Sacramento Valley Floodplain Enhancement for Salmon and Shorebirds

The Sacramento Valley Floodplain Enhancement for Salmon and Shorebirds 2025 Request for Proposals (RFP) is offered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). NFWF, a nonprofit dedicated to the conservation of fish, wildlife, plants, and habitats, invites eligible applicants to propose multi-benefit floodplain restoration projects within the Sacramento Valley Watershed. These projects must serve the dual purpose of benefiting anadromous fish—particularly juvenile Chinook salmon—and migratory shorebirds, including the long-billed dowitcher. Historically, the Sacramento River Basin supported vast floodplain wetlands that played a crucial role in sustaining one of California’s largest Chinook salmon populations and serving as vital migratory habitat for shorebirds. However, post-Gold Rush era developments, such as wetland drainage and river channelization with levees, severely diminished the region’s ecological function. Modern agricultural practices, particularly rice farming with winter flooding, have begun to reestablish some of these habitats. The RFP seeks to support further restoration and conservation work that improves water flow, food availability, and shelter for fish and birds, while also enhancing flood protection and agricultural viability in the region. NFWF expects to fund between 8 to 12 projects under this opportunity, with individual award amounts ranging from $200,000 to $500,000. While matching funds are not required due to NRCS funding being routed through NFWF’s Conservation Partners Program, a 1:1 nonfederal match is strongly recommended for competitiveness. Applicants who cannot provide the recommended match must contact NFWF to discuss potential match adjustments prior to submission. Funded projects must begin within six months of the award announcement and conclude by June 30, 2029. Funds may cover planning, implementation, design, monitoring, and technical assistance activities aligned with NRCS conservation practices. Applicants must be located on privately owned lands within the Sacramento Valley Watershed. Eligible applicants include nonprofit 501(c) organizations, state and local governments, municipal governments, tribal governments and organizations, special districts, and educational institutions. Ineligible applicants include international organizations, businesses, and unincorporated individuals. The RFP prioritizes projects that are collaborative, incorporate baseline and impact monitoring, and demonstrate strong community engagement and technical feasibility. Proposals will be evaluated on alignment with program priorities, quantifiable conservation outcomes, technical merit, reasonable and allowable costs, and quality of partnerships. Spatial data and permitting requirements are critical and must be accurately documented. Application materials must be submitted through NFWF’s Easygrants portal. The application portal opened with the RFP release and will close on August 5, 2025, at 8:59 PM PDT. An applicant webinar is scheduled for July 10, 2025. Awards will be announced in November 2025. For questions about the RFP, applicants are encouraged to contact Femke Freiberg (femke.freiberg@nfwf.org, 415-243-3104), Erica Engstrom (erica.engstrom@nfwf.org, 415-490-5211), or Dalton Schmitz (dalton.schmitz@nfwf.org, 202-992-9456). For technical issues related to Easygrants, contact the Helpdesk at easygrants@nfwf.org or 202-595-2497.

Applicants should consult NRCS State Conservationist, review strategic plans, and contact NFWF if unable to meet match.