Midwest Glacial Lakes Fish Habitat Partnership
Request for 2018 Aquatic Conservation Projects
It’s time again to request fish habitat project proposals for funding or support from the Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership (MGLP). The MGLP is one of twenty partnerships that span the nation under the umbrella of the National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP). The MGLP area of focus is glacial lakes and their watersheds (see figure). Eight Midwestern states, federal agencies including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, and the U.S. Forest Service, and private natural resource entities including The Nature Conservancy and the Wisconsin Association of Lakes, have been integral partners in the development and operation of the MGLP.
This will be their ninth year of supporting conservation projects and working toward meeting the goals and objectives set forth in the MGLP Strategic Plan (midwestglaciallakes.org), and they have directed funding toward a wide range of aquatic conservation projects that benefit imperiled, endangered, and recreational aquatic species and their habitat. While direct partnership funding to date has been limited to only that provided by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), they have been able to use both NFHP funds and USFWS Fish Passage funds on high priority projects to increase the overall contribution. Most projects have received between $10,000 and $75,000 from the MGLP, but larger projects are possible for funding from the $180,000 expected for distribution. Projects have been successfully implemented because contributions and capabilities of many partners have been combined to accomplish project goals that none of the partnering entities could accomplish on their own.
Eligible Applicants: Eligible applicants include state and federal management agencies, non-governmental organizations (e.g. conservation groups, community associations, watershed councils, cooperatives, civic groups), municipalities, universities, schools, private landowners, and local and tribal governments.
Eligible Projects: Projects considered for funding must align with the goals and objectives of the MGLP. Examples include: watershed-level projects; water quality and erosion control measures; riparian or in-lake habitat restoration and protection; barrier removal or construction; population or watershed assessments needed for project evaluation; prioritization and planning for future habitat projects; evaluating habitat conditions or lake water levels; and community outreach and education on the importance of and how to better protect fish habitat.
Deadline: The deadline to submit a MGLP project under the 2018 NFHP funding cycle is October 15, 2017.
If you have an aquatic conservation project aligned with the goals and objectives of the MGLP and need financial assistance, we encourage you to submit a proposal for project funding. An application for funding is included with this announcement and you can submit your application by emailing it to MGLP Coordinator Joe Nohner at nohnerj@michigan.gov. If you have any questions, please contact Joe Nohner at 517-284-6236 or John Lott, MGLP Steering Committee Chair, at john.lott@state.sd.us or 605-773-4508.
Click here to find a copy of the application packet.
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