The Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Program

Overview

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC), in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), USDA Forest Service (USFS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) USDA Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production, FedEx, Southern Company and Arconic Foundation are pleased to solicit applications for the 2024 Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration program. This program will award approximately $2 million in grants nationwide. 

The Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration grant program seeks to develop community capacity to sustain local natural resources for future generations by providing modest financial assistance to diverse local partnerships focused on improving water quality, watersheds and the species and habitats they support. 

Projects include a variety of ecological improvements along with targeted community outreach, education and stewardship. Ecological improvements may include one or more of the following: wetland, riparian, forest and coastal habitat restoration; wildlife conservation, community tree canopy enhancement, wildlife habitat, urban agriculture and community gardens, wildlife and water quality monitoring and green infrastructure best management practices for managing run-off. 

Projects should increase access to the benefits of nature, reduce the impact of environmental hazards and engage local communities, particularly underserved communities, in project planning, outreach and implementation. This program expects that applicants will represent a mixture of urban and rural communities. NFWF may use a mix of public and private funding sources to support any grant made through this program and we expect that more than half of projects awarded will engage underserved communities.

PROGRAM PRIORITIES

Proposals should address at least one bullet under each of the five following bolded priorities: 

On-the-Ground Restoration 
Projects must restore and/or create wetlands, coastal or riparian areas:

• Address key species and habitats and link directly to established watershed and conservation plans, including establishment of urban wildlife corridors, fisheries and daylighting of streams. 
• Address stressors through restoration techniques and green infrastructure practices that manage stormwater and rural run-off and link directly to stormwater management plans, source water protection plans and water supply planning efforts  or demonstrate the linkage between restoration and stormwater management and the quality, quantity and safety of local water and waterways 
• Create and enhance community agriculture spaces that support pollinator and migratory bird habitats as well as manage urban heat islands and stormwater run-off.
• Develop/implement trash and litter prevention programs designed to keep urban waterways and riverfronts clean 
• Develop public open spaces, create or enhance community parks, improve and protect community tree canopy, enhance brownfield sites beyond required remediation 

Environmental Outreach, Education & Training 

Projects must integrate meaningful outreach, education and/or training into the proposed on-the-ground activities that advance local watershed and conservation goals:

• Engage the public – particularly youth – in hands-on, outdoor experiences that build awareness of the importance of protecting and recovering priority and/or at risk species and habitats and promote stewardship and conservation practices
• Engage communities in restoration at public areas – such as schools, parks, birding trails and more – for public health and recreation 
• Establish or advance a community science or water quality monitoring program that involves community members and/or addresses community water quality priorities  
• Improve understanding to prevent damaging trash and litter impacts in local waterways that affect community health and local economies 

Community Partnerships 

Projects must involve five or more partners (public and private entities) including the applicant:

• Directly engage a diverse group of community partners to achieve ecological and specific educational outcomes including partnerships among upstream and downstream communities
• Demonstrate that the project will advance existing local watershed or conservation plans and/or propose to foster and coordinate a diverse stakeholder partnership that develops and/or implements new plans
• Identify plans to provide training, partnership meetings and presentations to build support for the project during and beyond the project period 

Measurable Results 

Projects must result in specific, measurable ecological, educational and community benefits:

• Identify measurable activities and metrics which clearly link to watershed and community outcomes 
• Document a high level of community engagement to support fish and wildlife habitat, urban and community agriculture or forestry, water quality-related recreational activities and improve understanding across diverse audiences of how fish and wildlife conservation, clean water and healthy forests contribute to community well-being 

Sustainability
Projects must include a plan for maintenance and care of the project beyond the grant period:

• Describe a commitment to community strength and long-term capacity to remain engaged as partners 
• Address any priority and/or at-risk species, habitats or conservation actions identified in State Wildlife Action Plans or other recovery or conservation plans 
• Directly connect outcomes to community benefits of watershed restoration such as clean water, public health benefits, local economic development and jobs 
• Fulfill or advance priorities identified through local planning efforts, including watershed, disaster and sustainability plans 
• Develop restoration and stewardship approaches that contribute to pre and post disaster planning, resiliency of community water assets and link to local hazard mitigation, resilience and/or emergency management plans

The ratio of matching contributions offered is considered during the review process, and projects are required to meet or exceed a 1:.75 match ratio to be competitive . Matching contributions must be non-federal in nature and may include in-kind contributions of staff and volunteer time, work performed, materials and services donated, cash or other tangible contributions to the project objectives and outcomes.

Approximately $2M is available nationwide for projects meeting program priorities. There is one round of full proposals annually for this program. Awards range from $30,000 to $60,000 with an average size of $45,000 and 30-40 grants awarded per year. Grants should span 12 to 18 months with a start date in late summer/early fall 2024.