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LIP
is a competitive grant program designed to provide financial assistance
to private landowners for the protection, enhancement or restoration
of habitat to benefit species at risk on privately owned lands. |
| NOTE: Funding is not currently available through the Landowner Incentive Program (LIP). Future funding opportunities will be posted at this site if and when funding is appropriated from the federal government. |
Description
The
Landowner Incentive Program (LIP) is a competitive grant program
to provide financial assistance to private landowners
for the protection and restoration of habitat to benefit species-at-risk
on privately owned lands. Funds are a direct appropriation from Congress
that are passed through the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
to state fish and wildlife agencies in a nationally competitive process.
Species-at-risk is defined for LIP as any fish or wildlife species
that is federally or state listed as threatened or endangered, is
proposed or is a candidate for listing as threatened or endangered,
as well as any other animal species determined to be at risk by Washington
State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). For an updated LIP
Species-at-Risk list, click here.
The goal of WDFW’s
LIP program is to effectively provide financial and technical assistance
for the implementation
of habitat restoration,
enhancement and/or protection to benefit species-at-risk on privately
owned lands in Washington State. To realize this goal, LIP has developed
the following objectives:
- Provide direct,
quantifiable benefits to species-at-risk and their habitats.
- Provide
direct, quantifiable benefits to species-at-risk that have not
traditionally benefited from Farm Bill, salmon recovery, and
other private lands programs.
- Apply best available
science to LIP project goals as well as project development, prioritization,
implementation and effectiveness
monitoring.
- Contribute to
species conservation needs identified through state and regional
planning processes.
- Facilitate species-at-risk
project partnerships between neighboring landowners, local entities,
and private conservation
organizations,
such as local land trusts, Trout Unlimited, Ducks Unlimited,
The Nature Conservancy and Regional Fisheries Enhancement Groups.
- Maximize leveraging
of LIP funds with non-federal funding sources.
- Encourage private
lands conservation projects that benefit multiple species-at-risk.
- Improve
landowner relationships regarding species-at-risk by allowing
WDFW to offer financial incentives to private landowners
rather than only regulatory constraints.
Eligible
Grant Recipients
Funding for habitat restoration is available to
private landowners, agencies and/or conservation organizations
with the clear understanding that projects must benefit LIP species-at-risk
and must occur on privately owned lands. A 25 percent non-federal
match is required that can include cash donation or in-kind contribution.
Funding for conservation easements is available to private landowners,
agencies and/or conservation organizations but must be held in perpetuity
by a land trust or other agency/organization with conservation goals.
That agency must possess the ability to monitor and maintain the
project benefits of the easement in perpetuity. LIP provides a small
endowment for monitoring/maintenance purposes. Fee simple acquisitions
are not allowed under LIP.
Funded Projects
A
PowerPoint presentation of LIP accomplishments in Washington State
can be viewed here.
Grants Evaluation
Process
Only projects that result in a benefit to species-at-risk
and occur on privately owned lands
are considered
for funding. A multi-disciplinary science review panel assists with
project prioritization based on criteria that demonstrate an overall
measure of science behind the project, including the project’s
significance to overall agency/state species-at-risk objectives,
likelihood of success, and short-term vs long-term benefits. Additional
prioritization criteria include partnerships, match amount, longevity
of benefits, contribution to local planning efforts, and proximity
to protected or restored areas. Projects are funded beginning with
the highest score until the funding is expended.
Grant Contact
Information
WDFW LIP Coordinator: Ginna Correa 360-902-2478 corregcc@dfw.wa.gov
WDFW Contract Officer: Ted Nelson 360-902-2401 nelsotfn@dfw.wa.gov
WDFW LIP Biologist: Jeff Skriletz 360-902-8313 skriljks@dfw.wa.gov
Grant Schedule
The
grant schedule is variable from year to year. Information will be posted here as it is made available.
Application Process
LIP
grant cycles are open to the public for a three-month period application
period. Applications forms are available
on this website when a grant cycle
is open or may be obtained from the LIP coordinator at 360-902-2478.
Applications are reviewed and scored and successful applicants notified
within two months. However, due to the federal source of the funds,
federal compliance documentation must be submitted to the USFWS Federal
Aid office. Their review sometimes exceeds six months.
Revenue Source
LIP
funds are a direct appropriation from Congress that are passed
through the USFWS to state fish and wildlife agencies.
State agencies must compete nationally for the funds.
Links
Check out
the USFWS website for LIP and other federal grant programs at http://federalaid.fws.gov/grants/grantinf.html.
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