The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for waterfowl breeding grounds habitat work through the next three years. The proposals are due July 30, 2021.
Since 1965, LDWF has provided funding to support conservation of breeding grounds habitat for migratory waterfowl via a state statute that allocates a portion of annual hunting license revenue for that purpose. Specifically, R.S. 56:104(A)(1)(b) states:
“An amount equal to ten percent of the fees collected from the sale of hunting licenses shall be dedicated by the commission to the development and preservation of breeding grounds for migratory waterfowl, the funds to be expended for such purposes through Ducks Unlimited, Inc. or under the direction of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission at its discretion ...”
The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) passed a resolution at its June meeting establishing specific requirements for the proposals, including:
- The funds must be used solely to purchase through fee title or permanent conservation easement, breeding waterfowl habitat in the Prairie Pothole Region;
- Conservation entities seeking LDWF funding provide matching funds at least equivalent to the amount of their request;
- Indirect rates not exceeding 10% or that negotiated by the organization with North American Wetland Conservation Act (NAWCA) Council.
Go to https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/resources/category/commission-action-items to see the full resolution.
In the last three years, an average of $270,000 annually has been awarded for the protection, restoration and enhancement of breeding waterfowl habitat. The current contract expired on June 30. LDWF is soliciting three-year proposals for use of all or a portion of that funding during the July 2021 through June 2024 period. Multiple contracts for partial amounts of the available funding have been awarded in the past at the discretion of the LWFC.
Proposals must be submitted by July 30, 2021 to the LDWF Waterfowl Program Manager via regular mail, fax, or e-mail at:
Larry Reynolds, Waterfowl Program Manager
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
2000 Quail Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Office phone: 225-765-0456
Fax: 225-763-5456
E-mail: Lreynolds@wlf.la.gov
Organizations seeking LDWF funding will then present their proposals to the LWFC at its monthly meeting on Aug. 5, beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the Joe Herring Louisiana Room on the first floor of the LDWF Headquarters Building. Prospective grantees will be given 15 minutes to present proposals. LWFC will make public selection of proposals for funding and the amount awarded at their meeting on Sept. 2.
For more information, contact Larry Reynolds at 225-765-0456 or Lreynolds@wlf.la.gov.