WA FRIMA Application 2006
Washington Fish Screening or Fish Passage Grant Application

Application Deadline: January 13, 2006

Overview

The Fisheries Restoration and Irrigation Mitigation Act of 2000 (FRIMA) (PL 106-502) is a federal fish screening and passage partnership program in Idaho, Oregon, Washington and western Montana that is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The purpose of this program is to match federal funds with local, state, and tribal programs to increase fish survival, reduce entrainment in existing water distribution systems, and increase access to productive fish habitat.

Project Eligibility Criteria Fish Restoration and Irrigation Mitigation Program

1. Project includes design, construction, and installation of fish screens, fish passage devices, and other related features* which are associated with an irrigation or other water diversion, or is a project inventory proposal from a lead state agency, typically a state fish and wildlife agency or federally recognized tribe in partnership with a state, for assessing fish passage/screening at water diversions.
2. Project is located in the state of Washington.
3. Project intent is to reduce fish mortality or entrainment of fish in water distribution systems, or increase subsequent survival and reproductive success of fish species native to and present in the project area.
4. 4. Project application includes commitment by one or more project operators or sponsors to assume all operation and maintenance costs for the life of the project.
5. For most projects, one or more applicants must be regional government entities such as a regional, county, municipal, or service district. Projects on tribal lands are to be sponsored or co-sponsored by tribal governments. Projects at federally owned facilities or on federal lands may be sponsored by the owning agency in partnership with a local government co-applicant.
6. Project application demonstrates a match commitment of at least 35% of total project cost, including indirect costs charged by WDFW, from funding sources other than FRIMA. In the case of projects not under federal ownership, this cost share must be from a non-federal funding source. Applicant cost share may include in-kind costs such as labor, equipment, fill material, material disposal areas, lands, easements, right-of-ways, relocations and other such project requirements.
7. Project application states that federal funding is not being received from any other source for the same specific project purpose. Projects can be divided into subprojects with separate federal funding sources, but the same subproject cannot be funded by more that one federal source.
8. Project application states that the action is not for compliance with conditions of an existing Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) license.
9. Project application demonstrates prior coordination with state agency responsible for implementing applicable screening requirements, normally a state fish and wildlife agency, and appropriate USFWS field office.
10. Project application demonstrates coordination underway or completed with state and federal resource managers for all regulatory review or approval actions necessary for project construction or installation.
11. Project application demonstrates coordination with and documents approval by project owner/operator and, if necessary, by adjacent landowner(s) for required construction access.

*Related project features include modifications to associated water diversion structures required for effective operation of upstream or downstream fish passage improvements or restoration. The FRIMA act was not designed to serve as a prime-funding source for water conveyance or to be an instream flow program. However, the legislation does not automatically exclude project proposals involving conveyance considerations that may have critical instream flow implications. All proposals will be viewed in the context of the cumulative benefits gained to the fish population in that stream and watershed. Applications that clearly define and defend critical biological benefits that result from improving conveyance associated with main purpose projects (including descriptions of conveyance losses and the amount of water that will be conserved for fish passage if conveyance is funded) will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All actions will be taken into account in view of the legislative intent when regarding the legitimacy of funding conveyance aspects. You are encouraged to contact the USFWS Western or Eastern Washington Coordinator listed on page 2 before submitting the application to find out if your proposal for conveyance meets the requirements.

Project Review

A team of local, state, tribal, and federal reviewers will rank Washington project applications and recommend projects for funding under this program. In making their recommendations, the review team will determine if the application clearly documents that the project meets program eligibility requirements. The review team will also consider the magnitude of benefits anticipated to native fish species including improved survival and habitat access, cost effectiveness in achieving those benefits, and likelihood of success of the project as proposed. Additional consideration will be given to projects that benefit species in special conservation status such as federally endangered species and projects that are elements of conservation or recovery plans. Applications will also be evaluated on the degree of partner involvement and contribution, thoroughness of coordination with other affected or interested parties, opportunities for additional biological benefits or water use efficiencies, and the status of completion of applicable regulatory reviews. Preference will be given to projects sponsored by local governments and to fish passage and screening associated with irrigation water diversions.

Timeline

Complete this Washington application package to be considered for funding under this partnership program. The package includes a Fish Screening and Passage Program Cost Share Grant Application and FRIMA Supplemental Information Sheet.

Multiphase applications for two-part funding are encouraged. For example, project design and cost estimates, coordination, environmental compliance and preconstruction approval would be Phase 1 tasks, with construction to be in Phase 2.

Submit the completed application with supporting materials (map to site, photos, drawings, plans, hydrologic or hydraulic analyses, letter of commitment or concurrence from landowner and other affected parties, letter of commitment for proof of match, with beginning and end dates of match availability) to: Eric Egbers, WDFW FRIMA Coordinator.

Application Due Date: To be considered for 2006 funding, please submit your application no later than January 13, 2006.

Location to Submit Proposals

Eric Egbers, WDFW FRIMA Coordinator
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
3601 West Washington Avenue
Yakima, WA 98903
Office: 509-575-2734
Fax: 509-454-4139
E-mail: egberebe@dfw.wa.gov

WDFW Points of Contact

For questions on the application process, call Eric Egbers, 509-575-2734.

USFWS Points of Contact