Lake Champlain Basin Program bolsters grant opportunities

Thanks in part to a surge of federal infrastructure funding in recent years, the Lake Champlain Basin Program is soliciting proposals for a wide range of grant opportunities.

The grants aim to support scientific research, restoration and conservation projects, education and public awareness initiatives and to bolster organizations in the sprawling Lake Champlain watershed.

A round of new grants were announced earlier this month with due dates in late-December and early-January. While application requirements differ from grant to grant, the funding opportunities are largely available to nonprofits, colleges and universities, soil and water conservation districts, and local governments.

The grants are broken down into different categories:

Organizational support: Funding to bolster younger watershed organizations “with the early stages of the their development” or to help expand the work of established organizations. The grants will be worth up to $20,000 and the basin program expect to award up to $200,000 in the category. Potential projects could include office equipment, software to improve database or financial management, staffing support to conduct follow up work restoration projects, strategic planning, and staff or volunteer training. Proposals are due Jan. 5.

The Adirondack Coast seen from a ferry crossing Lake Champlain. There was a light haze from Canadian wildfires this summer. Photo by Zachary Matson.

New York Organizational Support: A similar grant will target New York-based organizations, offering between $25,000 and $150,000 (around $400,000 total) for New York organizations working in the Lake Champlain region to expand professional development, strengthen recruitment, shift job responsibilities, and improve internal opportunities. The projects should be more focused on environmental and professional development than administrative capacity. Proposals are due Dec. 15.

Stream Wise: Grants of up to $15,000 (around $165,000 total) for organizations working to implement the “Stream Wise” protocol, which offers ways for property owners along important rivers and tributaries to plant stream buffers and use practices that are protective of the stream passing through their land. Proposals are due Dec. 13.

I snapped this picture of Chazy Lake and Lyon Mountain this weekend while exploring the area. 

Education and Awareness: A group of grants for both small and large projects focused on conducting public awareness and education around Lake Champlain. The small grants are worth up to $15,000 (around $300,000 total) and are due Dec. 13. The larger grants are worth between $15,000 and $50,000 and are due Jan. 5. The initiatives should focus on informing and engaging students and the general public. Potential topics include road salt reduction, harmful algal blooms, climate change adaptation and other issues important to the lake.

And snow has arrived in the Adirondacks. Saranac Lake photo by Tracy Ormsbee.

Research and Implementation: The funding opportunities also include support for major research and restoration projects. An initial pre-application period has already passed and more funding opportunities will be announced next year.

So… get to the grant writing. Lake Champlain needs you!

Photo at top: A small island in the southern part of Lake Champlain this summer. Photo by Zachary Matson.

This first appeared in Zach’s weekly “Water Line” newsletter. Click here to sign up.