The National Fish Passage Program provides funding and direct technical assistance to restore rivers and conserve our nation’s aquatic resources by removing or bypassing barriers. The resulting infrastructure is more … Read more
Under Section 206, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has the authority to carry out aquatic ecosystem restoration and protection projects.
Eligible Uses
Planning and carrying out projects to restore degraded aquatic ecosystems, such as estuary restoration and removal of in-stream barriers not associated with hydropower. Section 206 projects do not have to be related to an existing USACE project.
Eligible Recipients
Eligible recipients are USACE non-federal sponsors, which includes legally constituted public entities and nonprofit entities.
Approx Annual Funding Amount
The program was funded at $11 million for Fiscal Year 2022. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law included $27.6 million, plus a $115 million carve-out for special Section 206 projects to remove in-stream barriers not associated with hydropower, to be available until expended.
Cost Share Requirements
The federal cost-share is 100% for the initial $100,000 of feasibility study costs, 50% for remaining feasibility study costs, and 65% for implementation costs. The federal share of an individual project cannot exceed $10 million. The non-federal sponsor’s cost-share match may include cash, work-in-kind or a combination of both. Legislation in 2020 authorized a pilot program for USACE to conduct 10 Continuing Authorities Program projects at full federal expense for small or economically disadvantaged communities. Projects under the Section 206 carve-out in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to remove in-stream barriers not associated with hydropower, are at full federal expense (no local cost-share).
Application Cycle
To initiate a Section 206 project, contact your local USACE District to submit a written request for assistance/Letter of Intent (sample 206 letter), request an initial site visit, determine eligibility as “economically disadvantaged,” and secure financial requirements.
Contact
See this linked document for contacts for USACE programs.
Other Info
- This program is covered under the Justice40 Initiative.
- This is not a grant program, but a program in which projects are developed by a local sponsor with USACE input and cost-share requirements. (See 33 U.S.C. § 2330.)
