Central Valley Project Improvement Act Habitat Restoration Program Grants for Fiscal Years 2021 and 2022 | R21AS00279

Opportunity Information: Apply for R21AS00279

The Central Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA) Habitat Restoration Program (HRP) Grants for Fiscal Years 2021 and 2022 is a discretionary federal funding opportunity run by the Bureau of Reclamation (in coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) to support on-the-ground conservation work for special-status wildlife species in California that have been affected by the Central Valley Project (CVP). A key point is that this program is focused on non-fish species and their habitats, with a strong emphasis on federally listed threatened and endangered species. The program is built around three big goals: protecting and restoring native habitats impacted by CVP operations, stabilizing and improving populations of native species impacted by the CVP, and helping drive recovery of federal- and state-listed species where CVP impacts have contributed to declines.

Funding is available for four main project types. First, Land Protection supports fee-title acquisition, conservation easements, and potentially other long-term protection tools in places where habitat faces significant threats; notably, at least 50 percent of HRP funding is intended to go to this category. Second, Habitat Restoration supports restoration actions in CVP-impacted habitats when the work would clearly and substantially improve conditions for impacted species. Third, Research supports studies that address species status and habitat needs in ways that directly inform recovery. Fourth, Captive Propagation and/or Reintroduction supports efforts to propagate listed species and reintroduce or bolster populations to increase the number of individuals. Across all project types, the program stresses that a balanced mix of actions is needed, but it places special emphasis on activities considered critical for protection and recovery.

Award sizes are expected to range from $25,000 up to $1,000,000 per project, with roughly 7 to 10 awards anticipated per fiscal year depending on appropriations and the size of selected proposals. Projects can be funded either through a standard grant or through a cooperative agreement. Cooperative agreements are used when Reclamation and/or the Service expect substantial involvement during implementation, such as collaborating with the recipient on project management and providing review, input, and approval at key interim milestones. The maximum period of performance for an award is up to five years from the date the agreement is executed, though the exact project duration is generally driven by the schedule proposed in the application and negotiated into the final award.

Eligibility is tightly defined and tied to the CVPIA’s authority to fund non-federal entities that can implement authorized actions efficiently and cost-effectively. Eligible applicants include government entities (state, county, city/township, and special districts), public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than IHEs). Although the statutory language also references Indian tribes, the posted eligibility list for this specific notice highlights the categories above; in practice, eligibility determinations are made by the Reclamation Grants Officer together with HRP program managers. All proposals must demonstrate an allowable public benefit, since the funding is provided through federal financial assistance mechanisms.

Geography and species priorities are central to whether an application is even considered. Projects are expected to occur within the HRP Priority Project Area in California, as shown on Reclamation’s CVP program map. Applications outside that boundary are generally not considered unless the applicant clearly demonstrates a “CVP nexus,” meaning a defensible relationship or connection between the proposed work and CVP impacts and HRP priorities. Similarly, proposals must focus on HRP Priority Species rated “High” or “Very High.” Projects focusing only on species ranked “Low” or “Medium” are not eligible unless the program has specifically called for that work under a designated Priority Action. In addition, every eligible project must provide significant habitat benefits to at least one CVP-impacted federally listed threatened or endangered species (again, excluding fish), so applicants must be explicit and credible about listed-species benefits and how the work will improve habitat conditions.

The notice also lays out several practical compliance and completeness requirements that can make or break an application. Proposals must conform to HRP goals, address a program Priority Action, follow the required format, and align with the scoring criteria described in the full announcement. Applicants are expected to provide evidence of willing seller or landowner support when the work depends on access to or control of specific parcels. For land protection proposals, the parcels and willing sellers should be identified and backed by written confirmation; the program is clear that funding is tied to the specific parcel(s) named in the proposal and that “replacement lands” are not an option if the original parcel becomes unavailable. For conservation easements, successful applicants must provide a draft easement to HRP managers for review and concurrence before ordering an appraisal. For restoration, field research, and propagation/reintroduction projects, applicants should identify the parcels and provide written landowner permission confirming the owner is willing to allow the activities.

Two important limitations are repeated throughout the opportunity. The HRP cannot fund projects that are meant to satisfy mitigation requirements, and it cannot fund projects that would result in mitigation credits for either the recipient or the landowner. The program also will not fund projects targeted specifically toward benefiting fish. Past performance can matter as well: if an applicant has held federal awards before, evaluators may consider how well the applicant complied with prior reporting, communication, and award terms, and whether the organization was responsive and timely in providing required information.

Finally, the application package itself must be complete and transparent about costs. A budget narrative is mandatory and must be separate from the budget table, and applicants must fully disclose and specify all project costs. Required federal forms are also a hard gate: a completed and signed SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance), SF-424B (Assurances), and the required budget information must be included, and they must be signed by someone legally authorized to commit the organization. The original closing date listed for this specific opportunity was April 27, 2021 (Funding Opportunity Number R21AS00279; CFDA 15.512; activity category Environment), reflecting that this notice covered funding for fiscal years 2021 and 2022 and was designed to ensure competitive selection and public participation in the HRP now that it is posted separately from the associated Central Valley Project Conservation Program.

• The Bureau of Reclamation in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Central Valley Project Improvement Act Habitat Restoration Program Grants for Fiscal Years 2021 and 2022" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.512.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2021-02-25.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-04-27. (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 $1,000,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

Apply for R21AS00279

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