# National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) Land Acquisition and Construction Program for Fiscal Year 2026

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/noaa-nos-ocm-2026-33239-national-estuarine-research-reserve-system-nerrs-land/  
Official notice: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/363229

> DOC NOAA - ERA Production offered grants of up to $3.0 million (at least $500,000) to the applicants described in the notice. It expected to make about 20 awards worth $8.5 million in total. Applications closed on September 30, 2026.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Opportunity number | NOAA-NOS-OCM-2026-33239 |
| Agency | DOC NOAA - ERA Production |
| Status | Forecast |
| Deadline | September 30, 2026 |
| Award ceiling | $3.0 million |
| Award floor | $500,000 |
| Expected awards | 20 |
| Total funding | $8.5 million |
| Cost sharing | required |
| Assistance Listings | 11.420 |

## Who can apply

- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

Eligible applicants are lead state agencies or universities designated to receive NERRS operations funding through a Memorandum of Understanding with NOAA in coastal states and territories.

## What the grant funds

The National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) consists of estuarine areas of the United States and its territories designated and managed for research and educational purposes (Reserve) as specified in 15 C.F.R. Part 921. By funding Reserve lead agencies and universities to conduct land acquisition and construction projects that support the NERRS mission, NOAA will strengthen protection of key land and water areas, enhance long-term protection of Reserve areas for research and education, and provide for facility and exhibit construction activities that meet the highest sustainable design standards possible. Each Reserve was designated to ensure its effectiveness as a conservation unit and as a site for long-term research and monitoring. In maintaining their effectiveness, the Reserves may find it necessary to expand their boundaries through strategically planned land acquisitions and/or to develop or enhance their reserve facilities, including their in-situ monitoring infrastructure, to meet the demands of research, monitoring, and education program objectives. NOAA anticipates approximately $8.5 million in Fiscal Year 2026 will be available to designated lead Reserve agencies or universities in coastal states. NOAA anticipates funding between 5-20 construction, acquisition, and/or planning & design projects. Project periods are expected to range from 12–36 months. Complex construction projects may request extended project periods, but the cumulative must not exceed 60 months. Final project selections are subject to availability of funds and negotiation with NOAA. Acquisition or construction projects have a $3,000,000 federal funding cap . Stand-alone planning and design projects have a $500,000 federal funding cap. At the discretion of NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management, up to 10% of the Fiscal Year 2026 funds will be reserved for critical reserve vehicle or vessel needs. These funds will be awarded noncompetitively to stand-alone vehicle or vessel project applications that address a critical reserve need.

## Questions people ask

### Is NOAA-NOS-OCM-2026-33239 still open?

No. It closed on September 30, 2026.

### Who can apply for National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) Land Acquisition and Construction Program for Fiscal Year 2026?

DOC NOAA - ERA Production accepted applications from the applicants described in the notice. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

### What is the deadline for National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) Land Acquisition and Construction Program for Fiscal Year 2026?

Closed September 30, 2026. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.

### How much funding is available?

Awards of up to $3.0 million each. About $8.5 million in total across about 20 awards.

### Who has won Coastal Zone Management Estuarine Research Reserves grants before?

The largest recipients over five fiscal years were Florida Department of Environmental Protection, University of South Carolina, University of Hawaii. The program made 290 awards worth $172 million in that time.