National Wetlands Inventory (15.665)
National Wetlands Inventory (Assistance Listing 15.665) is run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, part of the Department of the Interior. It awarded $3.3 million in 17 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $196,830 per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $142,000. Half of the 17 awards fell between $40,000 and $273,583, and they ranged from $9,275 to $905,039.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$3.3 million
- Grant awards17
- Typical award$142,000
- Awarded in FY 2025$640,616
- Size rank1693 of 1824
- Type of assistanceProject grants (discretionary)
Key findings
- Annual funding fell from $1.2 million in fiscal 2021 to $640,616 in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 1693rd largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 7 largest recipients received 100% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 6 states and territories.
What the program funds
Emergency Wetlands Resources Act - National Wetlands Inventory, 16 U.S.C. §3901 and §§3931-3932. The Emergency Wetlands Resource Act requires the National Wetlands Inventory Program (NWI) to map wetlands of the nation, digitize the maps, archive and distribute the data, and produce a 10-year national wetlands status and trends report to Congress.
Open opportunities
No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
Organizations receiving financial assistance must be experienced in image-interpretation for wetlands and for arid western riparian for targeted ecosystems using National standards (Cowardin et al. 1979 and Wetlands Mapping Standard 2009); in wetlands mapping or delivery research or technologies, or in supporting activities (e.g. mapping standards training or analysis) for wetlands mapping; or have the project-specific imagery or ancillary data needed for wetlands mapping. Based on Agency need, financial assistance, in general, is available to qualified Americans, profit or nonprofit corporations or institutions, domestic organizations, and Federal, State, Tribal, Territorial, and local agencies.
What the money can and cannot pay for
Recipients are required to map wetlands using available aerial and satellite imagery according to the Federal Geospatial Data Committee wetland mapping and classification standards. Draft data must undergo quality control before being submitted to the program for final review. Funding cannot be used for land purchase and/or construction projects.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines Contact the NWI Branch Manager. See: https://www.fws.gov/program/national-wetlands-inventory/contact-us
Award range and average, in the agency's words
$30,000-$150,000
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2025: The National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) Program received two applications for new projects and two amendments for ongoing projects. The amendments increased the area of NWI wetlands geospatial data produced in the Prairie Pothole Region, Mississippi River Valley, and Virginia by approximately 760,000 acres. The new projects supported NWI wetland mapping in Pennsylvania and Alaska.Fiscal Year2026: Program has not yet selected projects for funding. Program anticipates funding projects that will produce maps and geospatial data of American wetland and deepwater habitats.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, National Wetlands Inventory (15.665) awarded$3.3 million across 17 grant awards, an average of $196,830 per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Marys University of Minnesota | Minnesota | 4 | $1.5 million |
| Ducks Unlimited, Inc. | Michigan | 8 | $1.1 million |
| Ducks Unlimited, Inc. | Tennessee | 1 | $611,000 |
| University of Maryland, College Park | Maryland | 1 | $34,998 |
| University of Alaska Anchorage | Alaska | 1 | $32,250 |
| Department of Environmental Conservation Vermont | Vermont | 1 | $30,000 |
| Alaska Department of Natural Resources | Alaska | 1 | $9,275 |
Who usually wins
Nonprofits received 52% of the money, colleges and universities 47% and state and local governments 1.2%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonprofits | 9 | $1.7 million | 52% |
| Colleges and universities | 6 | $1.6 million | 47% |
| State and local governments | 2 | $39,275 | 1.2% |
By state
2 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards. They are Minnesota and Michigan.