Pecos Watershed Conservation Initiative

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) has released the ninth annual Request for Proposals for the Pecos Watershed Conservation Initiative, aimed at restoring and sustaining healthy rivers, streams, and grassland systems in southeastern New Mexico and west Texas. This initiative supports habitat critical to species such as Pecos pupfish, Pecos gambusia, Rio Grande cooter, Texas hornshell, chestnut-collared longspur, pronghorn, and Sprague’s pipit. Funding comes from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and corporate partners Apache Corporation, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Occidental, and ExxonMobil. Projects must align with the Southwest Rivers Business Plan priorities and will be funded in four categories: Habitat Restoration, Species Intervention, Species Response, and Capacity. Eligible projects include riparian and grassland restoration, grazing management improvements, invasive species control, water availability enhancement, species translocation, and monitoring to measure restoration outcomes. Outreach and technical assistance to landowners are encouraged, especially for leveraging NRCS cost-share programs. Capacity grants may support partner positions such as foresters, wildlife biologists, and rangeland specialists working alongside NRCS personnel to assist landowners with conservation plans, contracts, and program participation. Proposals should address specific metrics such as acres restored, miles of fencing improved, and number of monitoring sites. NFWF anticipates awarding 5 to 8 grants, generally ranging from $100,000 to $500,000, with larger amounts considered on a case-by-case basis. All applicants must provide a 1:1 non-federal or federal match. Projects should start within six months of the award and be completed within three years. The grant’s geographic focus is the Trans-Pecos Focal Area, and applicants should consult the Southwest Rivers Business Plan mapping portal to confirm eligibility. Eligible applicants include local, state, federal, and tribal governments and agencies, special districts, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions. Ineligible entities are international organizations, businesses, and unincorporated individuals. Proposals will be evaluated on conservation outcomes, budget, and technical feasibility, with consideration for community engagement, long-term sustainability, and cost-effectiveness. Applications must be submitted via NFWF’s Easygrants system. The application period opens immediately and closes November 10, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. EDT. An applicant webinar will be held September 4, 2025, to provide guidance. Awards will be announced in March 2026 following a review period from November 2025 through March 2026. Contacts for this opportunity include Kirstin Neff, Program Director for Southwest Rivers (Kirstin.Neff@nfwf.org, 303-222-6485), Ramsey Raslan, Manager for Rocky Mountain Regional Programs (Ramsey.Raslan@nfwf.org, 771-208-2102), and Emma Wigger, Coordinator for Regional Programs (Emma.Wigger@nfwf.org, 202-888-1680). For technical issues with the Easygrants system, applicants may contact the Helpdesk at Easygrants@nfwf.org or 202-595-2497 during business hours.

Attend the applicant webinar for guidance, contact NFWF staff for project-specific questions, consult Southwest Rivers mapping portal to confirm eligibility