2023 Coastal Watersheds Grant

The request for proposals for the 2023 NEP Coastal Watersheds Grant is now available. RAE will select grantees through a two-step process: 1) letters of intent (LOI); and 2) full proposals by invitation only. Both steps are competitive and a request for full proposal does not guarantee funding. LOIs are due on Friday, May 5, 2023 and must be submitted online via the submittal portal – see below.

RAE hosted virtual information sessions for potential applicants – you can watch a recording of this webinar below:

Priorities for this Request for Proposals

In order to address the critical issues facing our nation’s estuaries, each RFP round in the CWG Program will identify a unique combination of priorities. For this RFP, projects must address one or more of the following priorities:

• Recurring harmful algae blooms;
• Flooding and coastal erosion that may be related to sea level rise, changing precipitation, or salt marsh, seagrass, or wetland degradation or loss;
• Impacts of nutrients and warmer water temperatures on aquatic life and coastal ecosystems, including low dissolved oxygen conditions in estuarine waters; and
• Contaminants of emerging concern found in coastal and estuarine waters such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and microplastics.

Geographic Boundaries

Projects must occur in their entirety within the geographic areas shown below and on this interactive map (http://arcg.is/1u19zq). Efforts adjacent to, upstream of, or as a tributary to waterbodies in the polygons will not be funded. Projects occurring outside of these areas will not be considered, nor will the geographic boundaries change. Note that the eligibility boundaries do not necessarily align with NEP boundaries. Supporting activities, such as laboratory analysis, may occur outside of the geographic eligibility polygons but that all fieldwork and anticipated ecosystem improvements must occur within them.

Questions?

Applicants are encouraged to set up one-on-one discussions with the Program Director, Suzanne Simon, via email [ssimon@estuaries.org] or via Calendly. This scheduling app is user friendly and allows prospective applicants to find time to get feedback on aspects of their project and application. To prepare for these discussions, we recommend potential applicants review the RFP completely and come with project ideas or key questions to make effective use of the time.