USFWS Region 6 Aquatic Invasive Species Program 2018 | F18AS00121

Opportunity Information: Apply for F18AS00121

The USFWS Region 6 Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Program 2018 grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F18AS00121) is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. It is designed to fund practical, results-oriented work that helps prevent, detect, and slow the spread of aquatic invasive species in the western and central U.S. states covered by USFWS Region 6: Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. The program is especially focused on high-impact invaders like quagga and zebra mussels (Dreissenid mussels), while also addressing other aquatic invasive species that threaten waters, infrastructure, native fish and wildlife, recreation, and local economies.

A key feature of this opportunity is that it welcomes proposals to extend previously funded projects, which signals an emphasis on sustaining proven efforts that are already underway. At the same time, the program also invites new projects, but expects them to align tightly with a set of defined regional and national priorities. Applications are reviewed by a USFWS Project Officer, who checks that submissions are complete and received on time, and the program anticipates making a small number of awards, meaning proposals need to be clearly scoped, well-justified, and connected to the stated goals.

The priority areas for new work center on preventing the spread of quagga and zebra mussels and other AIS through the most important pathways and management frameworks identified by western partners. One major priority is advancing the Quagga Zebra Mussel Action Plan for Western U.S. Waters (QZAP), particularly by supporting its priority goals aimed at reducing mussel spread and impacts. Another priority is research that lowers the risk of mussel spread via the watercraft pathway, reflecting the consensus needs identified in the 2015 Dreissenid Mussel Research Priorities Workshop. In practice, that typically means projects that improve understanding of how mussels move between waterbodies on boats and trailers, refine inspection and decontamination approaches, strengthen early detection methods, or evaluate the effectiveness of prevention strategies.

Beyond watercraft, the opportunity also highlights the pet trade as a pathway for new AIS introductions into western states. Projects under this priority would generally focus on preventing releases of non-native aquarium and water garden species, improving outreach and compliance, supporting voluntary or regulatory measures that reduce risky sales and transfers, and building partnerships with retailers, hobbyists, and state agencies. The program further emphasizes supporting Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force (ANSTF) approved State Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Plans, specifically where those plans address management and control of quagga/zebra mussels or other AIS in western waters. This encourages applicants to align proposals with state-vetted strategies and demonstrate how the work contributes to established, coordinated statewide objectives rather than operating in isolation.

Another stated priority is meeting the goals of "An Action Plan to Implement Legal and Regulatory Efforts to Minimize Expansion of Invasive Mussels Through Watercraft Movements in the Western United States." This points to projects that help translate legal and regulatory concepts into workable on-the-ground systems, such as strengthening consistency across jurisdictions, improving enforcement and compliance tools, clarifying authorities, or developing policy-ready guidance that helps states and partners close gaps in prevention programs. Finally, the opportunity identifies special protection needs for two iconic and ecologically sensitive areas: the Greater Yellowstone Area and the Upper Columbia River Basin. Projects that prevent AIS introductions into these landscapes are explicitly encouraged, recognizing both their high conservation value and the potentially irreversible impacts of invasive species establishment there.

In terms of funding scale and competitiveness, the grant lists an award ceiling of $110,000 and anticipates approximately six awards. The funding activity categories include Natural Resources as well as Information and Statistics, reflecting that proposals may range from direct field implementation (such as prevention and monitoring) to data-driven work (such as risk assessments, research, or program evaluation). Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning the opportunity is broadly open to many entity types (subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full notice), which commonly includes state and local governments, tribes, universities, nonprofits, and other partners capable of delivering AIS prevention or management outcomes.

Key timeline details from the notice include a creation date of April 24, 2018 and an original application closing date of June 25, 2018. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a targeted regional investment program: relatively modest awards intended to support coordinated prevention, research, and policy or program implementation actions that reduce AIS introductions and slow spread, with a particularly strong emphasis on Dreissenid mussels, watercraft-related transmission, pet trade risks, alignment with state and national action plans, and safeguarding high-value ecosystems like Yellowstone and the Upper Columbia basin.

• The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the information and statistics, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "USFWS Region 6 Aquatic Invasive Species Program 2018" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.608.
• This funding opportunity was created on Apr 24, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 25, 2018 Region 6 covers the states of Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. The USFWS Project Officer will review submissions to include determining if applications are complete and submitted on time.. (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 $110,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 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.

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