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Fisheries Habitat Grant Program

Program objective

The fisheries habitat grant supports a variety of activities to benefit fisheries, aquatic resources, and the public, including fish habitat conservation, dam removal and repair, and access to recreation.

Criteria

Competitive projects will address causes of habitat degradation as opposed to symptoms, provide long-lasting benefits, address needs on the priority habitat projects list, be cost-effective, use appropriate methods, monitor project outcomes, address health and human safety for dam management, and/or address research and assessment needs to inform future habitat conservation.

2024 fisheries priority habitat conservation project list

The priority habitat conservation projects list encourages projects that sustain healthy habitats, fisheries and aquatic communities. It is intended to be used for the fisheries habitat grant as well as other conservation activities across the state. Partners should review this list for projects of interest and discuss methods, eligibility and other factors with staff. Eligible applications to the fisheries habitat grant that address projects on this list may receive preference. This public list is not all-inclusive of DNR-supported projects, and potential partners should consult with DNR staff when choosing and developing proposed habitat projects.

2024 Priority Habitat Conservation Projects

Eligibility

Local, state, federal or tribal units of government, academic institutions, or non-profit groups.

Application process

  1. Consultation with DNR staff
  2. Submittal of a pre-proposal
  3. Evaluation by DNR staff
  4. Submittal of a full grant application (invitation based)
  5. Evaluation by DNR staff
  6. Final approval of grant awards by the DNR director

Timeline

  • Request for pre-proposals begins August 27, 2024
  • Pre-proposals due October 4, 2024
  • Invitation to submit full applications begins November 15, 2024
  • Full applications due January 10, 2025*
  • Awards announced by approximately May 2025
  • Project period begins upon execution of grant agreement
  • Project periods are one and a half years (two construction seasons) with potential to apply for extensions

    *Applications must be submitted in the MiGrants online system

Grant limits

  • Minimum grant request amount: $25,000
  • Maximum grant request amount: Amount of funds available in the theme(s) for which the application is eligible (up to $1.6 M)
  • Minimum match of 10% is required

Source of funds

Game and Fish Protection Fund (aquatic habitat conservation theme), State of Michigan general fund (dam management theme), and Game and Fish Settlement Fund (aquatic habitat and recreation in the Au Sable, Manistee and Muskegon watersheds theme).

Authority

Part 5 of Act 451, P.A. 1994, as amended, and annual appropriation by the Michigan Legislature

Contact

Fisheries Division: Joe Nohner, 517-284-6236

Grants Management Section: Chip Kosloski, 517-281-1705