Applications open for Easement Restoration and Stewardship (United States)

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) invites applications for the Easement Restoration and Stewardship opportunity (USDA-NHQ-ACEP-26-NOFO0001456). This cooperative agreement supports work on lands protected through USDA easement programs, including wetland restoration, floodplain restoration, ongoing stewardship, and easement assessments. The application deadline is 19 November 2026 at 11:59 pm Eastern Time. Opportunity at a Glance

- Funding opportunity number: USDA-NHQ-ACEP-26-NOFO0001456

- Opportunity title: Easement Restoration and Stewardship

- Funding organization (grantor/agency): Department of Agriculture — Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

- Funding instrument type: Cooperative Agreement

- Opportunity category: Discretionary

- Assistance listings (programs):

- 10.072 — Wetlands Reserve Program - 10.928 — Emergency Watershed Protection Program – Floodplain Easements – Disaster Relief Appropriations Act - 10.931 — Agricultural Conservation Easement Program

- Expected number of awards: 4

- Estimated total program funding (award ceiling): Up to $5,000,000

- Award floor: $250,000

- Cost sharing / matching requirement: No

- Posted date: Sep 25, 2026

- Last updated date: Sep 22, 2026

- Application deadline: Nov 19, 2026 — 11:59 pm Eastern Time

- Archive date: Dec 19, 2026

- Eligible applicants (high level): Qualified organizations and entities including certain nonprofits (501(c)(3)), state and local governments, tribal organizations, small businesses, and higher education institutions (details below)

About the Opportunity

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) supports activities associated with easements protected through: - the Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE) component of the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), and - the Floodplain Easement (FPE) component of the Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWPP). The opportunity focuses on three primary categories of work: - Restoration of wetland and floodplain easements - Stewardship of wetland and floodplain easements - Onsite and offsite assessment of easement conditions Funding and Benefits - Total award pool / program funding: Up to $5,000,000 (estimated total program funding; exact distribution across awards not specified in the source excerpt)

- Maximum and minimum award guidance:

- Award ceiling: $5,000,000

- Award floor: $250,000

- Cost share / matching: Not required (“Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: No”)

The NOFO is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning awards are made to carry out the specified work with the agency in an implementation partnership (specific partnership terms are not detailed in the provided excerpt). Who Is Eligible? Eligible applicants (as listed on Grants.gov) include: - Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education - For-profit organizations other than small businesses - State governments - Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) - Small businesses - Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) - Public and State controlled institutions of higher education - Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education - County governments - Special district governments - Private institutions of higher education - City or township governments Note: The “Additional Information on Eligibility” field is present in the source but not specified in the source excerpt. Applicants should consult the full NOFO documents for any further eligibility constraints. Eligible Activities or Priority Areas Awardees are expected to support work in three components:

Component 1: Wetland and Floodplain Easement Restoration

Awardees work with NRCS personnel, partners, and landowners to develop and implement restoration plans. Plans may include: - Structural practices (e.g., levees and water control structures), and/or - Vegetative establishment practices (e.g., tree planting). The restoration activities include (as described in the source):

- Coordination: Accept input on restoration planning from NRCS employees, NRCS partners, and easement owners.

- Investigation: Complete technical surveys such as topographic, hydrological, or habitat inventories.

- Restoration Design: Develop functional, cost-effective restoration plans using survey and coordination data.

- Implementation: Apply the restoration design using NRCS-provided practice standards and specifications.

NRCS wetland and floodplain easements may have varying levels of restoration planning already completed. Awardees will receive relevant planning information, and the awardee must be prepared to complete some or all listed restoration activities.

Component 2: Wetland and Floodplain Easement Stewardship

Awardees are responsible for stewardship activities on restored easements, including repair, maintenance, management, and enhancement. This includes:

- Repair and Enhancement:

- develop repair or enhancement plans - repairs may address failed or damaged conservation practices (structural and/or vegetative restoration)

- Maintenance and Management:

- develop maintenance and management plans to prolong life and improve the function of installed practices (e.g., mowing schedules to prevent woody vegetation)

Component 3: Easement Assessments

Awardees complete onsite and offsite easement assessments, documenting: - habitat condition of easements - compliance with deed terms and conditions Awardees use assessment data to determine ecological condition and, if needed, develop repair, enhancement, and/or maintenance plans. Why This Opportunity Matters This opportunity supports practical conservation work on NRCS-managed easements tied to wetland and floodplain environments. It funds end-to-end implementation tasks—ranging from technical surveys and restoration design to longer-term stewardship and compliance-focused assessments—aimed