Enhancing Aquatic Habitats: Fishers & Farmers Partnership Calls for Project Proposals in the UMRB

The Fishers & Farmers Partnership (FFP) is on a mission to enhance aquatic habitats in the streams that weave through this vast region. They are seeking innovative project proposals that are led by farmers and involve private lands. This offers a golden opportunity for those who live and work on the land to make a lasting impact on their environment.

Fishers & Farmers, a member of the National Fish Habitat Partnership, has a vision that extends beyond individual projects. It imagines a landscape where landowners, conservationists, and scientists work together to address the needs of farms and local streams. Through mutual respect and dialogue between agricultural and environmental organizations, FFP aims to reduce duplication of effort, optimize resource use, and make measurable progress toward shared goals.

“The future of our communities in the Upper Mississippi River Basin depends on collective action,” says Sherry Fisher, Fishers & Farmers Partnership Chair. “By partnering together, we can achieve significant conservation outcomes that benefit both agriculture and aquatic ecosystems.”

The call for FY26 project proposals is open to a broad range of applicants, including federal, state, county, and non-governmental organizations in the natural resources or agriculture sectors. The ultimate aim is to enhance farm value while simultaneously restoring aquatic habitats and bolstering native fish populations. FFP’s approach is to foster meaningful partnerships that can drive sustainable outcomes for local communities.

To achieve these goals, projects must align with FFP’s specific priorities. These include increasing native fish or mussel populations of priority species, improving in-stream habitat by reducing sedimentation and nutrient runoff, collaborating with landowners to maintain healthy aquatic systems through best management practices, and enhancing connectivity and floodplain habitats. Additionally, the partnership places a strong emphasis on monitoring the effectiveness of conservation projects and sharing these findings to inform future efforts.

Do you have a project that aligns with the goals and priorities of Fishers & Farmers?