TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Topics | Sections |
| OVERVIEW | 1.1 What is the purpose of this chapter? 1.2 What is the scope of this chapter? 1.3 What are the authorities for this chapter? 1.4 What terms do you need to know to understand this chapter? |
| RESPONSIBILITIES | 1.5 How is the National Fish Passage Program organized? 1.6 Who is responsible for the National Fish Passage Program? |
| PROGRAM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES | 1.7 What is the goal of the National Fish Passage Program? 1.8 What are the objectives of the National Fish Passage Program? 1.9 How does the National Fish Passage Program support the Service’s mission? |
| PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION | 1.10 What technical assistance does the National Fish Passage Program provide? 1.11 How does the Service implement National Fish Passage Program projects? 1.12 What are the ranking factors for selecting National Fish Passage Program projects? 1.13 What are the minimum requirements for all program-funded projects? 1.14 How does the Service use National Fish Passage Program funds? |
OVERVIEW
1.1 What is the purpose of this chapter? This chapter describes the objectives of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (Service) National Fish Passage Program (program), a voluntary, nonregulatory aquatic connectivity program, and provides guidance for its implementation.
1.2 What is the scope of this chapter? This chapter applies to the program that Service staff implement. It does not apply to existing or proposed non-Federal hydroelectric projects that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regulates under the Federal Power Act.
1.3 What are the authorities for this chapter?
A. Anadromous Fish Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 757a-757g).
B. Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 1851).
C. Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531-1544).
D. Fish and Wildlife Act (16 U.S.C. 742a-742j, not including 742d-l).
E. Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. 661-667e).
1.4 What terms do you need to know to understand this chapter?
A. Anadromous. Fish or fish species that spend portions of their life cycle in both freshwater and saltwater, entering freshwater from the sea to spawn.
B. Aquatic connectivity. Physically linked pathways through which energy, matter, and organisms move from one place to another through water. It includes longitudinal connectivity upstream and downstream, vertical movement within a water column and hyporheic zone, as well as lateral connectivity of the main waterbody to riparian riparian
Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.
Learn more about riparian and floodplain habitat, all of which play a vital role in a functioning aquatic ecosystem.
C. Aquatic ecosystem. An interdependent system of plants, animals, and their physical environment in a waterbody.
D. Aquatic organism. Plants or animals that spend all or part of their life in water. This includes, but is not limited to, fish, mussels, amphibians, reptiles, insects, and aquatic vegetation.
E. Barrier. An obstruction to aquatic connectivity that prevents or alters the natural flow of water within or between waterbodies, potentially impacting water quality, sediment movement, type of habitat, and movements of fish and other aquatic organisms. A barrier to fish passage fish passage
Fish passage is the ability of fish or other aquatic species to move freely throughout their life to find food, reproduce, and complete their natural migration cycles. Millions of barriers to fish passage across the country are fragmenting habitat and leading to species declines. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Fish Passage Program is working to reconnect watersheds to benefit both wildlife and people.
Learn more about fish passage is anything that prevents or reduces the ability or timing of fish or other aquatic species to move where needed to survive and complete their life cycle within an aquatic system. The extent to which a barrier may reduce or prohibit the movement of fish or other aquatic species may vary by species and life stage. Barriers addressed by the program may be the result of structural impediments, such as dams, levees, undersized culverts, roads, berms, dikes, or other human made structures, or of environmental conditions, such as, bedrock, sediment, water quality, temperature, or flow.
(1) A partial barrier to fish passage reduces movement of some individuals of one or more fish or other aquatic species some or all of the time; partial barriers also impact natural flow of water, sediment, and stream process.
(2) A complete barrier to fish passage prohibits movement of all individuals of one or more fish or other aquatic species all of the time; complete barriers also impact natural flow of water, sediment, and stream process.
F. Barrier removal. The partial or complete elimination of a barrier to restore fish passage and reconnect hydraulic/hydrologic processes, prevent entrainment of aquatic species, and restore sediment transport and other fluvial and floodplain processes where applicable.
G. Catadromous. Fish that live most of their adult lives in freshwater but return to saltwater to spawn.
H. Climate change adaptation. Adjustment in natural or human systems to a new or changing environment that exploits beneficial opportunities or moderates negative effects (056 FW 1).
I. Federal trust species. Anadromous and catadromous fish, other inter-jurisdictional aquatic species, endangered or threatened species, and species proposed for listing or at risk of becoming listed under the Endangered Species Act.
J. Fish passage project. An activity that addresses a barrier to aquatic connectivity and associated physical and biological processes and/or that improves the ability of fish or other aquatic species to move throughout an aquatic system among all the habitats necessary to complete their life cycle by reconnecting habitats and processes that barriers have fragmented. On a site-specific scale, fish passage is the ability of fish or other aquatic species to move between locations in an aquatic system via actions that remove or bypass a barrier or restore habitat conditions to meet key life history needs.
K. Fish passage reporting system. A database the Service maintains that provides a consistent, automated means to identify program operational needs and to report program accomplishments per specifically defined protocols (i.e., ECOSphere).
L. Interjurisdictional fish. Fish populations that two or more governing bodies (i.e., States, nations, Tribal governments) manage because of the populations’ geographic distribution or migratory pattern.
M. Indigenous Knowledge. A body of observations, oral and written knowledge, innovations, practices, and beliefs developed by Indigenous Peoples through interaction and experience with the environment. It is applied to phenomena across biological, physical, social, cultural, and spiritual systems. Indigenous Knowledge has been developed over millennia, continues to develop, and includes understanding based on evidence acquired through direct contact with the environment and long-term experiences, as well as extensive observations, lessons, and skills passed from generation to generation. Indigenous Knowledge is often intrinsic within customary or traditional governance structures and decision-making processes. Other terms, such as Traditional Knowledge(s), Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Tribal Ecological Knowledge, Native Science, Indigenous Science, and others are sometimes used to describe this knowledge system. We use the term ‘Indigenous Knowledge’ in this chapter.
N. Nature-based solutions. Actions to protect, sustainably manage, or restore natural or modified ecosystems to address societal challenges, while simultaneously providing benefits for people and the environment (600 DM 7, Nature-Based Solutions).
O. Process-based restoration. An approach that aims to reestablish normative rates and magnitudes of physical, chemical, and biological processes that sustain river and floodplain ecosystems by addressing root causes of degradation, implementing restorative actions that are consistent with the physical and biological potential of the site at a scale commensurate with the environmental problems to create outcomes that enhance ecosystem dynamics.
P. Substantial involvement. A level of engagement required when entering into a cooperative agreement. The collaboration may provide benefits (e.g., technical expertise, specialized equipment, labor) that otherwise would be unavailable to the recipient. More information about substantial involvement is available in guidance for Federal awards on the Financial Assistance website.
Q. Voluntary habitat conservation. Any improvement of the natural environment or restoration activity undertaken by partners that benefits Federal trust resources and is not required by law or regulation.
RESPONSIBILITIES
1.5 How is the National Fish Passage Program organized? The National and Regional National Fish Passage Program Coordinators oversee implementation of the program, which is delivered by field staff. Appropriations for the program support the Coordinators, activities that directly improve aquatic connectivity, including project design elements, and field staff implementing aquatic connectivity projects. Coordinators and field staff work with partners to plan, prioritize, and implement aquatic connectivity restoration projects, document relevant project data, and maintain the fish passage reporting system.
1.6 Who is responsible for the National Fish Passage Program? See Table 1-1.
Table 1-1: Responsibilities for the National Fish Passage Program
| These employees... | Are responsible for... |
| A. The Director | (1) Approving national program policies; and (2) Providing leadership, guidance, and direction to Service programs to implement the policy. |
| B. The Assistant Director – Fish and Aquatic Conservation | (1) Overseeing the program at a national level, (2) Maintaining communication with the Director about program activities, (3) Ensuring that the program has adequate oversight at a national level, (4) Overseeing program policy and budget formulation and allocation, and (5) Communicating program activities and objectives to the Service Directorate. |
| C. National Fish Passage Program Coordinator | (1) Developing national policy, guidance, and priorities to administer and implement the program. This includes ensuring guidance is current and updating it, as necessary; (2) Managing the program at a national level, which includes developing budget requests and allocations and reporting program accomplishments; (3) Maintaining communication with the Assistant Director about program activities; (4) Maintaining communication with Regional Program Coordinators; (5) Evaluating implementation of the program to ensure compliance with this policy; (6) Communicating program objectives and coordinating activities with other Service habitat program coordinators; (7) Representing the program and the Service in technical committees, working groups, and public forums; (8) Developing and maintaining national partnerships with State and Tribal governments, Nongovernmental Organizations (NGO), other Federal agencies, and other partners, and coordinating activities related to the program; (9) Engaging with Regions to provide support, program input, and review into strategic plan development; and (10) Supporting national communication and outreach efforts to promote the program and the benefits of aquatic connectivity for watershed and human community health. |
| D. Regional Directors and Assistant Regional Directors of Fish and Aquatic Conservation | (1) Implementing the program within their Regions in accordance with this policy; (2) Designating Regional Program Coordinators; (3) Executing Regional budgets and ensuring program funds expended, and projects selected, align with program policy, goals, and objectives; and (4) Ensuring coordination with other Service programs and partners in the Region. |
| E. Regional Program Coordinators | (1) Maintaining communications with Assistant Regional Directors of Fish and Aquatic Conservation, Regional Directors, the National Program Coordinator, and field staff implementing the program; (2) Providing direction to Project Leaders and field staff on program policy and guidance; (3) Managing the program at a Regional level, which includes preparing budget recommendations; developing program capacity; developing and implementing Regional priorities consistent with program authorities and this policy; overseeing program reporting and executing Regional budgets; ensuring all program funds expended and projects selected align with program policy, goals, and objectives; and preparing strategic plans and habitat improvement monitoring strategies as appropriate; (4) Monitoring the implementation of the program to ensure project quality, appropriate environmental compliance, and financial oversight by the Regional and field offices; (5) Coordinating resolution of programmatic issues elevated to the Regional office from the field offices; (6) Participating in technical committees and workgroups; (7) Supporting national and Regional communication and outreach efforts to promote the program; (8) Developing and managing external partnerships and open communication with State and Tribal governments, NGOs, and other partners and aligning program activities with Service priorities; and (9) Ensuring appropriate records management for project awards in coordination with field staff that is responsive to data management, reporting, and other informational needs of the Service. |
| F. Program Managers or Project Leaders in field offices | (1) Managing the program at the field level, which includes developing program capacity and participating in the development of watershed and species priorities that align with the program goals and objectives and are consistent with this policy and the Service mission; (2) Overseeing the implementation of the program in their offices to ensure funds expended and projects selected align with program policy, goals, and objectives and have appropriate environmental compliance and financial oversight; (3) Facilitating and implementing habitat conservation projects in accordance with program policies, goals, objectives, and strategic plans, with concurrence from the Regional and field office staff; (4) Ensuring field staff maintain financial assistance training and follow financial assistance policies; (5) Ensuring field staff have adequate preparation and technical training in stream assessment and fish passage planning and techniques to be effective agency representatives; (6) Coordinating resolution of programmatic issues raised by field staff; (7) Participating in technical committees and workgroups, such as Regional or local conservation workgroups or watershed organizations; (8) Supporting national, Regional, and field communication and outreach efforts to promote the program; (9) Developing and managing field level partnerships and priority-setting to facilitate aquatic habitat conservation and restoration projects; (10) Overseeing field office accomplishment reporting and resolving any reporting issues; and (11) Ensuring appropriate records management for project awards in coordination with field staff that is responsive to data management, reporting, and other informational needs of the Service. |
| G. Program field staff in field offices | (1) Working with partners to identify, design, and implement habitat improvement projects and activities in accordance with Service and Regional priorities and consistent with program policies, goals, objectives, and strategic plans, with concurrence from the appropriate managers in their chain of command; (2) Pursuing technical training in stream assessment and fish passage planning and techniques to be effective agency leaders in aquatic connectivity and restoration; (3) Providing technical and financial assistance to partners, as resources allow, to implement fish passage projects that improve aquatic connectivity and benefit Federal trust species, including survey, planning, and design assistance; (4) Maintaining financial assistance training and adhering to financial assistance policies; (5) Serving as Project Officers and providing partner substantial involvement for cooperative and other financial assistance agreements, and ensuring staff and partners fulfill the responsibilities identified in their agreements; (6) Monitoring completed fish passage projects to document that they were implemented as designed; (7) Supporting national, Regional, and field communication and outreach efforts to promote the program; (8) Participating in technical committees and workgroups, such as Regional or local conservation workgroups or watershed organizations; (9) Entering accomplishments into the fish passage reporting system to ensure accurate documentation of Service investments, field staff contributions, and project conservation benefits per program guidance; and (10) Maintaining appropriate records management for project awards that documents environmental and financial compliance and is responsive to data management, reporting, and other informational needs of the Service. |
PROGRAM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
1.7 What is the goal of the National Fish Passage Program? The goal of the program is to restore ecological connectivity of the Nation’s aquatic systems to the maximum extent possible to reconnect fluvial and tidal processes that enable native fish and other aquatic organisms to access a full range of habitat types to meet their life history needs seasonally and annually.
A. Fish passage projects restore flows, processes, and aquatic species movement by fully or partially removing barriers or providing effective means of bypassing them. Connectivity provided by volitional fish passage projects promotes climate adaptation and resilience by enabling aquatic species to adapt, disperse, and adjust to changes in the quality and distribution of habitats, including climate-driven shifts in habitats and in species’ geographic ranges.
B. Fish passage projects often provide benefits to surrounding human communities, such as reduced flood risk, improved public safety, and increased recreational opportunities.
C. The program works on a voluntary basis with Federal, State, local, and Tribal governments, as well as private partners and stakeholders.
1.8 What are the objectives of the National Fish Passage Program?
A. Objective 1: Implement cooperative and environmentally sound aquatic connectivity projects that benefit Federal trust species and natural and human communities. Staff implementing the program:
(1) Provide biological expertise, field support, and financial support to cooperative projects that result in improved fish passage, aquatic connectivity, and habitat restoration.
(2) Incorporate process-based restoration and nature-based solutions into project actions wherever possible, based on high quality data, including Indigenous Knowledge, that includes current and future hydrologic projections to restore systems that will be adaptable and resilient into the future.
(3) Assist in the recovery of endangered and threatened species and in precluding the need to list other species by addressing barriers to aquatic connectivity and reconnecting fluvial and tidal processes.
(4) Where applicable, ensure supported projects have net benefits for surrounding human communities, such as reduced flood risk, improved public safety, and increased access to recreational opportunities.
(5) Prior to action, the Service will ensure reconnection would not result in a net negative ecological effect. Project planning will carefully consider, minimize, and document impacts such as providing increased habitat to aquatic invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.
Learn more about invasive species , water quality, sedimentation, etc.
(6) Evaluate completed projects and document that they were implemented as designed to improve aquatic connectivity and benefit the intended target species.
B. Objective 2: Act as a catalyst for stewardship of fisheries resources through leadership, coordination, and partnerships. Staff implementing the program:
(1) Contribute expertise to achieve restoration and recovery goals identified in Federal trust species recovery and management plans, State wildlife management plans, or other watershed or habitat restoration plans related to Service aquatic trust species.
(2) Develop and maintain partnerships to implement fish passage and aquatic connectivity projects.
(3) Coordinate with Tribes, States, partners, and other Federal agencies to contribute to a national barrier database, as appropriate.
(4) Provide leadership in partner technical assistance and project planning for aquatic connectivity, including leveraging resources across agencies and funding opportunities to maximize the scope and scale of watershed reconnection and the delivery of projects.
(5) Coordinate and collaborate across Federal agencies to promote actions that maintain, restore, or improve aquatic connectivity and aquatic organism passage, and improve infrastructure resilience to climate change climate change
Climate change includes both global warming driven by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns. Though there have been previous periods of climatic change, since the mid-20th century humans have had an unprecedented impact on Earth's climate system and caused change on a global scale.
Learn more about climate change to achieve the following outcomes:
(a) Coordination on assessment, inventory, and prioritization of existing barriers to aquatic connectivity;
(b) Consistency in approaches across agencies to assess, design, prioritize, and implement solutions to improve aquatic connectivity, aquatic organism passage, and infrastructure resiliency to climate change;
(c) Coordination and support for technical training of Federal agency employees and involved partners on methods and approaches that provide practical and sustainable long-term solutions for addressing aquatic connectivity issues; and
(d) Coordination of funding and financial support for efforts to increase watershed-level aquatic connectivity efforts across various land ownership types.
(6) Participate in collaborative efforts to:
(a) Raise awareness of the benefits of fish passage projects and the problem created by restricted fish passage and articulate a national strategy to address barriers using available tools and resources;
(b) Create interagency and organizational efficiencies that reduce burden on agencies and partners applying for and managing Federal funding;
(c) Provide a forum to solve on-the-ground planning, funding, capacity, expertise, and other implementation issues; and
(d) Ensure that the benefits of fish passage and aquatic connectivity projects are available to and meet the needs of Tribes and achieve goals of investing in communities to provide benefits such as reduced flood risk, improved public safety, increased recreational opportunities, and socioeconomic investments.
C. Objective 3: Increase public understanding of problems affecting fish passage and build support for actions that improve aquatic connectivity. Staff implementing the program:
(1) Develop demonstration projects to illustrate fish passage and aquatic connectivity techniques in a variety of ecosystems.
(2) Develop and distribute to the public and conservation community educational materials in collaboration with communications staff that illustrate the species, watershed, and human community co-benefits of improved fish passage and aquatic connectivity.
(3) In collaboration with communications program staff, publicize through news media and other public communication platforms the benefits of, and provide recognition to, effective partnerships that result in improved fish passage.
1.9 How does the National Fish Passage Program support the Service’s mission? Restoring aquatic connectivity, fluvial and tidal processes, and native aquatic species access to historic habitats benefits interjurisdictional fish populations, Tribal trust species, piscivorous birds and mammals, migratory birds, threatened and endangered species, and some marine mammals. These benefits contribute to the conservation, protection, and enhancement of native fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. By integrating climate adaptation strategies and nature-based solutions into aquatic connectivity restoration actions, the program invests in climate-resilient aquatic connectivity solutions that benefit watersheds, species, and human communities, including Tribal and Indigenous lands and historically disadvantaged communities.
PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION
1.10 What technical assistance does the National Fish Passage Program provide? Service program coordinators and restoration field staff:
A. Lead and coordinate with partners for watershed prioritization and aquatic connectivity project planning, including assisting partners to leverage resources across agencies and use funding opportunities to maximize the scope and scale of watershed reconnection and delivery of projects.
B. Share information on watersheds, fluvial and tidal processes, and species habitat and aquatic connectivity needs.
C. Provide project planning, technical input, site survey, engineering design, and permitting support, including project design and specification review, to recommend the most effective techniques with consideration for durable, climate-resilient approaches.
D. Assist partners in watershed planning and prioritization of aquatic connectivity and fish passage projects, including restoring habitat corridors for Federal trust species across tidal and freshwater habitats to sustain biodiversity and enable native fish and wildlife to adapt to environmental conditions, such as changing temperatures and changing timing, distribution, and intensity of rainfall.
E. Incorporate climate-informed best practices, including process-based restoration solutions, into aquatic connectivity prioritization and project design approaches to achieve climate-resilient outcomes that are equitable, inclusive, and address disproportionate hazards for communities most vulnerable to impacts of changing weather.
F. Provide implementation assistance through use of project oversight and equipment operation teams to deliver on-the-ground restoration where such resources are available.
1.11 How does the Service implement National Fish Passage Program projects? Service program coordinators and restoration field staff are responsible for implementing aquatic connectivity restoration projects, which involves:
A. Documenting compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies in their project records. This includes, but is not limited to, documenting compliance with the Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Water Act, and Section 106 of the Historic Preservation Act. Staff must follow established processes to evaluate and document invasive species issues, whether or not the project site contains hazardous substances, and other issues relevant to State and local permits and requirements.
B. Coordinating and working as partners with other Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments; conservation organizations; private entities; and other Service programs to identify and implement aquatic connectivity restoration projects.
C. Ensuring project quality. Projects should incorporate the best available science and management practices.
(1) This includes identification of management goals, such as those outlined in species recovery and watershed restoration plans, and evaluation of population responses, where appropriate.
(2) Wherever possible, projects should focus on the removal of barriers and aquatic restoration using process-based design or other widely accepted stream restoration design methods to fully restore the fluvial process and reconnect floodplain or tidal processes. It is expected that projects that restore full fluvial or ecosystem function will have a higher likelihood of long-term success than projects that rely on fishways or other structures that require operations and maintenance or that may need to be modified to continue to provide passage with changing conditions. If projects are unable to fully remove a barrier and restore fluvial or tidal and sediment transport processes, we or our partners should prepare a detailed management plan with adaptive management actions and responsible parties identified as well as clear criteria for intervention.
(3) All projects must:
(a) Be cost-effective relative to local operating costs and commensurate with ecological outcomes;
(b) Reflect best available data, including considering current and future hydraulic projections and use of Indigenous Knowledge where available;
(c) Incorporate a range of natural variability including changing hydrologic conditions and temperatures; and
(d) Use process-based techniques, where possible, that provide for increased resilience and opportunity for climate adaptation.
D. Tracking and reporting program data and accomplishments. Program Managers, Project Leaders, and supervisors track accomplishments to meet requirements under the Government Performance and Results Act. They report the accomplishments in the program fish passage reporting system database. They document that projects were completed as designed. They also work with partners as necessary to secure high quality photographs of conditions before and after project completion to assist in reporting accomplishments.
1.12 What are the ranking factors for selecting National Fish Passage Program projects? Projects that receive the highest ranking are those that:
A. Show demonstrable ecological benefits for Federal trust species. Projects should significantly contribute to the recovery or conservation of and otherwise provide substantial benefits (such as opening access to high quality habitat) for Federal trust species or priority watersheds as identified in Regional priorities and relevant State and other watershed management plans.
B. Exhibit permanence of fish passage benefits. Projects should demonstrate a permanent, long-term benefit to fish passage and aquatic habitat connectivity, such as projects that restore a full fluvial or ecosystem process without (or with minimal) necessary reliance on periodic intervention or operations and management. Projects should strive to provide for fish passage and sustainable habitat quality through changing climactic and environmental conditions.
C. Make use of the most current scientific knowledge, including Indigenous Knowledge, and proven technology. While projects should generally use current and proven methods to effectively enhance fish passage, aquatic connectivity, and aquatic ecosystem restoration, it is also important to be mindful of opportunities to innovate and test emerging technologies that incorporate an appropriate associated level of monitoring and adaptive management, documenting results, and communicating lessons learned.
D. Demonstrate partner engagement and support of key stakeholders, such as the local community.
E. Generate maximum matching fund contributions. No matching funds are required on individual projects; however, we may give preference to projects leveraging partner support. The program strives for an overall 1:1 partner match, which may include both in-kind and financial resources. A strength of the program is the ability to develop partnerships to leverage technical and financial assistance to maximize conservation resources and benefits to native aquatic species.
F. Address objectives outlined in established prioritization or management plans. Preferred projects should address aquatic habitats, aquatic connectivity needs, and barriers identified in prioritization or management plans.
G. Benefit Indigenous or disadvantaged communities.
(1) The program strives to use Federal funds to benefit Indigenous communities, which include Indian Tribes (see 25 U.S.C. 5304(e) for a definition), Native Hawaiian Communities, Tribal commissions, Tribal consortia, and other Tribal organizations; and provides maximum discretion related to matching funds for projects led by these partners.
(2) The program also strives to benefit disadvantaged communities. We may evaluate projects to determine if the community has one of the following challenges (or others) and use maximum discretion related to matching funds in these situations:
(a) Low income or high poverty,
(b) High unemployment,
(c) Linguistic isolation, and
(d) Disproportionate impacts from climate change or other environmental stressors.
H. Engage in projects that demonstrate benefits for climate resiliency to the aquatic ecosystem and surrounding human community.
I. Consider watershed context. The program provides special consideration to projects that are important in the watershed context or that leverage other investments toward ecological restoration in the watershed.
1.13 What are the minimum requirements for all program-funded projects? All projects must:
A. Follow the program goals, objectives, selection criteria, and other requirements described in this chapter;
B. Be identified in the program fish passage reporting system and, upon completion, reported as an accomplishment following appropriate protocols, including photographs of pre- and post-project conditions to document habitat improvements and project success;
C. Indicate the species benefited and enumerate the number of barriers removed or bypassed, as well as river miles or riparian, floodplain, or wetland acres opened to trust species; and
D. Identify benefits such as improved access to spawning, rearing, or feeding habitats; improved water quality; improved tidal or fluvial processes; climate resilience; anticipated population response; and any benefits to human communities.
1.14 How does the Service use National Fish Passage Program funds?
A. Fish passage funds are allocated to Regional Directors to support the aquatic connectivity activities that meet the program goals and objectives.
B. Each Region has the authority to develop its own process for establishing and delineating geographic focus areas; however, all Regions must use a landscape-scale approach that integrates Department of the Interior and Service priorities, reflects needs of Federal Trust species, provides opportunity to address the program goals and objectives, and overlaps shared conservation objectives among our partners.
(1) Regional allocations.Regions must use fish passage project funds for projects that meet the program goals, objectives, and selection criteria.
(a) Direct costs: Regions must use at least 70 percent of fish passage project funds allocated each fiscal year for aquatic connectivity restoration activities that directly improve volitional fish passage and associated habitat conditions for trust species, including engineering design and other activities necessary to accomplish aquatic connectivity restoration.
(b) Indirect costs: Regions may use no more than 30 percent of fish passage project funds allocated each fiscal year for activities that indirectly support fish passage projects. These activities include project planning, project compliance, processing agreements, project oversight, outreach and partner coordination directly associated with projects, and developing and maintaining data associated with projects.
(2) Cost sharing by partners. We seek to secure at least 50 percent of total project costs from our partners and strive for an overall 1:1 partner cost share. This applies to the overall Regional program and does not need to be achieved on every project. Cost sharing (leverage) may be in-kind services or cash.
(3) Mitigation. Use of program funds for fish passage projects that are part of any Federal or State compensatory mitigation is prohibited. In-lieu fee programs and mitigation banks are mechanisms established to meet compensatory mitigation requirements. Fish passage projects are also not eligible for funding if fish passage is a condition provided by existing Federal or State regulatory programs. Use of program funds to construct, operate, or maintain fish passage at facilities actively licensed or permitted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is prohibited.