Central Valley Project Fish Information Needs

The Central Valley Project Fish Information Needs funding opportunity (NOFO No. R24AS00329) is issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, targeting research and restoration efforts for fish species in California’s Central Valley. This NOFO aims to support projects that collect priority information on species such as Chinook salmon, O. mykiss (steelhead), Green and White sturgeon, and Delta smelt to address uncertainties in decision support models. These models help inform fish restoration strategies and improve habitat management. The NOFO outlines two periods for application submissions: one for Fiscal Year 2025, with a deadline of December 23, 2024, and a second for Fiscal Year 2026, with a tentative deadline of October 16, 2025. Federal funding available for each fiscal year may total up to $5,000,000, with individual project awards anticipated to range between 1 to 10 grants, depending on appropriations and project scopes. Eligible applicants include California state agencies, tribes, and nonprofit organizations focused on the protection and restoration of fish and wildlife habitats. There is no cost-share requirement for applicants. Funding will prioritize projects that directly address the informational needs specified for each fish species, including data on juvenile survival, habitat effects on growth, and population dynamics. Studies should focus on reducing uncertainty in the decision support models to enhance their accuracy and applicability for management decisions. Eligible projects must meet specific criteria, including being located in certain watersheds of California's Central Valley, and must address species-specific information priorities such as juvenile fish growth, migration, and spawning population estimates. Proposals should also outline methods for data collection, analysis, and reporting, with detailed plans for environmental compliance, permitting, and project feasibility. Applications must include a technical proposal, budget, and compliance statements, as well as forms SF-424, SF-424A, and other relevant documents. Projects are expected to be completed within five years of the award, and successful applicants will be expected to engage in reporting and monitoring requirements, as well as data sharing protocols.