Opportunity Information: Apply for F18AS00339
The Landscape Conservation Design for the Lower St. Louis River grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F18AS00339) is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Department of the Interior initiative to build a coordinated, long-term land and resource planning framework for the Western Lake Superior region, starting with the Lower St. Louis River. The project centers on creating a Landscape Conservation Design (LCD), which is essentially a shared decision-making structure that helps communities and resource-managing partners agree on priorities, coordinate actions, and measure results over time. The LCD is meant to help local communities work side by side with tribal governments and state and federal agencies to balance how land and natural resources are used and conserved in a way that is practical, transparent, and consistent across jurisdictions.
At its core, the opportunity is about aligning conservation with human needs and regional development goals, rather than treating them as separate tracks. The LCD approach is intended to connect and strengthen complementary land-based themes that matter in the region: community health, economic development, and ecological integrity. In practice, that means the framework should help partners identify where conservation or restoration will most benefit fish and wildlife, where protection strategies can be most effective, and how land use decisions can also support resilient communities and sustainable economic outcomes. The overall conservation emphasis is on supporting the long-term health of fish and wildlife resources associated with the Lower St. Louis River and the broader Western Lake Superior landscape, an area described as "where the Great Lakes begin."
The planned effort is structured as a 3-year project with several major deliverables and work components. First, it will establish the LCD framework itself, including the governance or organizational structure that allows diverse partners to participate and make coordinated decisions. Second, it will coordinate and facilitate representative working groups, meaning the project will bring together the relevant voices across local communities, tribes, agencies, and other stakeholders who influence land use decisions. Third, it will evaluate existing spatially based land use and conservation plans, which implies reviewing current maps, regional plans, habitat and watershed strategies, and other geospatial planning products to understand what already exists, where plans align, and where gaps or conflicts occur. Fourth, it will develop land use decision-support tools and associated metrics, which is a key practical output: tools that partners can use to compare scenarios, prioritize areas for protection or restoration, and apply consistent indicators to track progress. Finally, it will recommend additional data and information collection needed to properly assess outcomes tied to the three themes of community health, economic development, and ecological integrity, recognizing that effective measurement depends on having the right baseline data and monitoring approach.
From an administrative and funding standpoint, this opportunity is a discretionary cooperative agreement under CFDA 15.662, with an award ceiling of $328,000 and an expectation of a single award. The listing states there is no application process because it is a notice of intent to make a single-source award to the Minnesota Land Trust (MLT) in Duluth, Minnesota. The USFWS explains that competition is not practical under the cited justification (505 DM 2.14.B.4) because MLT has specialized, locally grounded expertise in coordinating and facilitating partnerships in the Lower St. Louis River area. That local facilitation capability is positioned as essential to the project because the LCD depends heavily on relationship-building, convening diverse interests, and maintaining coordinated participation over multiple years, not just producing a technical plan.
In summary, this grant opportunity funds the development of a regional, collaborative planning and decision framework for land use and conservation in the Lower St. Louis River and Western Lake Superior area. The work is designed to bring partners into a shared vision, integrate and evaluate existing geospatial plans, create usable decision-support tools and common metrics, and identify data needs so progress can be tracked over time. It is also explicitly structured as a single-source cooperative agreement to the Minnesota Land Trust, reflecting the agency view that successful LCD development in this landscape requires an organization with deep experience convening local and regional partners and translating shared priorities into implementable land protection and management strategies.Apply for F18AS00339
- The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Landscape Conservation Design for the Lower St. Louis River" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.662.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 07, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 14, 2018 There is not an application process for this funding opportunity. This is a notice of intent to award a single source Cooperative Agreement to the Minnesota Land Trust, Duluth, MN under justification 505DM 2.14.B.4.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $328,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the "Landscape Conservation Design for the Lower St. Louis River" grant opportunity?
This is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Department of the Interior funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F18AS00339) focused on building a coordinated, long-term land and resource planning framework for the Western Lake Superior region, starting with the Lower St. Louis River.
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) within the Department of the Interior.
What is the overall purpose of the project?
The purpose is to create a Landscape Conservation Design (LCD) that helps communities and resource-managing partners align priorities, coordinate actions, and measure results over time across jurisdictions in the Lower St. Louis River and the broader Western Lake Superior landscape.
What is a Landscape Conservation Design (LCD) in this context?
In this opportunity, an LCD is described as a shared decision-making structure and long-term planning framework. It is intended to help partners agree on priorities, coordinate conservation and land use actions, and track outcomes over time in a practical, transparent way that is consistent across jurisdictions.
What geographic area does the grant focus on?
The effort starts with the Lower St. Louis River and is intended to support a broader coordinated framework for the Western Lake Superior region, described as an area "where the Great Lakes begin."
What themes or outcomes is the LCD supposed to connect?
The LCD approach is intended to connect and strengthen complementary land-based themes important to the region: community health, economic development, and ecological integrity.
How does the opportunity approach conservation and development?
The opportunity emphasizes aligning conservation with human needs and regional development goals rather than treating them as separate tracks, so land and natural resources can be used and conserved in ways that support resilient communities and sustainable economic outcomes.
What is the conservation emphasis of the project?
The conservation emphasis is on supporting the long-term health of fish and wildlife resources associated with the Lower St. Louis River and the broader Western Lake Superior landscape.
How long is the planned project period?
The planned effort is structured as a 3-year project.
What are the major deliverables or work components?
The description identifies several major components: (1) establishing the LCD framework, including a governance/organizational structure; (2) coordinating and facilitating representative working groups; (3) evaluating existing spatially based land use and conservation plans; (4) developing land use decision-support tools and associated metrics; and (5) recommending additional data and information collection needed to assess outcomes tied to community health, economic development, and ecological integrity.
What does "establishing the LCD framework" include?
It includes creating the LCD itself and setting up the governance or organizational structure that allows diverse partners to participate and make coordinated decisions over time.
Who is expected to participate in the LCD process?
The LCD is intended to help local communities work side by side with tribal governments and state and federal agencies, along with other resource-managing partners and stakeholders who influence land use decisions.
What is meant by "representative working groups"?
The project anticipates coordinated and facilitated working groups that bring together relevant voices across local communities, tribes, agencies, and other stakeholders to support coordinated land use and conservation planning.
What kinds of existing plans will be evaluated?
The project will evaluate existing spatially based land use and conservation plans, described as including current maps, regional plans, habitat and watershed strategies, and other geospatial planning products to understand what already exists and where alignment, gaps, or conflicts occur.
What are "land use decision-support tools" and why are they important here?
They are practical tools intended to help partners compare scenarios, prioritize areas for protection or restoration, and apply consistent indicators. The opportunity highlights these tools and associated metrics as key outputs to support consistent decision-making and progress tracking.
What does the grant mean by "metrics"?
Metrics refer to common indicators that partners can use to measure and track results over time, including progress related to community health, economic development, and ecological integrity.
Why does the project include recommending additional data collection?
The opportunity notes that effective measurement depends on having the right baseline data and monitoring approach, so the project will recommend additional data and information collection needed to properly assess outcomes across the three themes.
What type of federal award is this?
It is described as a discretionary cooperative agreement.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.662.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $328,000.
How many awards does the listing expect to make?
The listing states there is an expectation of a single award.
Is there an open application process for this opportunity?
No. The listing states there is no application process because it is a notice of intent to make a single-source award.
Who is the intended recipient of the single-source award?
The notice indicates the award is intended for the Minnesota Land Trust (MLT) in Duluth, Minnesota.
Why is this being issued as a single-source award instead of a competitive grant?
The USFWS states that competition is not practical under the cited justification (505 DM 2.14.B.4) because the Minnesota Land Trust has specialized, locally grounded expertise in coordinating and facilitating partnerships in the Lower St. Louis River area.
What capability is described as essential to successful LCD development?
The opportunity highlights local facilitation and partnership coordination as essential, emphasizing that the LCD depends heavily on relationship-building, convening diverse interests, and maintaining coordinated participation over multiple years, not only producing a technical plan.
What is the intended long-term value of the LCD once developed?
Based on the description, the LCD is intended to provide a shared vision and coordinated structure partners can use over time to prioritize protection and restoration, support consistent land use decisions across jurisdictions, and measure results across community health, economic development, and ecological integrity.
What does the opportunity suggest about how success will be tracked?
Success is expected to be tracked through the use of shared metrics and decision-support tools, along with identified data needs and additional information collection to properly assess outcomes over time.
What role do geospatial or spatially based products play in the project?
They are central to the work: the project includes evaluating existing geospatial plans and developing decision-support tools that likely rely on spatial data to compare scenarios and prioritize areas for conservation and restoration.
What does the opportunity mean by "practical" and "transparent" decision-making?
The description indicates the LCD should enable partners to balance land and natural resource use and conservation in a way that is workable for participants, clear in how decisions are made, and consistent across jurisdictional boundaries.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Environment, Natural Resources, Science and Technology and other Research and Development
Next opportunity: Head Start and/or Early Head Start Grantee -- Lake and Porter Counties, Indiana
Previous opportunity: James River Public Access, Recreational & Educational Programs
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for F18AS00339
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (F18AS00339) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| St. Louis River Plant Biology & Community Ecological Expertise Project Support Apply for F18AS00340 Funding Number: F18AS00340 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Environment, Natural Resources, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $30,000 |
| Competition for a Cooperative Institute for the North Atlantic Region Apply for NOAA OAR CIPO 2019 2005601 Funding Number: NOAA OAR CIPO 2019 2005601 Agency: Department of Commerce Category: Environment, Natural Resources, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $40,115,000 |
| Competition for a Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere Apply for NOAA OAR CIPO 2019 2005602 Funding Number: NOAA OAR CIPO 2019 2005602 Agency: Department of Commerce Category: Environment, Natural Resources, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $100,000,000 |
| FY2019 Marine Debris Research Apply for NOAA NOS ORR 2019 2005817 Funding Number: NOAA NOS ORR 2019 2005817 Agency: Department of Commerce Category: Environment, Natural Resources, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) Apply for G18AS00078 Funding Number: G18AS00078 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Environment, Natural Resources, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Cooperative Research Units Program FY 2019 Apply for G19AS00004 Funding Number: G19AS00004 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Environment, Natural Resources, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Envirosurvey, Inc. Apply for F18AS00369 Funding Number: F18AS00369 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Environment, Natural Resources, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| FY2019 Office of Weather and Air Quality Research Programs Apply for NOAA OAR OWAQ 2019 2005820 Funding Number: NOAA OAR OWAQ 2019 2005820 Agency: Department of Commerce Category: Environment, Natural Resources, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Advanced Technologies for Enhanced Oil Recovery Apply for DE FOA 0002015 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002015 Agency: Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory Category: Environment, Natural Resources, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Collaborative Science, Technology, and Applied Research (CSTAR) Program Apply for NOAA NWS NWSPO 2019 2005754 Funding Number: NOAA NWS NWSPO 2019 2005754 Agency: Department of Commerce Category: Environment, Natural Resources, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| National Competitive Harmful Algal Bloom Programs Apply for NOAA NOS NCCOS 2019 2005810 Funding Number: NOAA NOS NCCOS 2019 2005810 Agency: Department of Commerce Category: Environment, Natural Resources, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Central Valley Project Improvement Act- Anadromous Fish Restoration Program Apply for F19AS00001 Funding Number: F19AS00001 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Environment, Natural Resources, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| R packages for enhancing the Geospatial Population Estimator (GSPE) of moose in Alaska. Apply for F19AS00018 Funding Number: F19AS00018 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Environment, Natural Resources, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $49,000 |
| FY19 Dr Nancy Foster Scholarship Program Apply for NOAA NOS ONMS 2019 2005832 Funding Number: NOAA NOS ONMS 2019 2005832 Agency: Department of Commerce Category: Environment, Natural Resources, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $42,000 |
| 2019 Deep Coral Reef Ecosystem Studies Program: American Samoa Apply for NOAA NOS NCCOS 2019 2005821 Funding Number: NOAA NOS NCCOS 2019 2005821 Agency: Department of Commerce Category: Environment, Natural Resources, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| 2019 Regional Ecosystem Prediction Program (REPP): Understanding Coral Ecosystem Connectivity in the Hawaiian Archipelago Apply for NOAA NOS NCCOS 2019 2005822 Funding Number: NOAA NOS NCCOS 2019 2005822 Agency: Department of Commerce Category: Environment, Natural Resources, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) Land Acquisition and Construction Program for Fiscal Year 2019 Apply for NOAA NOS OCM 2019 2005800 Funding Number: NOAA NOS OCM 2019 2005800 Agency: Department of Commerce Category: Environment, Natural Resources, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $800,000 |
| Fish and Wildlife Coordination and Assistance Apply for F19AS00026 Funding Number: F19AS00026 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Environment, Natural Resources, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $316,213 |
| 2019 Pacific Northwest Bay-Watershed Education and Training Apply for NOAA NOS ONMS 2019 2005862 Funding Number: NOAA NOS ONMS 2019 2005862 Agency: Department of Commerce Category: Environment, Natural Resources, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $60,000 |
| 2019 Partnerships for Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery and Conservation Apply for NOAA NMFS PIRO 2019 2005826 Funding Number: NOAA NMFS PIRO 2019 2005826 Agency: Department of Commerce Category: Environment, Natural Resources, Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $125,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "F18AS00339", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.