Delaware River Restoration Fund. Dedicated to restoring the water quality and habitats of the Delaware River and its tributaries.

Transcription

1 Delaware River Restoration Fund Dedicated to restoring the water quality and habitats of the Delaware River and its tributaries.

2 General Session Agenda 1pm 2pm 1. Webinar Instructions 2. Introduction to NFWF 3. Overview of Delaware River Restoration Fund 4. Review of Request for Proposals Grant Categories Priorities Evaluation Guidelines 5. Using EasyGrants 6. Frequently Asked Questions 7. Q&A Rachel Dawson Program Director, Delaware River (202) Jessica Lillquist Coordinator, Delaware River (202)

3 Webinar Instructions To improve sound quality, all participants will be muted during the webinar. If you want to ask a question, you have three options: 1. Enter your query where it says [Enter a question for staff] and click send. We will type a response or read your question aloud when we pause for Q&A. 2. If sound quality holds up, we will unmute you during Q&A sessions. 3. Make a note of your question and contact us after the webinar. We may ask you to raise your hand in the webinar dialogue box to confirm participants can hear us. If you experience a technical glitch, please type it into the question box, since we can t hear you. (We may not know about the glitch unless you say something!) This webinar will be posted at next week

4 Introduction to NFWF WHO WE ARE Chartered by Congress in member Board appointed by Secretary of the Interior Includes FWS Director & NOAA Administrator WHAT WE DO Sustain, restore, enhance the nation s natural heritage Bring collaboration among federal agencies & private funders Create common ground among diverse interests HOW WE DO IT Leverage private money with public funding average 3:1 On-the-ground conservation projects through competitive grant making

5 How Do We Do It Non-Federal Partners Corporations Foundations Private Donors States NGOs Mitigation & Settlements $ $ Federal Government Appropriations Cooperative Agreements Convener of focused, leveraged funding & leadership for priority wildlife & habitat conservation through grant making

6 Annual grant program for restoration in the Delaware River watershed > $2 million per year, majority for water quality Other public and private funding under development

7 Overview of Grant Categories Targeted Implementation Grants Cluster Cornerstone Grants Habitat Restoration Grants Funding Availability $50,000-$250,000 Up to $500,000 $50,000-$250,000 Required Match 25%, but more encouraged 50% (1:1) match strongly encouraged 50% (1:1) match strongly encouraged and may be require for some funds Eligible Entities Non-profits, local governments, municipal governments, Indian tribes, and educational institutions (limited primarily to DRWI Cluster teams and their partners see list on web) Non-profits, local governments, municipal governments, Indian tribes, and educational institutions (limited primarily to DRWI Cluster teams and their partners see list on web) Non-profits, local governments, municipal governments, Indian tribes, and educational institutions Project Focuses Deliver Cluster restoration strategies in focus areas; for on-the-ground water quality improvements Large-scale, strategic implementation projects for water quality improvement in focus areas; Address multiple restoration priorities in RFP and, ideally, multiple Cluster restoration strategies Delivering new Delaware River Watershed business plan; strategies for improving nearshore habitat, aquatic habitat, and forest habitat; see maps associated with business plan for geographic priorities Eligible Clusters Kirkwood-Cohansey, New Jersey Highlands, Middle Schuylkill, Schuylkill Highlands, Brandywine-Christina, Poconos-Kittatinny and Suburban Philadelphia (refer to the RFP for specific clusters associated with the three TIG priorities per Cluster plans) Brandywine-Christina, Middle Schuylkill, Kirkwood-Cohansey, New Jersey Highlands, Poconos-Kittatinny, Schuylkill Highlands and Suburban Philadelphia Not bound by DRWI clusters; some Clusters overlap with geographic priorities

8 Targeted Implementation Grants Priorities Conservation on Working Lands Farms and Forests Reducing pollutants entering headwater streams; conserving water Restoring and protecting forested buffers Whole Farm management Peer-to-peer tech transfer Leveraging Farm Bill programs and $$$ Where? Brandywine-Christina Middle Schuylkill Kirkwood-Cohansey Poconos and Kittatinny Schuylkill Highlands New Jersey Highlands

9 Targeted Implementation Grants Priorities Restoring Streams, Floodplains and Wetlands Restoring and enhancing stream buffer, floodplain, wetland function Restoring/addressing altered stream hydrology Improving infiltration, flood retention, erosion Increasing adoption and engagement Where? Brandywine-Christina Kirkwood-Cohansey New Jersey Highlands Poconos and Kittatinny Suburban Philadelphia

10 Targeted Implementation Grants Priorities Green Stormwater Infrastructure in Urban/Suburban Landscape Store and infiltrate stormwater Restoring and enhancing stream buffers and natural stream hydrology Where? Kirkwood-Cohansey New Jersey Highlands Schuylkill Highlands Suburban Philadelphia

11 Cluster Cornerstone Grants Priorities Overview Establish a project leadership team with several partners with defined roles. Create a clear work plan with feasible timeline Address multiple priorities described in the Targeted Implementation Grants Complement other existing or planned Cluster projects (aggregate!) and implement pollution source reduction strategies Integrate data collection, employ adaptive management, and incorporate information-sharing mechanisms Include monitoring in coordination with ANS and citizen monitoring efforts Consult with NFWF and Circuit Riders Outcomes Methods and lessons serve to establish DRWI models that collaboratively advance Cluster efforts to achieve goals Provide case studies for the DRWI Achieve strategic and coordinated habitat and water quality restoration

12 Example: 2016 Cluster Cornerstone Project Brandywine-Christina Cluster partners include: Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art Stroud Water Resource Center Brandywine Red Clay Alliance. Collaborative effort to capitalize on partner strengths to restore 15.5 square miles of headwaters of the West Branch Brandywine River, predominantly Plain Sect constituency Components include: Educating and incentivizing farmers and landowners Providing technical assistance Leveraging state and federal resources Implementing a suite of agricultural best management practices for water quality improvement (fencing, riparian buffers, and completed farm conservation plans). Detailed workplan of activities to achieve objectives, with clear partner roles and timeline.

13 Reminders for Cluster Cornerstone Projects Consult with your Circuit Riders, other TA and NFWF staff Please refrain from applying to more than one category with the same project activities Strategically utilize various partners with clearly defined roles Up to $500,000 each Match of at least 50% strongly encouraged

14 Habitat Restoration Grants Priorities Nearshore Habitat Address threats to shorebirds (especially red knot) in the Delaware Bay. Increase high quality beach habitat, reducing impacts of human and wildlife disturbances Identifying priority sites for living shorelines Aquatic Habitat Outcomes: Improve coastal habitat and resilience Improve in-stream habitat Improve forest conditions Restore eastern brook trout habitat through barrier removals and actions to improve water quality. Filling knowledge gaps will also be appropriate (e.g. barrier or population assessments) Identify priority restoration sites for alosine species through the development of evaluation criteria for habitat suitability and existing barriers to connectivity Forest Habitat Improve management of forest blocks for age and structural diversity. Work with private, family-owned woodlands especially in the Upper Delaware to protect and improve wildlife habitat.

15 Proposal Evaluation Criteria Program Goals and Priorities Technical Merit Work Plan Partnership Transferability Cluster Plan and Context Monitoring Letters of Support Budget Matching Contributions

16 Grant Guidelines: Highlights (READ THEM ALL!) Projects must start within 6 months and be completed 2 years from award Provide measurable outputs and outcomes, choose your metrics wisely Plan to measure progress towards achieving them If you haven t thought about permits yet, START NOW! Start collecting your letters of support (write templates for your partners) 25% match required, at least 1:1 is strongly encouraged; 1:1 is required for Habitat Restoration Grants WPF operations grants do not count toward minimum match Pursuant to OMB rules, indirect is allowed please review the policy on our website Indirect Cost Calculator:

17 How to Apply to NFWF EasyGrants System Tips: 1. Log in with existing and password. Register now if you do not have one this will allow for time to familiarize yourself with the system. If you have trouble logging in, use the help feature. 2. Turn off your pop-up blockers. 3. Download and use the tip sheet available on the program webpage. 4. You can work on the narrative offline just download the document and upload when you re finished. 5. Please be as specific as possible with mapping AND providing location information on your project. 6. Click save frequently. 7. Make sure all your check marks are green. Do not click SUBMIT until you are completely finished. 8. Note: Easygrants was updated since last year so some formats may look different (e.g. the budget format).

18 Mapping Include specific project areas, when possible.

19 Frequently Asked Questions

20 Frequently Asked Question 1 Q: Why is the funding level approximately $2 million? A: At least $2 million will be awarded every year for restoration work within the Delaware River Watershed. NFWF is working with William Penn Foundation and others, such as agency partners like the USDA NRCS as well as the private sector, to further develop the Delaware River Restoration Fund and enhance the amount available for restoration. This year we welcome AFF as a new partner.

21 Frequently Asked Question 2 Q: What is eligible for match and how far back can we count it? A: Match includes all in-kind and cash contributions towards the project. William Penn Foundation DRWI grants to the cluster partners should NOT be considered as part of the 25% MINIMUM but can be included in the overall match. All match should be in support of the activities associated with the proposed restoration. Past expenditures on the project are acceptable as match dating back to one year from the RFP close date (April 12, 2017).

22 Frequently Asked Question 3 Q: 25% match or 50% match? It s unclear to me which is being requested. A: A minimum 25% match is required for all proposed projects. However we anticipate this to be a very competitive process, so it will enhance your proposal, especially the larger asks to demonstrate a higher match. Habitat Restoration and Cornerstone grants are strongly encouraged to have at least 50% match, or 1:1

23 Frequently Asked Question 4 Q: What about monitoring? How should we describe our current project performance monitoring plan? A: NFWF expects that all restoration projects will identify measurable outputs for which a monitoring program will support and demonstrate the pre-, interim-, and post project conditions. NFWF is looking for its grantees to demonstrate that they understand the system within which they will be working and what will be accomplished through the restoration activities proposed. Don t forget to describe your monitoring interactions and plans with ANS, your Cluster or other efforts. We will evaluate this for project impact assessment opportunities.

24 Frequently Asked Question 5 Q: Are monitoring costs eligible? A: Ambient water quality monitoring is not eligible, as this role is being undertaken by ANS and to the extent agreed upon with William Penn Foundation, by the cluster partners. Please be sure to give some thought to the monitoring needs and implications of the proposed project. Again, describe how you expect the project performance to be monitored. We expect grantees to be able to make the project available for monitoring as a part of the DRWI.

25 Frequently Asked Question 6 Q: Should Cluster partners submit a single proposal for restoration or will NFWF consider multiple proposals from the cluster partners? A: One of the evaluation criteria for NFWF s proposal review is the strength of the partnership assembled to implement the project. It would be beneficial for the partners to ensure that proposals are well coordinated, fully supported and complementary. Whether a single proposal is submitted or multiple is up to the partners. It would NOT be ideal for competing proposals addressing the same project or approach to be received. Nor would it be beneficial to disregard the goals of the Cluster plan.

26 Frequently Asked Question 7 Q: Will NFWF have other grant programs for projects within the Delaware River watershed that may fall outside of the scope of this RFP? For example, we have a dam removal project that isn t identified in our cluster plan but is a new and imminent opportunity. A: There are other NFWF programs that overlap with the DRRF geographically and release RFPs at various times during the year. We can provide you with information on them, but please also be sure to review the Habitat opportunities carefully to see if the categories could be a good fit. And, as always, feel free to discuss your ideas with us.

27 Frequently Asked Question 8 Q: What happened to the Innovation Grants? A: Because the DRWI underwent a concerted planning process over the last 18 months (or more!), we expect that Cluster have included much of this kind of work in their plans as complementary strategies or other kinds of efforts supported by their WPF operating grants. Note that NFWF WILL still support innovation-style work as long as it includes an on-the-ground restoration component.

28 Final Tips for Applicants 1. If you ve never used EasyGrants before, create your login TODAY. 2. Turn off your pop-up blockers. If you use Internet Explorer, turn them off again and again 3. Print the tip sheet from website and use it as a reference. 4. Re-read the RFP and reference the information provided through the links. Call us if you re confused. 5. These are competitive grants. Projects should address all criteria and have a wow factor. 6. Include lots of context and details don t assume we know your Cluster, plan, partnership or watershed. 7. Be strategic first, opportunistic second. 8. Submit your proposal ON OR BEFORE April 12 th. 9. Note that NFWF staff will not be in the office at 11:59 pm on April 12th!

29 QUESTIONS? Proposals are Due Thursday, April 12!! Awards will be announced in early August Rachel Dawson Program Director, Delaware River (202) Jessica Lillquist Coordinator, Delaware River (202) For questions re: AFF s forest priorities, contact Christine Cadigan at CCadigan@forestfoundation.org or (804)