USFWS Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs Home

What's New!

10/17/08 - Financial Assistance Coordination Team (FACT)
Check out the new web page for the Financial Assistance Coordination Team (FACT). FACT is a Service advisory committee that works cooperatively to improve the management, efficiency and effectiveness of financial assistance in support of the Service's mission.

9/30/08 - WSFR Program Update September 2008
Want a quick overview of the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program? Check out our 2008 Program Update for national and regional program news and highlights.

9/30/08 - WSFR Program National Survey
A recently released report, Wildlife Watching in the United States: The Economic Impacts on National and State Economies in 2006, demonstrates that wildlife watching contributes significantly to people's enjoyment of the outdoors and substantially impacts the nation's and states' economies. Wildlife watchers' expenditures generated over $122 billion in total industrial output, more than 1 million jobs, and over $18 billion in federal, state and local tax revenues.

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.