The Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership (MGLP) is announcing its annual request for fish habitat conservation project proposals (APPLY HERE). We support conservation projects that work toward meeting the goals and objectives set forth in the MGLP Strategic Plan to benefit glacial lake fish habitats, which include addressing the chemical, physical, and biological components of the habitats that fishes found in glacial lakes use throughout their lives.
We have directed funding toward a wide range of aquatic conservation projects that benefit recreational, imperiled, and endangered fish species and their habitats. We typically fund 3-5 projects annually between $10,000 and $75,000, but larger projects will be considered for funding up to a maximum of the approximately $300,000. Past projects have been successfully implemented because contributions and capabilities of many partners have been combined to accomplish project goals that none of the partnering entities could accomplish on their own.
Projects considered for funding must align with the goals and objectives of the MGLP. Examples include:
- Projects that implement new techniques or methods; projects that serve as demonstration projects; watershed-level projects;
- Water quality and erosion control measures;
- Native vegetation or wetland rehabilitation;
- Natural riparian or in-lake habitat restoration and protection; barrier removal for improved native fish passage;
- Population or watershed assessments needed for project evaluation;
- Prioritization and planning for future habitat projects;
- Evaluating habitat conditions or lake water levels;
- Projects addressing climate change adaptation or mitigation through fish habitat;
- Projects training biologists and managers on inland lake fish habitat management tools and approaches; and
- Community outreach and education on the importance of and how to better protect fish habitat.
In addition to conducting independent outreach and/or education, successful applicants will be expected to work with the MGLP to coordinate media and public outreach to raise the profile of MGLP-funded projects.
Applications are due by 5:00 PM CST October 15, 2019. The MGLP will host a webinar on August 14 at 1 PM CST/2 PM EST to provide information and answer questions on the grant. If you’d like to attend, please register here.
Please note that we’ve revised our grant application. Major changes include:
- Preference for projects that align with a lake management plan or the MGLP Conservation Guidelines for the lake. MGLP Conservation Guidelines for each lake can be found on the MGLP Conservation Planner;
- Revised narrative questions to better assess project benefits and methods; and
- Requirement to discuss the project with MGLP Coordinator Joe Nohner prior to submission for preliminary feedback on project fit for the grant and areas for improvement.
If you have a lake conservation project aligned with the goals and objectives of the MGLP and need financial assistance, we encourage you to submit a proposal for project funding. If you have any questions, please contact Joe Nohner at 517-284-6236 or Todd Tisler, MGLP Steering Committee Chair, at ttisler@fs.fed.us or 218-335-8629. An application for funding is included with this announcement and you can submit your application by emailing it to MGLP Coordinator Joe Nohner at nohnerj@michigan.gov.