Watercraft Inspection Stations-Prevention (AIS) | BOR PN 19 N017

Opportunity Information: Apply for BOR PN 19 N017

The Watercraft Inspection Stations-Prevention (AIS) grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number BOR PN 19 N017) is a Bureau of Reclamation grant focused on stopping aquatic invasive species, specifically quagga and zebra mussels, from spreading into Washington State waters and the broader Columbia River Basin. The underlying problem driving the funding is that quagga/zebra mussel veligers (their larval stage) were detected in Eastern Montana reservoirs at Tiber and Canyon Ferry, signaling that these species are moving closer to major Columbia River Basin infrastructure such as hydroelectric dams and irrigation systems. At the same time, established mussel infestations in Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and California sit relatively near Oregon's southern and eastern border, creating additional pathways for mussels to be transported into the region by trailered boats and equipment. If invasive mussels become established in Washington, the state could face extremely expensive long-term mitigation at dams and irrigation facilities, potentially costing millions of dollars each year due to fouling of intake pipes, screens, and mechanical systems.

The project described in the opportunity is led by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and centers on building two permanent watercraft inspection stations in Eastern and Southeastern Washington. The stations are planned near Spokane and Plymouth, locations chosen because they sit along key travel corridors into the central Columbia River Basin. The intent is to intercept high-risk watercraft before they reach vulnerable waters, using inspection and prevention measures designed to identify boats that may be carrying mussels or other aquatic invasive species. These fixed highway inspection stations are meant to function as consistent, visible checkpoints on major routes where out-of-state or inter-basin boat traffic is most likely to enter the area.

In addition to the two permanent sites, WDFW will operate roving check stations at high volume and high priority watercraft launch ramps within the Central Columbia River Basin. These mobile stations are designed to complement the highway stations by covering locations where boat traffic concentrates, particularly during busy seasons or at ramps that pose elevated risk. The roving teams are intended to work in coordination with the static stations, effectively expanding coverage from road corridors to on-the-ground launch points, where inspections can directly prevent contaminated boats from being launched.

From an administrative standpoint, this is an earmark-category grant with a natural resources focus (CFDA 15.517). Eligibility is limited to state governments, and the awarding agency is the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation. The opportunity listed an original closing date of July 15, 2019, with an award ceiling of $242,772. The work is explicitly tied to broader regional and federal priorities, including direct support for the Quagga Zebra Action Plan (QZAP) and alignment with the Department of the Interior's Safeguarding the West from Invasive Species commitments, emphasizing prevention as the most cost-effective strategy compared with the long-term operational and maintenance burdens of a full-scale infestation.

• The Bureau of Reclamation in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Watercraft Inspection Stations-Prevention (AIS)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.517.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2019-07-01.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-07-15. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $242,772.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments.

Apply for BOR PN 19 N017

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