Opportunity Information: Apply for FY2022 CULVERT AOP PROGRAM
The Fiscal Year 2022 National Culvert Removal, Replacement, and Restoration Grant Program, commonly called the Culvert AOP (Aquatic Organism Passage) Program, is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Federal Highway Administration. The program sits in the transportation funding space, but its central purpose is ecological: it supports on-the-ground infrastructure projects that improve or restore passage for anadromous fish by fixing barriers in streams and rivers where roads and other structures intersect waterways.
At its core, the program funds projects that remove, replace, repair, or otherwise improve culverts and weirs that block or restrict fish movement. These kinds of structures are common pinch points in river systems, and when they are undersized, perched, poorly aligned, or in disrepair, they can prevent fish from reaching spawning and rearing habitat. By investing in redesign or removal of these barriers, the program aims to reconnect habitat and restore natural aquatic connectivity, which can have direct benefits for fish populations and broader ecosystem health.
The selection priorities are explicitly tied to federal species protection and recovery needs. Projects receive priority if they improve passage for anadromous fish stocks in one or more high-value categories identified in statute. This includes (A) stocks already listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act, (B) stocks that NMFS or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service believe could reasonably become listed in the future, (C) stocks identified as prey supporting endangered, threatened, or otherwise protected species, with a specific callout to Southern resident orcas, and (D) stocks identified by NMFS or USFWS as climate resilient. In practical terms, the program is designed to steer funding toward projects that advance species recovery, reduce the risk of future listings, support food webs for protected wildlife, and strengthen populations expected to persist under changing climate conditions.
Another key priority is the amount of habitat reconnected by the project. The program favors projects that would open more than 200 meters of upstream anadromous habitat before the end of the natural habitat. This emphasis encourages applicants to target barrier removals or replacements that produce meaningful, measurable gains in accessible habitat, rather than small improvements with limited ecological return.
From the published opportunity details, the funding instrument is a grant and the activity category is transportation (CFDA 20.205). The opportunity was created on October 6, 2022, with an original application closing date of February 6, 2023. The award ceiling listed is $20,000,000, and the program anticipated making around 200 awards, signaling an intent to fund a relatively broad portfolio of projects across multiple locations rather than only a small number of large projects. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others" with additional eligibility clarification referenced in the full notice, indicating that applicants may extend beyond a narrow set of entities and should confirm specific eligibility requirements in the detailed application instructions.
Overall, this grant program is aimed at solving a common infrastructure-related environmental problem, using transportation grant tools to deliver fish passage and habitat connectivity outcomes. The strongest applications, based on the stated priorities, are likely to be those that remove or correct major passage barriers, clearly benefit anadromous stocks with ESA or agency-identified conservation significance, and document that the project will reconnect substantial upstream habitat (especially beyond the 200-meter threshold) in a way that is durable and supportive of long-term resilience.Apply for FY2022 CULVERT AOP PROGRAM
- The Department of Transportation, DOT Federal Highway Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fiscal Year 2022 National Culvert Removal, Replacement, and Restoration Grant Program (Culvert AOP Program)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.205.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 06, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 06, 2023. (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 $20,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 200 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Fiscal Year 2022 National Culvert Removal, Replacement, and Restoration Grant Program (Culvert AOP Program)?
It is a discretionary federal grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The program funds infrastructure projects that improve or restore aquatic organism passage, with a central focus on improving passage for anadromous fish where roads and other structures intersect streams and rivers.
Which federal agency administers this grant opportunity?
The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Federal Highway Administration.
What is the main purpose of the Culvert AOP Program?
The main purpose is ecological: to support on-the-ground transportation-related infrastructure projects that remove or fix barriers in streams and rivers so anadromous fish can move to spawning and rearing habitat and aquatic connectivity can be restored.
What types of projects does the program fund?
The program funds projects that remove, replace, repair, or otherwise improve culverts and weirs that block or restrict fish movement. These projects address structures that are undersized, perched, poorly aligned, or in disrepair and that prevent fish from reaching important habitat.
What kinds of barriers are specifically mentioned as being eligible for improvement?
The opportunity description specifically highlights culverts and weirs that block or restrict fish movement.
Why does the program focus on culverts and similar structures?
Culverts and weirs are common pinch points in river systems. When they are not designed or maintained properly, they can become physical barriers to fish movement. Fixing or removing these barriers can reconnect habitat and improve ecosystem health.
What species or fish groups are the primary focus of the program?
The program is designed to improve or restore passage for anadromous fish, particularly where projects support stocks with recognized conservation or recovery importance.
How are projects prioritized for selection?
Selection priorities are explicitly tied to federal species protection and recovery needs. Projects receive priority when they improve passage for anadromous fish stocks that fall into one or more high-value categories identified in statute.
What are the high-value categories of anadromous fish stocks referenced for priority?
The opportunity describes four priority categories: (A) stocks listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), (B) stocks that NMFS or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service believe could reasonably become listed in the future, (C) stocks identified as prey supporting endangered, threatened, or otherwise protected species (with a specific callout to Southern resident orcas), and (D) stocks identified by NMFS or USFWS as climate resilient.
How does the Endangered Species Act (ESA) relate to project priority?
Projects that improve passage for anadromous fish stocks already listed as endangered or threatened under the ESA receive priority under the program.
Do projects that address fish stocks not currently listed under the ESA receive priority?
Yes. The program also prioritizes projects benefiting stocks that NMFS or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service believe could reasonably become listed in the future.
What does the program mean by prioritizing prey stocks for protected species?
Projects can be prioritized if they improve passage for fish stocks identified as prey supporting endangered, threatened, or otherwise protected species. The opportunity specifically calls out Southern resident orcas as an example of a protected species supported by prey stocks.
Does the program consider climate resilience in its priorities?
Yes. Projects receive priority if they improve passage for fish stocks identified by NMFS or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as climate resilient.
How important is the amount of habitat reconnected by a project?
Habitat reconnection is a key priority. The program favors projects that would open more than 200 meters of upstream anadromous habitat before the end of the natural habitat.
What is the 200-meter habitat threshold mentioned in the priorities?
The program favors projects that reconnect more than 200 meters of upstream anadromous habitat (before the end of the natural habitat), encouraging applicants to pursue projects with substantial and measurable connectivity benefits.
Is this grant considered a transportation grant or an environmental grant?
The activity category is listed as transportation (CFDA 20.205), but the core purpose described is ecological: improving fish passage and restoring aquatic connectivity through infrastructure projects.
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The activity is listed under CFDA 20.205.
When was the opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on October 6, 2022.
What was the original application closing date?
The original application closing date was February 6, 2023.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) listed for this program?
The listed award ceiling is $20,000,000.
How many awards were anticipated?
The program anticipated making around 200 awards, suggesting an intent to fund a broad portfolio of projects across multiple locations.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility clarification referenced in the full notice. Applicants are expected to confirm the specific eligibility requirements in the detailed notice and application instructions.
What does it mean that eligibility is listed as "Others"?
It indicates the applicant pool may extend beyond a narrow set of entity types, but the opportunity points applicants to the full notice for the exact eligibility requirements and any additional conditions.
What outcomes is the program trying to achieve with funded projects?
The program aims to reconnect habitat, restore natural aquatic connectivity, and produce direct benefits for anadromous fish populations and broader ecosystem health by addressing infrastructure-related barriers in streams and rivers.
What kinds of project characteristics are likely to align best with the stated priorities?
Based on the stated priorities, strong alignment would include projects that remove or correct major passage barriers, clearly benefit anadromous stocks with ESA or agency-identified conservation significance, and document that the project will reconnect substantial upstream habitat (especially beyond the 200-meter threshold) in a durable way that supports long-term resilience.
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