The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) released the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the National Culvert Removal, Replacement, and Restoration Grant Program. The competitive grant program will fund the replacement, removal, repair, and improvement of culverts or weirs that would meaningfully improve or restore fish passage for anadromous fish. Local governments are eligible to apply, as are states and tribal entities.

In the NOFO, the program is referred to as the Culvert Aquatic Organism Passage (Culvert AOP) Program. The Culvert AOP Program was authorized in the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for FY 2022 through FY 2026. $196 million in funding is available for FY 2022.

Projects need to demonstrate a transportation nexus. Project bundling is permitted, and eligible applicants may work with other entities to propose a project. The federal cost share requirement is 80% federal/20% non-federal for urban projects and up to 100% federal funding for projects located in rural areas or historically disadvantaged communities. The application deadline is February 6, 2023. Check out the program fact sheet to learn more.

All applications must be submitted through www.grants.gov which requires applicants to have a unique identification number from www.sam.gov. The process to obtain an identification number can take weeks, so applicants should start the process early and in parallel to developing a grant application.

DOT will host a virtual information session about the program on October 26, 2022, from 1:30 to 3 pm Eastern time. To join the webinar, register by following the instructions posted here. The webinar will be recorded and posted on the program website.