On Water

American Rivers seeks proposals for river restoration project grants as part of its partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Community-based Restoration Program.  Program funding is provided through NOAA's Open Rivers Initiative, which seeks to enable environmental and economic renewal in local communities through the removal of stream barriers.

This Partnership funds stream barrier removal projects that help restore riverine ecosystems, enhance public safety and community resilience, and have clear and identifiable benefits to diadromous fish populations. "Diadromous" fish migrate between freshwater and saltwater during their life cycle.  Examples include alewife, American eel, American shad, blueback herring, salmon, steelhead, shortnose sturgeon and striped bass.  Projects in the Northeast (ME, NH, VT, MA, CT, RI), Mid-Atlantic (NY, NJ, PA, DE, VA, MD, DC), Northwest (WA, OR, ID), and California are eligible to apply.  Projects located within the St. Lawrence/Great Lakes Basin are not eligible for funding in the April 2008 grant round.   

Applications are currently being accepted for the second cycle of fiscal year 2008 with a deadline of April 1, 2008.  Applications for projects must be postmarked by the deadline for consideration in this funding cycle.  Potential applicants should contact American Rivers to discuss potential projects prior to submitting an application.  Applicants can expect notification about funding decisions in early June 2008.

Visit the American Rivers web site for more information about the grants and visit the Dam Removal Clearinghouse for more information about stream and river barrier removal.