The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation will award between $8 million and $10 million late this summer in grants from its Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund for projects that restore habitat and improve water quality in the Bay and its tributary rivers and streams.

The deadline for applications is June 6.

Proposals are sought for grants in two categories: the Small Watershed Grants and the Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction Grants.

Small Watershed Grants of $20,000 to $200,000 each will be awarded to nonprofit organizations and local governments for projects that protect and improve local waters and contribute to the overall health of the Chesapeake Bay while building citizen-based resource stewardship.  These grants require minimum matching contributions valued at 25 percent of total project costs.

Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction Grants of $200,000 to $750,000 each will be awarded to nonprofit organizations, local governments, universities and state agencies that demonstrate innovative approaches to accelerate the adoption of the most cost-effective and sustainable actions to reduce nutrient and sediment pollution to the Chesapeake Bay.  These grants encourage non-federal matching contributions valued at 50 percent of total project costs.

All grant proposals must address at least one of the CBSF Conservation Objectives.

Major funding for the Stewardship Fund comes from the Environmental Protection Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Forest Service, Altria Group and CSX.

The objectives, information about the kinds of projects sought and the application process are available online.

(Reprinted from the May issue of the Chesapeake Bay Journal.)

5/13/2013