Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Funding

The application period for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding through GBEP for Federal Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023 is now closed. 

FY 22-23 BIL Proposals to GBEP

The Galveston Bay Estuary Program is formally seeking project proposals to consider for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Funds. Stakeholders from the subcommittees and the Galveston Bay Council met on August 24, 2022 to determine the priorities for the BIL Fund project planning. Three priorities were agreed upon for each Plan Priority from the Galveston Bay Plan, 2^nd Edition. Any proposal can be submitted, but those that implement the BIL Fund priorities will be considered above others:

Federal BIL Fund Stakeholder Identified Priorities:

Plan Priority 1: Ensure Safe Human and Aquatic Life Use

• Projects in support of: marine debris reduction, green infrastructure, watershed health, water reuse and conservation.
• Planning and implementation of management measures and watershed-based plans.
• Climate resilience; environmental monitoring (PP4). *

Plan Priority 2: Protect and Sustain Living Resources

• Habitat Conservation: benefit to native species must be addressed.
• Habitat Restoration and Enhancement: benefit to native species must be addressed.
• Habitat Restoration Assessments and Mapping Gaps; products must also include action item (list of restoration sites, etc.) (PP4). *

Plan Priority 3: Engage Communities

• Building new or existing programs with underrepresented communities.
• Continued identification and needs of underrepresented communities related to the Galveston Bay Plan, 2nd Edition.
• Implementing programs / partnerships with underrepresented communities.

Plan Priority 4: Inform Science-based Decision Making

• Adaptive Management – Support monitoring projects post-completion (successes, lessons learned) (PP2). *
• Environmental Monitoring – Species, Contaminants, Novel Monitoring Approaches (PP1). *
• Climate resilience; novel monitoring approaches.

*Indicates cross-plan priorities

A copy of the BIL Funding Presentation is available for reference to assist with the application process.

The proposal form is available through the following link: GBEP BIL Funding Proposal Template. Please fill out all fields of the proposal form and return to the GBEP Proxy Email by COB Friday, September 16, 2022.

Please note the following:

• The 1,000-word maximum on the Full Project Summary will be strictly enforced.
• Only Microsoft Word versions of a proposal will be accepted (No PDFs; please contact the appropriate Subcommittee Coordinator if there is an issue).
• No projects will be accepted after September 16, 2022.

Funding for Fiscal Year 2024

The application period for Clean Water Act Funding through GBEP for FY2024 is now closed. 

Information on the project priorities for FY24 projects can be found below. Projects that align with the implementation of The Galveston Bay Plan, 2nd Edition will be considered above others:

WSQ

• Supporting Management Measures and Watershed-Based Plans
• Soil Health Studies, Workshops, and Green Infrastructure
• Targeted/Direct Monitoring

NRU

• Habitat Acquisition
• Enhancement of Existing or Ongoing Restoration/Conservation Efforts
• Benefit to Native Fish and Wildlife
• Brings Funding, Work Leverage, Multiple Goal Benefit to the Subcommittee
• Project Urgency
• Special Merit Project (Expansion of GBEP Implementation Tracking Viewer: Adding Spatial Components to Project Tracking (Alternative to the Habitat Conservation Blueprint))

PPE

• Lack of funding or difficulty for securing funding for existing programs. Look for established programs looking to expand an outreach component or revamp an existing portion of the program. Funding for programs to go into the classrooms to provide educational workshops.
• Career information on natural resource, environmental education, and outreach for community college programs. How to connect (Roadmap) to STEM careers and resources to support them.
• Collecting a list of stewardship and volunteer resources in the region (young adult, adult audiences, afterschool programs).
• Addresses diversity, equity, and inclusion.

M&R

• Contaminants in Aquatic Organisms, Sediments, and Water
• Effects of Increased Frequency of Flood Tides and Erosion on Species Populations
• Effects of Tropicalization and Episodic Weather Events on Organisms and Ecosystems in Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico
• Impacts of Coastal Spine Structures on Species Movements

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Please note the following:

• The 1,000-word maximum on the Full Project Summary will be strictly enforced.
• Only Microsoft Word versions of a proposal will be accepted (No PDFs).
• No projects will be accepted after July 22, 2022.

Please fill out all fields of the appropriate subcommittee proposal form and return it by COB Friday, July 22, 2022 to the corresponding Subcommittee Coordinator:

The Galveston Bay Estuary Program is also formally seeking project proposals for the CCMP Update in FY 2024. An updated CCMP can take the form of:

• an Addendum to the Galveston Bay Plan, 2nd Edition (GBP, 2nd Ed.);
• a Strategic Plan or updated Implementation Plan that serves as a companion piece to the GBP, 2nd Ed.; or
• changes to Action Plans in the GBP, 2nd Ed.

The CCMP Update will need to incorporate information through the Galveston Bay Estuary Resiliency Assessment, along with complying with steps within the NEP CCMP Update Guidance.

Please fill out all fields on the proposal form and return it to Lisa Marshall by COB Friday, July 22, 2022.