Requests for Proposals

The Patrick Leahy Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP), in coordination with the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC), is pleased to announce a Request for Pre-proposals (RFPP) for projects that will directly address the research tasks outlined in our management plan  Opportunities for Action: An Evolving Plan for the Future of the Lake Champlain Basin. The intent of this funding opportunity is to invite a wide range of innovative and effective research projects that will address the complex challenges facing Lake Champlain and its watershed.

Grants of $25,000-$400,000 will be awarded. One or more pre-proposal(s) may be submitted per eligible organization or entity. LCBP anticipates granting multiple awards from this RFPP.

The pre-proposal is a very brief application to introduce a research project. Application questions and character limits are included below, which total roughly three pages of text. After review of the submitted pre-proposals, a subset of applicants will be asked to submit a full proposal for funding consideration for projects to begin in early 2028. Pre-proposals not invited for full proposal consideration in this cycle may be revised and submitted for future funding opportunities. All awards are subject to available funding.

LCBP seeks pre-proposals for projects that address any research-oriented strategies and tasks outlined in Opportunities for Action and that contribute toward the LCBP mission. Pre-proposals should address one or more specific priorities listed under a research track listed in Section III of this RFPP, or apply to Track 1 (General Opportunities for Action).

We anticipate these projects will be supported by funds awarded to NEIWPCC by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on behalf of the Lake Champlain Basin Program, and in partnership with the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. Proposals should offer a scope that supports work within the Lake Champlain Basin. Partial funding of total application requests may be awarded if agreeable to the applicant. All awards are subject to funding availability.

Anticipated Project Timeline
Successful applicants will complete projects according to the following schedule (subject to change)

*Work may not begin on the funded tasks of the project until a signed, fully executed agreement is in place with NEIWPCC or the GLFC.

Work is expected to begin no earlier than January 2028 and, in most cases, should be completed within 3 years after the start date.

Late or incomplete pre-proposals will not be considered.

Please direct all inquiries to:
Dr. Matthew Vaughan, LCBP Chief Scientist
mvaughan@lcbp.org

Grant writing resources can be found on the LCBP Grantee Toolkit web page.

The intent of this funding opportunity is to advance water quality projects in the Lake Champlain basin to reduce pollution to Lake Champlain by supporting planning and implementation projects.

The Patrick Leahy Lake Champlain Basin Program (“LCBP”), in coordination with the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (“NEIWPCC”), is pleased to announce a Request for Proposals (RFP) for projects that will directly support the Healthy Ecosystem goals of Opportunities for Action: An Evolving Plan for the Future of the Lake Champlain Basin through on-the-ground implementation that will preserve, restore, or improve native species habitat in the Lake Champlain Basin. The intent of this funding opportunity is to improve wetland, riparian, or aquatic habitat, to restore and maintain a healthy and diverse fish and aquatic life community, to implement flood resilient practices, or to better understand native species and their habitats. Projects might include riparian plantings, native species surveys, or identification and conservation prioritization of critical habitat.

Approximately $694,000 in funding is available to support awarded projects. Grants of up to $50,000 will be awarded in the Healthy Ecosystems – Habitat and Native Species (HE-HNS) Small grant category. Grants between $50,001-$175,000 will be awarded in the HE-HNS Large grant category. One proposal per category may be submitted per eligible organization or entity. LCBP anticipates granting multiple awards from this RFP.

This grant opportunity is supported by funds awarded to NEIWPCC by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on behalf of the Lake Champlain Basin Program, and in partnership with the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. Partial funding of total application requests may be awarded if agreeable to the applicant. All awards are subject to funding availability.

Anticipated Project Timeline

Successful applicants will complete projects according to the following schedule (subject to change)

*Work may not begin on the funded tasks of the project until a signed, fully executed agreement is in place with NEIWPCC or GLFC.

LATE OR INCOMPLETE PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED

Please direct all inquiries to:
Meg Modley, LCBP Healthy Ecosystems and AIS Program Manager
Email: mmodley@lcbp.org
Phone: 802-372-0215

Grant writing resources can be found on the LCBP Grantee Toolkit web page.

The Patrick Leahy Lake Champlain Basin Program (“LCBP”), in coordination with the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (“NEIWPCC”), is pleased to announce a Request for Proposals (RFP) for projects that will directly support the Healthy Ecosystem goals of Opportunities for Action: An Evolving Plan for the Future of the Lake Champlain Basin through on-the-ground implementation projects that will directly prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species within or to the Lake Champlain Basin or manage their impacts in the Lake Champlain Basin. The intent of these funding opportunities are to prevent the establishment of new aquatic invasive species populations and address existing aquatic invasive species populations through management efforts to contain or reduce population size.

Approximately $465,000 in funding is available to support awarded projects. Grants of up to $25,000 will be awarded for Healthy Ecosystems – Aquatic Invasive Species Spread Prevention and Management projects, and up to $200,000 will be awarded for Healthy Ecosystems – Infrastructure Grants for Aquatic Invasive Species Spread Prevention and Management projects. One proposal per funding opportunity may be submitted per eligible organization or entity. LCBP anticipates granting multiple awards from this RFP.

These grant opportunities are supported by funds awarded to NEIWPCC by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on behalf of the Lake Champlain Basin Program, and in partnership with the Great Lakes Fishery Commission.  Partial funding of total application requests may be awarded if agreeable to the applicant. All awards are subject to funding availability.

Anticipated Project Timeline

Successful applicants will complete projects according to the following schedule (subject to change)

*Work may not begin on the funded tasks of the project until a signed, fully executed agreement is in place with NEIWPCC or GLFC.

LATE OR INCOMPLETE PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

Please direct all inquiries to:
Meg Modley, LCBP Healthy Ecosystems and AIS Program Manager
Email: mmodley@lcbp.org
Phone: 802-372-0215

Grant writing resources can be found on the LCBP Grantee Toolkit web page.

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.

The Patrick Leahy Lake Champlain Basin Program (“LCBP”), in coordination with the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (“NEIWPCC”), is pleased to announce a Request for Proposals (RFP) for projects that will directly support the Informed and Involved Public goal of Opportunities for Action: An Evolving Plan for the Future of the Lake Champlain Basin. The intent of this funding opportunity is to support efforts to enhance the knowledge and understanding by members of the public, including children and adults, of the water quality and ecosystem health issues identified in Opportunities for Action and/or foster informed decision-making, individual action, and behavior change that will benefit Lake Champlain.

Approximately $320,000 in funding is available to support awarded projects. Grants of up to $15,000 will be awarded. One proposal may be submitted per eligible organization or entity. LCBP anticipates granting multiple award(s) from this RFP.

This grant opportunity is supported by funds awarded to NEIWPCC by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on behalf of the Lake Champlain Basin Program, and in partnership with the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. Proposals should offer a scope that supports work within the Lake Champlain Basin. All awards are subject to funding availability.

Anticipated Project Timeline
Successful applicants will complete projects according to the following schedule (subject to change)

*Work may not begin on the funded tasks of the project until a signed, fully executed agreement is in place with NEIWPCC.

LATE OR INCOMPLETE PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

Please direct all inquiries to:
Ryan Mitchell, Education and Outreach Program Manager
Email: rmitchell@lcbp.org
Phone: 802-372-0212

Grant writing resources can be found on the LCBP Grantee Toolkit web page.

The intent of this funding opportunity is to support efforts to enhance the knowledge and understanding by members of the public, including children and adults, of the water quality and ecosystem health issues identified in Opportunities for Action and/or to foster informed decision-making, individual action, and behavior change that will benefit Lake Champlain.

Anticipated Project Timeline
Successful applicants will complete projects according to the following schedule (subject to change)

*Work may not begin on the funded tasks of the project until a signed, fully executed agreement is in place with NEIWPCC.

The intent of this funding opportunity is to assist watershed
organizations with the early stages of their development or to assist established
watershed organizations in strengthening their organizational capacity. The goal is to
increase an organization’s capacity to achieve their mission, not to develop new
programming or education and outreach efforts (this work can be requested in other
LCBP grant competitions). All organizations seeking grants in this category must have
an organizational mission statement focused on achieving water quality improvements
in the Lake Champlain watershed.

Anticipated Project Timeline
Successful applicants will complete projects according to the following schedule
(subject to change)

*Work may not begin on the funded tasks of the project until a signed, fully executed agreement is in place with NEIWPCC.

The Patrick Leahy Lake Champlain Basin Program (“LCBP”), in coordination with the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (“NEIWPCC”), is pleased to announce a Request for Proposals (RFP) for projects that will directly support the Informed and Involved Public goals of Opportunities for Action: An Evolving Plan for the Future of the Lake Champlain Basin by funding community partners to complete Lake Wise, Stream Wise, or Rain Wise educational property assessments in the local Lake Champlain Basin communities they serve. The intent of this funding opportunity is to support and fund selected applicants to inform and engage landowners to better
manage their properties for clean water, natural resources, biodiversity, ecological resilience, and flooding. This funding also will guide landowners through the process of capturing and slowing stormwater runoff by connecting them to the information, funding, expertise, and support they need.

Grants of up to $25,000 will be awarded. Selected applicants with active grant contracts will also be eligible to separately submit purchase order requests through LCBP or GLFC (of up to $10,000 each) for supplies and materials to install or maintain approved best management practice projects identified during the Lake Wise, Stream Wise, or Rain Wise assessments. Approximately $438,000 in funding is available to support this initiative. One proposal may be submitted per eligible organization or entity. LCBP anticipates issuing multiple awards from this RFP.

This grant opportunity is supported by funds awarded to NEIWPCC by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on behalf of the Lake Champlain Basin Program, and in partnership with the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. Proposals should offer a scope that supports work in the Lake Champlain Basin. All awards are subject to funding availability.

Anticipated Project Timeline
Successful applicants will complete projects according to the following schedule (subject to change)

*Work may not begin on the funded tasks of the project until a signed, fully executed agreement is in place with NEIWPCC or GLFC.

LATE OR INCOMPLETE PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

Please direct all inquiries to:

Lauren Jenness Kneen, Environmental Analyst
Email: ljenness@lcbp.org
Phone: 802-372-0223

Grant writing resources can be found on the LCBP Grantee Toolkit web page.

The intent of this grant category is to assist organizations focused on water quality or watershed ecosystem health working in the New York portion of the Lake Champlain basin to strengthen their organizational capacity. Requested funds should be applied to environmental-related activities, workforce development, or professional development support. LCBP’s annual Organizational Support grant opportunity supports administrative-related organizational capacity needs.

The intent of this funding opportunity is to support development of sustainable Artist-in-Residence programs that will recruit artists to obtain and use scientific data, cultural trends, or historical facts to increase interpretation of natural resources within the Lake Champlain basin.

Ce projet sollicite des propositions pour un programme de résidence d’artistes au Québec, qui recrutera des artistes chargés d’utiliser des données scientifiques, des tendances culturelles ou des faits historiques pour l’interprétation de ressources naturelles et culturelles dans le bassin du lac Champlain. Le projet retenu visera à inspirer et à informer les membres de la communauté sur l’environnement, le patrimoine culturel ou les questions sociales liés au lac, au moyen de supports créatifs.

(up to $500/year)

These mini-grants provide professional development funds for the staff and volunteers of qualified watershed organizations in the Lake Champlain Basin, to cover expenses such as travel, meals, registration and accommodations at meetings, conferences, workshops and other venues designed to enhance the organizations’ capacity to operate.

Download the Watershed Association Professional Development Mini-Grants: Instructions, Application & Reimbursement Form →

(up to $1000/year)

These mini-grants provide educators with funds to buy materials for their classroom that will aid in teaching students about Lake Champlain Basin issues. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Download the Educator Mini-Grants: Instructions, Application & Reimbursement Form →

The intent of this funding opportunity is to measurably improve public access to waterfront recreation opportunities in the watershed to enhance the enjoyment, understanding, and appreciation of the Lake Champlain Basin’s natural and cultural resources.

The Patrick Leahy Lake Champlain Basin Program (“LCBP”) and the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (“NEIWPCC”) are pleased to announce a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the acquisition of land or conservation easements on land located in the U.S. portion of the Lake Champlain Basin to further LCBP’s goals, as outlined in LCBP’s Management Plan entitled Opportunities for Action: An Evolving Plan for the Future of the Lake Champlain Basin (OFA).

Awards from this competition will support projects resulting in the acquisition of fee simple interest or conservation easements with the primary goal of advancing Clean Water and Healthy Ecosystems in alignment with LCBP’s core goals. Priority will be given to projects that protect or improve water quality, enhance aquatic, riparian, or shoreline habitat for native species or provide flood resiliency. Opportunities to increase public access for recreation, along with other benefits consistent with LCBP goals and OFA, will be considered as co-benefits but should not be the primary purpose of projects supported through this program.   

Eligible costs supported by this award include the purchase price of the fee simple interest or conservation easement to be held and conserved in perpetuity. Costs leading to the purchase of a fee simple interest or conservation easement also are eligible, including, but not limited to, the cost of title insurance, surveying and mapping expenses, appraisal costs, closing costs, including documentation and legal fees, the cost of developing conservation management plans, stewardship expenses, and staffing expenses to prepare a purchase or easement, including outreach to communities in support of the agreement. Projects that include acquisition of the identified parcel(s) or conservation easement(s) are likely to be more competitive.

Eligible organizations are entities authorized by the corresponding State law (New York or Vermont) to hold conservation easements or property titles within these jurisdictions. These entities may include land trusts, not-for-profit organizations, or non-federal/non-state government entities.

Requests for funds solely to support stewardship costs associated with existing conserved lands will not be considered.

Up to approximately $3,400,000 is available to support awarded projects. Each applicant may request a minimum of $100,000 up to a maximum of $3,000,000 for an individual proposal. Multiple proposals will be accepted from a single organization in response to this RFP.

This grant opportunity is supported by funds awarded to NEIWPCC on behalf of the LCBP by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Anticipated Project Timeline:
Successful applicants will complete projects according to the following schedule (subject to change):

^*Work may not begin on the funded tasks of the project until a signed, fully executed agreement is in place with NEIWPCC.

Please direct all inquiries to:
Mae Kate Campbell, LCBP Associate Scientist
Email: mkcampbell
Phone: (802) 372-0220

Grant writing resources can be found on the LCBP Grantee Toolkit web page.

The intent of this funding opportunity is to measurably enhance the native plant supply available to local organizations for habitat conservation projects that benefit Lake Champlain.

Anticipated Project Timeline

Successful applicants will complete projects according to the following schedule (subject to change)

*Work may not begin on the funded tasks of the project until a signed, fully executed agreement is in place with NEIWPCC.

The intent of this funding opportunity is to increase the quantity and quality of wetlands and floodplains in the U.S. portion of the Lake Champlain basin by conserving and restoring wetland and floodplain acreage and improve the condition of these sites.

The intent of this funding opportunity is to secure the services of a qualified consulting firm to review, assess, and ensure Build America, Buy America Act compliance for NEIWPCC-LCBP subrecipients on projects supported with the 2022 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act program.