Comprehensive Review of Central Illinois Watershed Projects & Grant Opportunities

1. A Review of Some Grant-Funded Watershed Projects in Central Illinois: Part II Illinois Lake Management Association Grant Opportunities and Funding Options for Lake and Watershed Projects Workshop February 18, 2009 Trent Thomas Illinois Department of Natural Resources Division of Fisheries

2. I pursued multiple funding sources to earn my spot on the team • Conservation 2000 • Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program • Environmental Quality Incentive Program • Section 319 • Landowner Incentive Program • State Wildlife Grant • Fish Habitat Restoration Fund IDNR Dept. of Agriculture EPA US Fish & Wildlife Service

3. Successful Grant Funding • USFWS 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 Fund • Developer match from donated land value

4. State Wildlife Grant For implementation of the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan see handout or http://dnr.state.il.us/orc/wildliferesources/theplan/home.htm

5. State Wildlife GrantSpecies in Greatest Need of Conservation The more species you can link to your project the better

6. Slippershell - ST Creek Heelsplitter Pondhorn Rainbow - SE American Brook Lamprey Largescale Stoneroller Highfin Carpsucker Banded Topminnow For the Kickapoo Creek Project,I was able to link 8 Species in Greatest Need of Conservation

7. Links to existing high quality Natural Areas • “Biologically 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

8. Conservation Opportunity Areas(COA’s)

9. January: Request for pre-proposals Mid-April: Pre-proposals due August: Applicants notified & full proposals requested August: Project Manager & Applicants meeting December 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 Grant – Funding Cycle

10. State Wildlife Grants $20,000 to $350,000 50:50 Match

11. Fish Habitat Restoration Funds • U.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

12. Bellrose Nature PreserveSugar Creek Stream Enhancement Project Partially funded by the Landowner Incentive Program

16. 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 Districts • Available only in the lower Sangamon River basin and Alton Bluffs area • For implementation of the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan • Last funding cycle: Press Release in April and Applications due by June 1.

17. Questions?