved communities).
• Enabling hydroelectric license surrender leading to removal of dams that are no longer economically viable or do not provide significant public benefits.

What activities are eligible for funding?

The eligible activity range spans the full project pipeline, including:

• Early-phase project development (for example, feasibility studies).
• Technical preparation, including engineering and design.
• Permitting.
• On-the-ground implementation to remove barriers or restore fish passage.
• Pre- and post-removal monitoring to document ecological outcomes.
• Robust community engagement processes, explicitly including tribal, Indigenous, and underserved communities.
• Capacity-building for restoration partners managing complex, multi-partner construction efforts.
• Education and outreach.

Does NOAA prefer barrier removal over fish passage structures?

Yes. In scoring, projects centered on full barrier removal are favored over projects that install structures requiring ongoing operations and maintenance.

Can an applicant propose work at more than one site?

Yes. Applicants can propose work at multiple sites across a watershed or defined geographic area, but they should clearly explain how the set of sites works together toward larger watershed-scale outcomes.

How long does NOAA expect projects to take?

NOAA signals a preference for actions most likely to be completed within a 2 to 3 year window, and proposals with a high certainty of execution during the award period are prioritized.

What is the anticipated period of performance?

NOAA anticipates most projects will have a three-year period of performance.

What award mechanism will NOAA use?

Awards will be made as cooperative agreements, reflecting NOAA's intent to remain substantially involved during project implementation.

How much funding can an applicant request?

Typical federal funding levels are expected to fall between $3 million and $5 million over three years. The minimum request is $750,000, and the maximum award ceiling is $8 million.

How many awards does NOAA expect to make in this round?

NOAA expects to make about 25 awards under this round.

What is the CFDA number and Funding Opportunity Number for this program?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 11.463. The Funding Opportunity Number is NOAA NMFS HCPO 2025 29043.

What is the application deadline?

The original closing date is February 10, 2025.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes:

• State, county, and city or township governments.
• Special district governments.
• Public and private institutions of higher education.
• Federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations.
• Nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)).
• For-profit organizations (including small businesses).
• U.S. territories.

Can federal agencies or federal employees apply?

No. Federal agencies and federal employees cannot apply directly. However, NOAA encourages federal partners to collaborate with eligible applicants.

Are there geographic restrictions for Great Lakes proposals?

Yes. Great Lakes proposals must be located within the Great Lakes basin and within one of the eight U.S. Great Lakes states: New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, or Minnesota.

Are there geographic restrictions for U.S. commonwealths and territories?

Yes. Proposals from U.S. commonwealths and territories must be located in American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or Puerto Rico.

How does NOAA treat equity and community engagement in this program?

Equity, community benefit, and meaningful participation are built into program expectations. NOAA emphasizes diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility principles and encourages proactive, fair, and genuine engagement in identifying, designing, and implementing projects.

What does NOAA expect regarding underserved communities and tribal/Indigenous engagement?

Applicants are encouraged to describe how benefits will flow to tribal, Indigenous, and underserved communities, identify whether the project occurs within those communities, and show how local or Indigenous knowledge will be appropriately elevated in design, implementation, and evaluation. Partnerships with Indian tribes and other Indigenous communities are explicitly encouraged.

How is this opportunity connected to the Justice40 Initiative?

The opportunity connects to the Justice40 Initiative (Executive Order 14008), which sets a government-wide goal that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities that have been historically overburdened by pollution and underinvestment.

What makes a proposal more competitive based on the information provided?

Based on NOAA's stated preferences, competitive proposals tend to: clearly align with the four program priorities; propose actions with high certainty of execution within roughly 2 to 3 years; demonstrate durable, measurable biological results for migratory fish; make a strong case for watershed-scale outcomes (including when proposing multiple sites); prioritize full barrier removal; and embed meaningful engagement and tangible benefits for underserved communities, including tribal and Indigenous communities.