Invasive Plant Removal, Ecosystem Restoration, and Habitat Enhancement in the Santa Clara River | F17AS00415

Opportunity Information: Apply for F17AS00415

The funding opportunity titled "Invasive Plant Removal, Ecosystem Restoration, and Habitat Enhancement in the Santa Clara River" (Funding Opportunity Number F17AS00415) is a discretionary grant offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. It was released on August 18, 2017, with an original application deadline of August 25, 2017. The program is listed under CFDA 15.678 and is categorized in the funding activity area labeled "Recovery Act." The announcement anticipated making a single award, with a maximum award amount (ceiling) of $99,000.

The core purpose of the grant is on-the-ground habitat restoration in the Santa Clara River corridor in Ventura County, California, with a heavy emphasis on removing invasive plants. The project focus is specifically aimed at invasive vegetation that is actively degrading riparian habitat conditions, with Arundo donax (giant reed) called out as a primary target, along with other problematic invasive plant species present in the river system. The expected restoration approach is straightforward: reduce or eliminate invasive plant cover so that native riparian vegetation can recover or be re-established, improving overall habitat quality and ecological function in this riverine landscape.

A major driver behind the work is the need to protect and enhance habitat for federally endangered bird species that depend on healthy riparian ecosystems. The opportunity highlights two key species of concern: the endangered Least Bell's vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus) and the southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus). Both birds rely on dense, structurally diverse native riparian vegetation for breeding and foraging, and both are sensitive to habitat fragmentation and degradation. Invasion by Arundo donax and similar species can simplify habitat structure, crowd out native willows and other riparian plants, alter water availability and channel dynamics, and increase fire risk, all of which can reduce suitability for these birds and other wildlife.

Eligibility for applicants was described as unrestricted, meaning the competition was open to any type of entity, provided they met any additional eligibility conditions referenced in the full announcement text. In practice, opportunities like this often attract applicants such as local governments, conservation nonprofits, resource conservation districts, tribal entities, or other organizations with the capacity to implement field-based invasive plant control and habitat restoration. The grant being limited to one expected award suggests the agency intended to fund a single, defined project rather than multiple smaller projects.

Overall, this grant opportunity was designed to fund a targeted, near-term restoration effort in a specific California river system, using invasive plant removal as the main tool to improve riparian habitat conditions. The intended outcome is measurable ecological improvement along the Santa Clara River, benefiting endangered riparian bird species and supporting broader ecosystem recovery through restoration of more natural native plant communities and habitat structure.

• The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the recovery act sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Invasive Plant Removal, Ecosystem Restoration, and Habitat Enhancement in the Santa Clara River" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.678.
• This funding opportunity was created on Aug 18, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 25, 2017. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $99,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for F17AS00415

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: