GRAND ISLE — The Patrick Leahy Lake Champlain Basin Program, in partnership with NEIWPCC, seeks proposals for projects that restore aquatic organism passage in the U.S. portion of the Lake Champlain Basin.

The intent of this opportunity is to remove barriers to aquatic organism passage and restore stream connectivity, adding high-quality habitat, connecting cold-water stream networks, and enhancing natural ecosystem function of river systems.

According to Dr. Eric Howe, NEIWPCC Program Director of the Lake Champlain Basin Program, said, fish and other aquatic species rely on healthy, connected streams. These projects will reconnect waterways, restore vital habitat, improve water quality, and increase community resilience across the Basin.

Activities supported by this funding could include:

• Community engagement efforts
• Project screening and scoping
• Feasibility and/or alternatives analyses
• Engineering design and/or permitting
• Construction or site restoration
• Site monitoring
• Site maintenance.

Approximately $2.5 million is available to support awarded projects. Eligible organizations include colleges, universities, nonprofit organizations, for-profit companies, and non-federal/non-state government agencies, including municipalities, that are located in the United States and work in the U.S. portion of the Lake Champlain basin.

The awarded grants will support projects that advance the goals of the long-term Lake Champlain management plan Opportunities for Action (plan.lcbp.org). This grant opportunity is supported by funds awarded to Lake Champlain by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) via the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

The review of proposals for this opportunity will occur in two rounds, and we will host one information session in advance of each round’s deadline. We encourage all applicants to submit their best proposals by the first deadline to maximize their chances of early consideration.

The first submission deadline is 5 p.m. on Sept. 8, with an information session to be held 1-2 p.m., Aug. 6.

The final submission deadline is 5 p.m., Oct. 8, with an information session to be held 1-2 p.m. Sept. 3.

Awarded projects from the first and second rounds may begin in March and April 2026, respectively.

For further information, contact the Lake Champlain Basin Program, 54 West Shore Road, Grand Isle, VT at (802) 372-3213 / (800) 468-5227 or visit www.lcbp.org.