Desert Fish Habitat Partnership
FY 2027 RFP

Eligible Projects

NFHP funds must be used for on-the-ground habitat projects (engineering assessment, design, construction, implementation, monitoring, etc.), scientific assessments, outreach or communication projects, or acquisition of real property. Funds may not be used for research projects. Types of eligible projects may include riparian or instream habitat protection, enhancement, and restoration; barrier removal or construction; range-wide population or watershed habitat assessments to prioritize and plan habitat conservation; and habitat-related community outreach and education actions.

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NFHP National Conservation Priorities

FY27 project proposals must fall under at least one of the NFHP National Conservation Priorities. Key priorities that support DFHP species and habitats are listed below. A complete list of the priorities and example strategies for each NFHP Priority can be found here:

• Conserve waters and habitats where all processes and functions are operating within their expected range or natural variation.

• Conserve hydrologic conditions for fish.

• Conserve physical and living habitats and features that support viable and sustainable species and/or populations in impacted or at-risk systems.

• Reconnect fragmented fish habitats.

• Conserve water quality for fish.

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DFHP FY27 Projects Focus

Under the FY27 Project Funding Opportunity project proposals that support the conservation of native desert fish species and the protection, restoration and enhancement of associated aquatic habitats are welcome from all four DFHP geographic regions (Lower Colorado, Upper Colorado, Rio Grande, and Basin and Range). Consistent with the DFHP 2026-2030 Strategic Plan, we encourage proposals that prioritize the following actions and outcomes:

• Actions that provide long-term protection of existing intact and healthy aquatic ecosystems that support desert fish species and populations.

• Actions that restore, enhance, and improve functionality to altered or degraded aquatic habitats that support at-risk desert fish species.

• The conservation of desert fish species and populations most at risk.

• Addressing information needs and data gaps supporting conservation of at-risk desert fishes.

• Projects that support education and outreach to increase public knowledge and understanding of desert fishes and desert aquatic habitats.

 

Available Funding

NFHP project funding from The ACE Act is authorized annually through the US Fish and Wildlife Service; the available FY27 funding for DFHP projects is anticipated to be in the range of $150,000-$160,000. This is a very competitive process, and we anticipate our pool of applicants to exceed available funding. Typical funding per project is within the range of $5k-$50k; proposals requesting over $50k will be considered but may be subject to significantly more stringent review processes at the DOI level. Applicants are encouraged to meet or exceed the 1:1 non-Federal match request, which may include cash and/or in-kind labor, materials, or equipment if there are no Federal ties to those resources. Once the requested NFHP grant funds are matched with non-Federal cash or in-kind, an unlimited amount of other Federal or non-Federal contributions to the project are allowed and encouraged. DFHP gives special consideration to projects with more than the minimum non-Federal match.