Opportunity Information: Apply for L25AS00115
The IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management Alaska Aquatic Resource Management opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number L25AS00115) is a discretionary federal funding program offered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to support on-the-ground and planning-focused work that protects and restores aquatic resources on BLM-managed lands in Alaska. The program sits within BLMs Alaska Aquatic Resources Program, which is focused on maintaining healthy watersheds by improving riparian and wetland condition, safeguarding aquatic habitats, and protecting surface and groundwater resources so they continue to support fish and wildlife, other public uses, and long-term ecosystem needs. The funding is tied to major federal investments through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), specifically Section 40804(b) Ecosystem Restoration, and through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), including Sections 50221 (Resilience), 50222 (Ecosystems Restoration), and 50303 (DOI).
The overall purpose is to help BLM and its partners address a wide set of aquatic challenges that are especially important in Alaska, including habitat degradation and fragmentation, the need for restoration and reconnection of aquatic systems, drought resilience and changing water availability, and prevention and response to aquatic invasive species. The program emphasizes applying best management practices to avoid or minimize impacts to water resources and aquatic habitats, while also improving the technical foundation for decision-making through inventory, assessment, monitoring, and compliance work. In practical terms, this can include projects that restore stream and floodplain function, rehabilitate wetlands and riparian corridors, improve aquatic habitat connectivity, stabilize or improve water quality conditions, and build stronger watershed resilience to climate-driven stressors like wildfire, flooding, and drought.
BLM lays out several core functions that frame what it expects projects to accomplish. These include protecting and restoring ecosystem structure and function (the physical and ecological processes that keep riparian, wetland, and aquatic systems working), protecting water quality (chemical, physical, and biological integrity of both surface water and groundwater), and ensuring water availability (including the legal and physical availability of water for beneficial uses and for restoration needs). The program also highlights proactive habitat protection and restoration to maintain healthy, self-sustaining species and biodiversity, including special status species, and it places a strong value on decision support activities such as inventorying aquatic resources, assessing condition and trends, monitoring outcomes, and using data to guide management and evaluate compliance.
Another major theme is coordination and accountability. Projects are expected to be carried out in a way that supports environmental compliance with applicable federal laws, regulations, executive orders, and policy (and with state law when consistent with federal law). BLM also signals that strong proposals will include meaningful consultation, coordination, and collaboration with partners such as federal, state, tribal, and local governments, along with community and nonprofit stakeholders. Education and outreach are included as a program function as well, reflecting a desire not only to implement restoration but also to improve public understanding of aquatic habitats and watershed health.
The opportunity is also explicitly aligned with Department of the Interior priorities, particularly actions that address the climate crisis, restore balance on public lands and waters, advance environmental justice, and support a clean energy future. Within that framing, BLM calls out specific areas where it wants partner support, including: reducing climate change and habitat loss impacts to aquatic resources; restoring and reconnecting degraded aquatic systems; increasing resistance, resilience, and adaptability to drought, wildfire, and flood events; defining acceptable levels of hydrologic and ecological change relative to BLM management objectives; improving inventory, assessment, and monitoring tools and activities; preventing the establishment and spread of invasive species; and expanding public knowledge of aquatic habitats on BLM lands with a targeted focus that includes communities of color, low-income families, rural communities, and Indigenous communities. BLM references an attachment titled Suggested Focal Areas for BLM Alaska for additional detail on priority geographies or project types.
From an administrative standpoint, awards will be made as cooperative agreements, which typically means BLM expects substantial involvement during project execution (for example, coordination on technical decisions, monitoring approaches, permitting/compliance steps, data standards, and reporting). The funding activity category is Natural Resources, and the CFDA number listed is 15.244. The posted award ceiling is $100,000. The notice lists an original closing date of 2025-03-17.
Eligibility is broad across public and nonprofit sectors, but it excludes individuals and for-profit organizations. Eligible applicants include state governments, local governments (county and city/township), special district governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, federally recognized tribal governments, tribal organizations (including those other than federally recognized tribal governments), and nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education).
The notice also includes two important limitations. First, it does not support proposals that hinge on hiring interns or crews under the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993; groups looking to do youth-crew or intern hiring under that authority are directed instead to a separate funding path (NOFO 15.243, BLM Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands). Second, for applicants applying as part of a Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU), there is a specific indirect cost limitation: if the award is issued under a formally negotiated Master CESU agreement consistent with the CESU mission, indirect costs are capped at 17.5 percent of the applicable indirect cost base recognized in the applicants federally approved NICRA. Applicants are expected to state whether their proposal supports the purpose of the CESU program and, if so, identify which CESU Network should serve as the host.
Overall, this opportunity is best understood as a partner-focused funding vehicle for aquatic ecosystem restoration and resilience work on BLM lands in Alaska, combining field restoration, invasive species prevention, water quality and availability protection, and strong monitoring/decision-support components, with an emphasis on collaboration, compliance, and outcomes that hold up under accelerating climate and disturbance pressures.Apply for L25AS00115
- The Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management Alaska Aquatic Resource Management" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.244.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-11-13.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-03-17. (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 $100,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): IIJA/IRA BLM Alaska Aquatic Resource Management (L25AS00115)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a discretionary federal funding opportunity from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to support aquatic resource management work in Alaska. It funds on-the-ground projects and planning-focused efforts that protect and restore aquatic resources on BLM-managed lands in Alaska.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number (FON) is L25AS00115.
Who is offering this grant?
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), through its Alaska Aquatic Resources Program, is offering this funding.
What is the program trying to accomplish overall?
The program is focused on maintaining healthy watersheds by improving riparian and wetland condition, safeguarding aquatic habitats, and protecting surface and groundwater resources so they continue to support fish and wildlife, other public uses, and long-term ecosystem needs.
What kinds of problems or challenges is the funding meant to address?
The opportunity targets aquatic challenges that are especially important in Alaska, including habitat degradation and fragmentation, restoring and reconnecting aquatic systems, drought resilience and changing water availability, and prevention and response to aquatic invasive species.
What types of projects are a good fit for this opportunity?
Projects can include restoration and planning work such as restoring stream and floodplain function, rehabilitating wetlands and riparian corridors, improving aquatic habitat connectivity, stabilizing or improving water quality conditions, and strengthening watershed resilience to climate-driven stressors like wildfire, flooding, and drought.
Does this program support both fieldwork and planning/technical work?
Yes. The description emphasizes both on-the-ground implementation and planning-focused/technical work, including inventory, assessment, monitoring, and compliance support.
What are the core functions BLM expects projects to support?
BLM highlights several core functions: (1) protecting and restoring ecosystem structure and function in riparian, wetland, and aquatic systems; (2) protecting water quality (surface and groundwater); and (3) ensuring water availability, including legal and physical availability for beneficial uses and restoration needs.
What does BLM mean by protecting and restoring ecosystem structure and function?
It refers to supporting the physical and ecological processes that keep riparian, wetland, and aquatic systems working, including the conditions that enable these systems to function in a healthy, resilient way.
How is water quality addressed in this opportunity?
Projects are expected to protect the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of both surface water and groundwater. Activities that stabilize or improve water quality conditions are specifically called out as examples.
What does "ensuring water availability" mean in this program?
It includes both the legal and physical availability of water for beneficial uses and for restoration needs, aligning water management with BLM objectives for aquatic resources.
Are aquatic invasive species activities eligible?
Yes. Preventing the establishment and spread of invasive species, and supporting prevention and response efforts, are explicit program themes.
Is monitoring or data collection expected as part of projects?
The opportunity places strong value on decision support activities such as inventorying aquatic resources, assessing condition and trends, monitoring outcomes, and using data to guide management and evaluate compliance.
What is meant by "decision support" in the context of this funding?
Decision support refers to building the technical foundation for better management decisions, including inventory, assessment, monitoring, and compliance-related work that helps BLM and partners understand conditions, track trends, and evaluate results.
Do proposals need to follow best management practices (BMPs)?
Yes. The program emphasizes applying best management practices to avoid or minimize impacts to water resources and aquatic habitats.
What role do compliance and coordination play in this opportunity?
Projects are expected to support environmental compliance with applicable federal laws, regulations, executive orders, and policy (and with state law when consistent with federal law). Strong proposals are expected to include meaningful consultation, coordination, and collaboration with partners.
Who does BLM want applicants to coordinate with?
BLM signals the importance of consultation, coordination, and collaboration with federal, state, tribal, and local governments, as well as community and nonprofit stakeholders.
Is education and outreach an allowable or encouraged activity?
Yes. Education and outreach are included as a program function, reflecting a desire to improve public understanding of aquatic habitats and watershed health alongside restoration work.
How does this opportunity align with broader Department of the Interior priorities?
It is explicitly aligned with Department of the Interior priorities, including addressing the climate crisis, restoring balance on public lands and waters, advancing environmental justice, and supporting a clean energy future.
What climate- and disturbance-related outcomes does BLM emphasize?
BLM calls out increasing resistance, resilience, and adaptability to drought, wildfire, and flood events, and improving watershed resilience to climate-driven stressors.
Does the opportunity mention environmental justice or targeted community benefits?
Yes. BLM includes advancing environmental justice as a priority and calls for expanding public knowledge of aquatic habitats on BLM lands with a targeted focus that includes communities of color, low-income families, rural communities, and Indigenous communities.
Is there guidance on specific priority geographies or project types within Alaska?
BLM references an attachment titled "Suggested Focal Areas for BLM Alaska" for additional detail on priority geographies or project types.
What type of award will be used?
Awards will be made as cooperative agreements.
What does it mean that awards will be cooperative agreements?
Cooperative agreements typically involve substantial involvement from BLM during project execution, such as coordination on technical decisions, monitoring approaches, permitting/compliance steps, data standards, and reporting.
What is the funding activity category?
The funding activity category is Natural Resources.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 15.244.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The posted award ceiling is $100,000.
What is the application deadline?
The notice lists an original closing date of 2025-03-17.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include state governments; local governments (county and city/township); special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; tribal organizations (including those other than federally recognized tribal governments); and nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education).
Are individuals eligible to apply?
No. Individuals are explicitly excluded.
Are for-profit organizations eligible to apply?
No. For-profit organizations are explicitly excluded.
Are nonprofits required to have 501(c)(3) status?
No. Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status may be eligible (as long as they are not institutions of higher education).
Does this opportunity fund projects on any land in Alaska?
The opportunity is described as supporting work that protects and restores aquatic resources on BLM-managed lands in Alaska.
Does the funding connect to IIJA and IRA?
Yes. The funding is tied to major federal investments through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), specifically Section 40804(b) Ecosystem Restoration, and through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), including Sections 50221 (Resilience), 50222 (Ecosystems Restoration), and 50303 (DOI).
Can projects focus on habitat protection as well as restoration?
Yes. The program highlights proactive habitat protection and restoration to maintain healthy, self-sustaining species and biodiversity, including special status species.
Does BLM want applicants to define acceptable levels of hydrologic and ecological change?
Yes. BLM specifically calls out defining acceptable levels of hydrologic and ecological change relative to BLM management objectives as an area where partner support is desired.
Are there restrictions related to hiring interns or youth crews?
Yes. The notice does not support proposals that hinge on hiring interns or crews under the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993. Applicants seeking to do youth-crew or intern hiring under that authority are directed to a separate funding path (NOFO 15.243, BLM Youth Conservation Opportunities on Public Lands).
If a proposal includes interns or crews, is it automatically ineligible?
The limitation stated is that the notice does not support proposals that hinge on hiring interns or crews under the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993. The provided information directs that type of approach to NOFO 15.243 instead.
Is there a special indirect cost rule for CESU applicants?
Yes. If the award is issued under a formally negotiated Master Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) agreement consistent with the CESU mission, indirect costs are capped at 17.5 percent of the applicable indirect cost base recognized in the applicant's federally approved NICRA.
What must CESU applicants include in their proposal?
Applicants are expected to state whether their proposal supports the purpose of the CESU program and, if so, identify which CESU Network should serve as the host.
What makes a proposal "strong" according to the opportunity description?
Based on the stated expectations, strong proposals would emphasize meaningful coordination and collaboration, support compliance requirements, apply best management practices, include monitoring/decision-support elements (inventory, assessment, monitoring), and target outcomes tied to restoration, resilience, water quality/availability, and invasive species prevention on BLM-managed lands in Alaska.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Natural Resources
Next opportunity: High-Priority Research in Tobacco Regulatory Science (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)
Previous opportunity: NeuroNEXT Small Business Innovation in Clinical Trials (U44 Clinical Trial Optional)
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for L25AS00115
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (L25AS00115) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| FY25 IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management Idaho (ID) Recreation and Visitor Services Apply for L25AS00069 Funding Number: L25AS00069 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| FY25 IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management Idaho (ID) Threatened and Endangered Species Program Apply for L25AS00077 Funding Number: L25AS00077 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| FY25 IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management Idaho (ID) Invasive and Noxious Plant Management Apply for L25AS00075 Funding Number: L25AS00075 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| FY25 IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management Oregon/Washington (ORWA) Rangeland Resource Management Apply for L25AS00086 Funding Number: L25AS00086 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| F25AS00099_FY 2025 Competitive State Wildlife Grant (C-SWG) Program_Funding Opportunity Announcement Apply for F25AS00099 Funding Number: F25AS00099 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| FY25 IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management Oregon/Washington (ORWA) Threatened and Endangered Species Program Apply for L25AS00082 Funding Number: L25AS00082 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| FY25 IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management Oregon/Washington (ORWA) Aquatic Resource Management Apply for L25AS00088 Funding Number: L25AS00088 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| FY25 IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management Idaho (ID) Plant Conservation and Restoration Management Apply for L25AS00146 Funding Number: L25AS00146 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $40,000 |
| IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management Alaska Good Neighbor Authority Apply for L25AS00118 Funding Number: L25AS00118 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| FY25 IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management Oregon/Washington (ORWA) Plant Conservation and Restoration Management Apply for L25AS00145 Funding Number: L25AS00145 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management Alaska Invasive and Noxious Plant Management Apply for L25AS00117 Funding Number: L25AS00117 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| FY25 IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management Idaho (ID) Wildlife Program Apply for L25AS00148 Funding Number: L25AS00148 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $125,000 |
| FY25 IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management Idaho (ID) Youth Conservation Corps Apply for L25AS00149 Funding Number: L25AS00149 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management Alaska Recreation and Visitor Services Apply for L25AS00126 Funding Number: L25AS00126 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| FY 2025 Bureau of Land Management National Conservation Lands - Management Studies Support Program Apply for L25AS00137 Funding Number: L25AS00137 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $40,000 |
| FY25 IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management Alaska Wildlife Program Apply for L25AS00153 Funding Number: L25AS00153 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management Alaska Plant Conservation and Restoration Management Apply for L25AS00154 Funding Number: L25AS00154 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| FY25 IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management Oregon/Washington (ORWA) Youth Conservation Corps Apply for L25AS00147 Funding Number: L25AS00147 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| FY25 IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management Colorado Wildlife Program Apply for L25AS00151 Funding Number: L25AS00151 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $125,000 |
| FY25 IIJA/IRA Bureau of Land Management Colorado Aquatic Resource Management Apply for L25AS00158 Funding Number: L25AS00158 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $45,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "L25AS00115", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.