USFWS Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs Home

What's New!

9/05/08 - WSFR Program Strategic Plan
View or download the Conservation Heritage Strategic Plan. This document is the newly developed strategic plan for the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program. It was developed by the Joint Federal/State Task Force on Federal Assistance Policy in cooperation with many State and Service personnel. It is a broad, overarching document that describes core values, mission, vision, and intended outcomes for the Program.

8/28/08 - State Wildlife Grant Program
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced on August 26, 2008, that we are accepting proposals for the State Wildlife Grants (SWG) Competitive Program. This new competitive program was included in the 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act and is available to States, the District of Columbia, Commonwealths, and territories that have Service approved State Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Plans. The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program estimates about $5 million will be available for the SWG Competitive Program in Fiscal Year 2008.

NOTE: This RFP is for FY08 funding, and, subject to the availability of FY09 funds the ranked proposals submitted under this announcement will also be considered for FY09 awards. The SWG appropriation is an annual appropriation and there is no assurance that this competitive program will be approved in subsequent years. This competitive component of the authorized FY08 SWG program includes ranking criteria developed jointly by State and Service representatives.

See the full Notice of Availability of Funding Opportunity (includes application instructions). Also see the SWG Competitive Criteria.

8/26/08 - Hunting and Fishing License Certification
On 8/22/2008 the FWS Deputy Director issued a letter providing further guidance for certifying hunting and fishing licenses in compliance with the recently revised 50 CFR 80. The revisions became effective 8/25/2008. See the complete 50 CFR 80 online now.

8/15/08 - Boating Infrastructure Grant Program
2009 Request for Proposals
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is now accepting proposals for the Fiscal Year 2009 Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) Program. The BIG Program provides grant funds to States and other eligible jurisdictions for the construction, operation and maintenance of facilities for large, transient boats. The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program (WSFR) estimates that about $13.6 million will be available for BIG in Fiscal Year 2009. WSFR will notify the Regional Directors through a memorandum to notify the States and other eligible jurisdictions that we are accepting BIG proposals. Proposals are due in the Regional Offices or submitted to Grants.gov by October 31, 2008. Proposals received after that date will be ineligible. See the full Notice of Availability of Funding Opportunity and application instructions for the 2009 BIG Program.

7/24/08 - Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program
50 CFR 80 - Final Rule Published
In collaboration with State fish and wildlife agencies, FWS developed final regulations to address numerous administrative processes governing Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) Program grants. Revisions include clarifying procedures governing the annual certification of the number of paid hunting and fishing licensees, provisions for records retention, updating administrative requirements, and deleting references to forms no longer approved by the OMB. See the Final Rule published in the Federal Register for a summary of all of the changes made. The regulation became effective on 8/25/2008. See the complete 50 CFR 80 online now.