Great Lakes Restoration (15.662)
Great Lakes Restoration (Assistance Listing 15.662) is run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, part of the Department of the Interior. It awarded $155 million in 164 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $946,730 per award on average. 3 funding opportunities are open or forecast now.
The typical award was $259,830. Half of the 164 awards fell between $100,000 and $667,902, and they ranged from $6,635 to $17.3 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$155 million
- Grant awards164
- Typical award$259,830
- Awarded in FY 2025$7.9 million
- Size rank677 of 1,823
- Type of assistanceProject grants (discretionary)
Key findings
- Annual funding fell from $28.9 million in fiscal 2021 to $7.9 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 677th largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 98% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 14 states and territories.
What the program funds
The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) provides environmental and public health benefits to the region’s twenty million Americans who rely on the Great Lakes for drinking water, recreation, and fishing. GLRI also fuels local and regional economies across the basin. Technical and financial assistance are provided in five focus areas: Toxic Substances and Areas of Concern, Invasive Species, Nonpoint Source Pollution, Habitats and Species, and Foundations for Future Restoration Actions.
Open opportunities
- F26AS00084 Aquatic Invasive Species Grants to Great Lakes Tribes - Fiscal Year 2026 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
- F26AS00085 Aquatic Invasive Species Interjurisdictional Grants to the Great Lakes States and Tribes - Fiscal Year 2026 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
- F26AS00083 Aquatic Invasive Species Grants to Great Lakes States - Fiscal Year 2026 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
Program-specific.
What the money can and cannot pay for
Funds are provided for projects that address aquatic and terrestrial invasive species, environmental contaminants, nonpoint source pollution impacts, and protection and restoration of fish, wildlife, and their habitats in the Great Lakes. Funding for land acquisition and construction projects associated with ecological restoration, e.g. dam removal, river connectivity restoration, coastal and upland habitat restoration etc., is eligible under this program.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. Program requirements are specified in the announcements of the individual financial assistance programs. More information on Great Lakes Restoration Initiative programs is available at http://www.fws.gov/glri.MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines Contact the USFWS Midwest Regional Office for program application deadlines.
Award range and average, in the agency's words
Projects may range from $1,000 to $1,000,000, or greater.
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2025: Funded activities directly address the goals and objectives identified in the GLRI Action Plan IV (https://www.glri.us) and include restoration, protection and enhancement of coastal, terrestrial and wetland habitat for migratory birds and nearshore aquatic species; restoration of riverine habitats to improve aquatic habitat connectivity for fish and other aquatic organisms; prevention, early detection and control of invasive species such as invasive carp; restoration of native aquatic species, such as Lake Trout and Lake Sturgeon, to self-sustaining levels.Fiscal Year2026: Projects anticipated to be funded include restoration, protection and enhancement of coastal, terrestrial and wetland habitat for migratory birds and nearshore aquatic species; restoration of riverine habitats to improve aquatic habitat connectivity for fish and other aquatic organisms; prevention, early detection and control of invasive species such as invasive carp; restoration of native aquatic species, such as Lake Trout and Lake Sturgeon, to self-sustaining levels
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Great Lakes Restoration (15.662) awarded $155 million across 164 grant awards, an average of $946,730 per award.
Who usually wins
State and local governments received 51% of the money, nonprofits 41% and colleges and universities 6.2%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| State and local governments | 81 | $79.5 million | 51% |
| Nonprofits | 23 | $63.1 million | 41% |
| Colleges and universities | 38 | $9.6 million | 6.2% |
| Other | 13 | $2.0 million | 1.3% |
| Tribal governments and organizations | 8 | $761,874 | 0.5% |
| Businesses | 1 | $281,839 | 0.2% |
By state
9 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 6 | $55.1 million |
| Illinois | 13 | $45.6 million |
| Michigan | 73 | $23.7 million |
| Ohio | 10 | $9.5 million |
| Minnesota | 13 | $4.8 million |
| Wisconsin | 15 | $4.8 million |
| New York | 12 | $4.6 million |
| Pennsylvania | 7 | $3.5 million |
| Indiana | 9 | $2.2 million |
| North Carolina | 1 | $499,863 |
| Montana | 1 | $299,742 |
| Maryland | 1 | $267,750 |
| West Virginia | 2 | $255,494 |
| Georgia | 1 | $200,834 |