NFWF Stream Restoration Grants

In 2018, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), partnering with federal, state, and local agencies, companies, and organizations, awarded grants for a variety of upcoming projects to restore freshwater streams and other important habitat across the USA.

NFWF stream restoration projects were funded by the Bring Back the Natives program, Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund, and Long Island Sound Futures Fund (LISFF).

Bring Back the Natives Grants

Improving Habitat Connectivity and Quality for Cutthroat Trout in Meadow Creek (MT)

Removing Sawpauh Mill Dam to Restore Fish Passage in Oostanaula Creek and the Hiwassee River (TN)

Comprehensive Watershed Restoration and Stream Reconnection in the Clearwater and Grande Ronde Watersheds (ID, OR)

Restoring Stream Connectivity for Eastern Brook Trout in the Upper Rappahannock Watershed (VA)

Barrier Removal in the North Creek Basin to Restore Fish Passage (OR)

Restoring Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Habitat in the Upper Teton River (ID)

Instream Habitat Restoration in the East Verde River to Increase Resiliency of a Gila Trout Fishery (AZ)

Westslope Cutthroat and Bull Trout Habitat Restoration in the Blackfoot River Watershed (MT)

Habitat Restoration for the Amargosa River Pupfish in San Bernardino County (CA)

Eradication of Invasive Vinca to benefit Spikedace and Loachminnow in Aravaipa Canyon (AZ)

Reintroduction of Colorado River Cutthroat Trout to Road Beaver Creek (CO)

Assessment of Connectivity and Invasion Threat to Restore Greenback Cutthroat Trout in Colorado


Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund Grants

Restoring Stream Connectivity for Eastern Brook Trout in the Upper Rappahannock Waterhsed (VA)
Grantee: The Piedmont Environmental Council

Improve native eastern brook trout habitat in Virginia’s Upper Rappahannock watershed in partnership with the Virginia Department of Transportation by replacing culvert structures with an open-span bridge. The project will reconnect 2 miles of intact brook trout habitat and restore
200 linear feet of riparian habitat.

Fish Passage Improvement and Culvert Replacement in the Upper Sinnemahoning Creek Watershed (PA)
Grantee: Western Pennsylvania Conservancy

Replace four culverts at priority locations for native brook trout populations in the upper Sinnemahoning Creek watershed. Project will result in 4 miles of stream opened to fish passage and restored.

Stream Restoration and Brook Trout Habitat Improvement in the Cohocton River (NY)
Grantee: The Nature Conservancy

Improve two culverts, conduct streambank restoration on a key tributary, and increase river management capacity training and continuous water quality monitoring to inform strategic interventions in the watershed. Project will improvebrook trout habitat and increase connectivity to and between already identified high-quality eastern brook trout habitat.

Stream and Habitat Restoration in Kings Branch Flat Creek Greenway Natural Area (MD)
Grantee: South River Federation

Restore a rapidly eroding 3,270 linear foot stream bank and enhance non-tidal wetlands, thereby reconnecting the floodplain. Project will reduce nutrient and sediment pollution loads, benefit local residents and visitors by protecting hiking trails in the Kings Branch Flat Creek Greenway Natural Area, and restore lost habitat and stream functions.

Expanding Green Infrastructure, Urban Stream and Tree Canopy Restoration in Hopewell (VA)
Grantee: Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Implement large-scale stream restoration and wetland enhancement on an eroding stream channel, re-establish floodplain wetlands adjacent to the stream channel, plant 250 urban trees, and create “conservation corners” to install green features in residential areas with poorly draining soils. Project will engage more than 250 community volunteers and develop Meaningful Watershed Education Experiences for students to takes advantage of the large-scale stormwater management project proximity.

Securing and Expanding Brook Trout Habitat in the Cacapon and Potomac South Branch (WV)
Grantee: Trout Unlimited

Strengthen and expand stronghold patches of brook trout by restoring in-stream and riparian habitat, mitigating barriers to aquatic organism passage, and increasing the number of agricultural producers implementing streamside best management practices. Project will restore riparian forest buffers and fish passage, recruit 200 volunteers to assist in environmental stewardship projects, and provide conservation planning and technical assistance to 30 new landowners.

Reconnecting and Restoring Brook Trout Habitat at Public Road-Stream Crossings (VA)
Grantee: The Piedmont Environmental Council

Replace restrictive culverts with improved stream-simulation road-stream crossings for full aquatic organism passage in Piedmont. Project will improve instream habitat by restoring 0.30 riparian acres of habitat, reconnecting 4 miles of stream, and removing two barriers to fish passage.

Identifying and Designing Restoration in Tier II Eastern Brook Trout Patches (PA)
Grantee: Tioga County Conservation District of Pennsylvania

Identify, prioritize, design and permit habitat restoration projects within two Tier II eastern brook trout patches, the Tioga River and Babb Creek. Project will enhance the ability of the Tioga County Conservation District to implement effective priority habitat restoration and sediment reduction projects, motivate individuals and local governments to implement projects, and increase benefits to water quality and eastern brook trout habitat.

Unassessed Waters Initiative (PA) - IV
Grantee: Western Pennsylvania Conservancy

Conduct 1,000 fish surveys on previously unassessed streams, coordinating priorities, data collection, and data management. Project will provide data on previously unassessed streams in order to ensure proper stream classification, which is vital to successfully protecting Pennsylvania’s water resources.

Reconnecting Floodplains and Stream Restoration in the Upper Sassafras (MD)
Grantee: Shorerivers

Produce a fully permitted stream and wetland restoration design that addresses an eroding 4,800 linear foot stretch of forested perennial stream in the headwaters of the Sassafras River. Project will result in designs for a stream that receives runoff from surrounding highways and a weigh station, as well as 370 acres of surrounding agricultural land.


Long Island Sound Futures Fund (LISFF) Grants:


Planning for Two Fish Passage Projects in Southeastern Connecticut (CT)
Connecticut Fund for the Environment/Save the Sound
Project Area: Whitford Pond Dam, Whitford Brook, a Mystic River tributary, Stonington, Alewife Cove Dam, Fenger Brook, an Alewife Cove tributary, Waterford, Connecticut


Connecticut Fund for the Environment/Save the Sound will develop engineered designs for fishways at Whitford Pond Dam in Stonington and at Alewife Cove Dam in Waterford, Connecticut. The project will set the stage to provide 4.2 miles of access to spawning, rearing, and refuge habitat along two riverine migratory corridors valuable to Long Island Sound diadromous and freshwater fish such as alewife, blueback herring, brook trout, American eel and American shad.