Funding

Funding For Stream/Farm Projects

Fishers & Farmers Partnership awards National Fish Habitat Partnership funding to locally-led projects in upper Mississippi River Basin watersheds each year. Funded projects improve farms and fish habitat; address a root cause of watershed problems; support landowner engagement, communications, monitoring, science, or construction; and align with our Strategic Plan. Non-government, county, state or federal agriculture and natural resources organizations may apply. One-to-one cost share is required. Applications are available in the last quarter of the year, due in February. Decisions are made in March.

If you have a project in mind, we encourage you to reach out to a Fishers & Farmers Partnership steering committee member or our coordinator Heidi Keuler for an informal conversation. We want local teams to meet their goals, and we can advise about project design, resources, and our selection criteria.

Funded Projects

2021 |  Vermillion-Illinois Watersheds | Illinois

The Wetland Initiative will advance the use of small tile-treatment wetlands on working row-crop farm properties to address urgent issue of nutrient runoff into waterways. This project supports implementation of first-adopter wetland sites on private farmland in multiple counties, collaborative farmer outreach and technical assistance, and monitoring of the wetlands’ nutrient-removal effectiveness in north-central Illinois.  Partners include: Farmers, USDA-NRCS, USFWS, National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, Illinois Corn Growers Association, University of Illinois, McKnight Foundation and several others.

2021 |  Boone River Watershed | Iowa

The Nature Conservancy is working with farmers, Iowa Rivers Revival, Iowa Soybean Association, and Wright County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) to restore oxbows for Topeka shiner spawning habitat in the Boone River Watershed, IA. Boone River Watershed Partnership includes farmers, The Nature Conservancy, Wright County SWCD, Iowa Soybean Association, and Iowa DNR.

2021 |  Cannon River Watershed | Minnesota

Clean River Partners formerly Cannon River Watershed Partnership is working to improve stream health by changing land use practices, such as cover crop adoption in Heath, Rice and Wolf Creek subwatersheds of the Cannon River near Dundas, MN. The project helps create farmer-to-farmer and farmer-student learning opportunities by sharing results from agricultural practices, water quality and habitat assessment. Partners include: Farmers, Rice SWCD, St. Olaf College, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, McKnight Foundation, and many others.

2021 | Kickapoo & Bad Axe Watersheds | Wisconsin

Valley Stewardship Network is working to initiate and strengthen farmer and landowner-led watershed councils, install Science-based Trials of Row-Crops Integrated Prairie Strips, enhance Regenerative Ag practices and develop a southwest Wisconsin council, and educate FFA high school students how they can play a roll in improving fish and stream health by increasing best management practices across the landscape.  Partners include: Farmers, Tainter Creek Farmer-Led Watershed Council, West Fork Watershed Neighbors Council, University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, UW-Madison, UW-La Crosse, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, City of Viroqua, Viroqua FFA.

2020 | Boone River Watershed | Iowa

The Nature Conservancy is working with farmers, Iowa Rivers Revival, Iowa Soybean Association, and Wright County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) to restore oxbows for Topeka shiner spawning habitat in the Boone River Watershed, IA. Boone River Watershed Partnership includes farmers, The Nature Conservancy, Wright County SWCD, Iowa Soybean Association, and Iowa DNR.

2020 | Iowa Soybean Association | Iowa

Iowa Soybean Association is working with farmers and the Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation and Development organization to demonstrate relay cropping. Partners are initiating replicated strip trials to evaluate the practice for yield and environmental measurements. Current projects for this practice are focused on promoting communication and connections between farmers that are experimenting with the practice on their farms.

2020 | Fishers & Farmers Communication Team| Upper Mississippi River Basin

Fishers and Farmers’ Communication Team is hosting Boots on the Ground, a monthly live webinar,  Neighbor to Neighbor, a monthly radio program hosted by Pam Jahnke and TheFarmWI.com, Watershed Leaders Network workshops in 2021, and is contributing to curriculum development for a Midwest Watershed Training Center, led by UW-Extension.

2020 | Mower County Soil and Water Conservation District| Minnesota

Mower County Soil and Water Conservation District is working with farmers, a consultant, Minnesota Department of Agriculture and other partners in the Root River Field to Stream Partnership on demonstrating Prairie Strips across 10-20 targeted sites.  This effort will leverage a new Conservation Reserve Program in Minnesota that not only improves soil health and water quality, but also fish habitat.

2020 | Monroe County Land Conservation Department| Wisconsin

Monroe County Land Conservation Department is working with farmers, landowners and Trout Unlimited to develop an innovative approach to monitoring the effectiveness of conservation practices used for streambank restoration before and after storm events. This approach will be instrumental in improving floodplain habitat, enhancing flow regimes and increasing connectivity.

2019 | Bad Axe River, Kickapoo River | Wisconsin

Valley Stewardship Network (VSN) is supporting 4 farmer/landowner-led watershed councils and the implementation and maintenance of best management practices (BMP’s) in two major watersheds.  Best management of upland and riparian farmland is especially critical to aquatic health, sustainability of agriculture, and the economic benefits of cold-water fisheries. Farmer and landowner-led watershed councils are a successful model to implement and maintain BMP’s, such as Science-based Trials of Rowcrops Integrated with Prairie Strips (STRIPs) over many years.

2019 | Rice Creek – Cannon River Watershed | Minnesota   (Joint project with DARE)

Farmers are working with Cannon River Watershed Partnership and are planting cover crops  in the Rice Creek watershed for 3 consecutive years to create long-term watershed wide protection by reducing nitrate, phosphorus and solids loading into Rice Creek and downstream into the Cannon River.  St. Olaf College will monitor drainage tile and in-stream nitrate, total phosphorus, total suspended solids and aquatic macroinvertebrates. A Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) fish count will provide information about the impacts on the fishery.

2019 | Fishers & Farmers Science Team & Communications Team | Upper Mississippi River Basin

GIS/Science Team & Communications Coordinators are demonstrating science-driven and social development of fish habitat conservation & restoration strategies leading to project (on-site) & downstream (off-site) benefits to Upper Mississippi River Basin streams/rivers. The Coordinators are helping guide strategic habitat conservation to enable future learning which will  initiate more conservation. Fishers & Farmers is currently working on incorporating social monitoring into the Watershed Leaders Network for farmers and other watershed leaders.

2018 | Boone River Watershed | Iowa

The Nature Conservancy is working with farmers, Iowa Soybean Association, and Wright County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) to restore oxbows for Topeka shiner spawning habitat in the Boone River Watershed, IA. Boone River Watershed Partnership includes farmers, The Nature Conservancy, Wright County SWCD, Iowa Soybean Association, and Iowa DNR.

2018 | Tainter Creek | Wisconsin   (Joint project with DARE)

Tainter Creek Farmer-Led Council, Valley Stewardship Network, Trout Unlimited and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WI DNR) are collaborating to develop a fish habitat and bank stabilization project on Tainter and Conway Creek.  The partners will work with Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), WI DNR and Fishers & Farmers to stabilize over a mile of eroding banks with the addition of in-stream habitat.

2018 | Rice Creek – Cannon River Watershed | Minnesota   (Joint project with DARE)

Farmers are working with Cannon River Watershed Partnership and will plant cover crops on about 1,000 of the 3,469 tillable acres in the Rice Creek watershed for 3 consecutive years to create long-term watershed wide protection by reducing nitrate, phosphorus and solids loading into Rice Creek and downstream into the Cannon River. St. Olaf College will monitor drainage tile and in-stream nitrate, total phosphorus, total suspended solids and aquatic macroinvertebrates. A MN DNR fish count will provide information about the impacts on the fishery.

2017 | Kickapoo River Watershed | Wisconsin

Valley Stewardship Network seeks to create the first project and farmer-led demonstration site for the Iowa State University STRIPS (Science-based Trials of Rowcrops Integrated with Prairie Strips) model in the state of Wisconsin.  STRIPS are an easily-integrated and low-cost management option that, when 10% of fields are devoted to prairie strips, are reported to: reduce sediment transport by 95%; reduce phosphorous transport by 90%; reduce nitrogen transport by 84% and reduce annual surface water flow by 40%. This demonstration will serve as a farmer to farmer education tool and model of sediment and nutrient runoff reduction from prairie STRIPS that benefits fish habitat, soil health, wildlife, pollinators and biodiversity.

2017 | Peno Creek Watershed | Missouri

Missouri Department of Conservation is working with NRCS and other partners on technical and cost share assistance in the Peno Creek Cooperative Partnership for alternative watering systems, riparian corridor tree plantings, stream fencing, and stream crossings

2017 | Boone River Watershed | Iowa

The Boone River Watershed Partnership includes farmers, The Nature Conservancy, Kossuth and Wright County SWCD’s, Iowa Soybean Association, and Iowa DNR working together to restore stream oxbows to create habitat for the endangered Topeka shiner

2017 | Shoal Creek Watershed | Missouri

Ozark Land Trust is working with Shoal Creek Woodlands for Wildlife (SCWW) Partnership to implement objectives that benefit stream channels, increase percolation, and reduce sediment and nutrient loading as described in the 2014 SCWW Marketing Action Plan. Proposed best management practices include streambank stabilization, stream crossings, alternative watering systems, riparian corridor planting and fencing, woodland fencing and prescribed fire.

2017 | Galena River Watershed| Illinois

League of Women Voters Illinois worked to establish a farmer-led group in the Galena River watershed, (Jo-Daviess Soil and Water Health Coalition) and developed a plan to proactively address land use issues affecting water quality and habitat degradation with a focus on fish species of greatest conservation need. Building on relationships established through a 2-year county-wide water resource management planning effort, and coordinating with a parallel Illinois Environmental Protection Agency-supported Galena River Watershed planning process, the farmer-led group participates in a series of workshops and facilitated discussions in an effort to establish broad consensus and active participation in the watershed.

2017 | Rock Creek Watershed | Iowa

Rock Creek has a 70 square mile watershed and is a tributary to the Cedar River which is an Upper Mississippi River Basin Initiative watershed. Thirty two fish species inhabit the stream these include smallmouth bass, rock bass and nine species of greatest conservation need of which two are state threatened species. Two low head dams are inhibiting fish movement. Project partners are working to remove or modify low head dams that are inhibiting fish movement, enhance fish habitat, and help farmers with stream crossings for farmland accessibility near Osage, IA.

2017 | Fishers & Farmers Science Team & Communications Team | Upper Mississippi River Basin

GIS/Science Team & Communications Coordinators will demonstrate science-driven and social development of fish habitat conservation & restoration strategies leading to project (on-site) & downstream (off-site) benefits to UMRB streams/rivers. The Coordinators will help guide strategic habitat conservation and enable future learning which will hopefully initiate more conservation.

2016 | Hutchins Creek Watershed | Illinois

Farmers and the U.S. Forest Service -Shawnee National Forest, U.S.  Fish & Wildlife Service – Fisheries and Partners for Fish & Wildlife Programs, Illinois Department of Agriculture, and Union County SWCD, are working on streambank stabilization,  a riparian buffer, and enhancing in-stream habitat and water quality for Federal and State fish and mussel species of concern

2016 | Boone River Watershed | Iowa

The Boone River Watershed Partnership includes farmers, The Nature Conservancy, Kossuth and Wright County SWCD’s, Iowa Soybean Association, and Iowa DNR working together to restore stream oxbows to create habitat for the endangered Topeka shiner

2016 | Root River Watershed | Minnesota

Farmers in the Root River Field to Stream Partnership (RRFSP) are working with Minnesota Department of Agriculture, county agencies, The Nature Conservancy,  MN Ag Water Resources Center, and MN DNR to evaluate nutrient and sediment loss from the edge of fields and measure the effectiveness of conservation practices with in-stream monitoring stations in three subwatersheds

 2016 | Spring Creek Watershed | Missouri

Agricultural landowners are working with Missouri Department of Conservation on livestock exclusion from streams, alternative water systems, riparian corridor habitat, reinforced stream crossings, cover crops, and managed grazing plans to improve water quality and fish habitat

2015 | Seven-Mile Creek Watershed | Minnesota

Seven Mile Creek Partnership includes farmers, Great River Greening, Nicollet Soil & Water Conservation District, and NRCS.  They are installing water storage systems and bioreactors to reduce ravine erosion, sedimentation, and nutrients to creek

2015 | Boone River Watershed | Iowa

Farmers and The Nature Conservancy, Iowa Soybean Association, and Iowa DNR restoring stream oxbows to create habitat for endangered Topeka shiner

2014 | Rock Creek Watershed | Iowa

Iowa DNR and NRCS are working with a farmer to remove a low-head dam inhibiting fish movement, opening approximately 5 miles of stream habitat to fish

 2014 | Peno Creek Watershed | Missouri

Missouri Department of Conservation is working with NRCS and other partners on technical and cost share assistance in the Peno Creek Cooperative Partnership for alternative watering systems, riparian corridor tree plantings, stream fencing, and stream crossings

2014 | Kickapoo River Watershed | Wisconsin

Establish a demonstration site for best farm management practices, host landowner discussions about economic benefits of best practices, restore 30 acres tilled floodplain to permanent cover, conduct water quality monitoring

2014 | Rice Creek Watershed | Minnesota

Facilitate 3 farmer-led projects: install two water management drainage structures, strip-till 300 acres, plant cover crops on 200 acres. Conduct education activities including: on-farm demos, meetings, tours, and research activities to reach additional farmers

2014 | Big Muddy Wetlands | Illinois

Restore & enhance wetlands in swale & ridge topography, restore water holding capability in an oxbow lake/button bush marsh along Big Muddy River

2014 | FFP Science Team | All 5 States

Hire coordinator to locally, regionally, nationally demonstrate science-driven development of fish habitat conservation and restoration strategies

2014 | Stakeholder Engagement – Public Farm Events | All 5 States

Public outreach and engaging farmers in project demonstrations and farmer-led committee assembly (Funding from Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies)

2013 | Bourbeuse / Meramec River Watershed | Missouri

Farmers and Missouri Department of Conservation implementing managed grazing to add value to farms and reduce sedimentation, nutrient loading & stream bank instability

2013 | Boone River Watershed | Iowa

Farmers and Iowa Soybean Association, The Nature Conservancy, and Iowa DNR restoring stream oxbows to create habitat for endangered Topeka shiner

2013 | Engaging Landowners Workshops | All 5 states

Landowner engagement workshops led by Missouri Department of Conservation for federal/state/county/NGO staff in 5-state area (Funding from Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies)

2012 | Seven-Mile Creek Watershed | Minnesota

Farmers and Nicollet Soil & Water Conservation District, NRCS, Great River Greening, and Minnesota DNR installing sediment control structures and other practices to reduce ravine erosion, sedimentation, and nutrients to creek

2012 | Rush/Pine Watershed | Minnesota

Support for 40-member farmer-led council, 2 sub-watershed groups, and cover crop program to address water quality and fish habitat issues

2011 | Boone River Watershed | Iowa

Farmers and Iowa DNR, The Nature Conservancy, Iowa Soybean Association, and County SWCDs are restoring stream oxbows to create habitat for the endangered Topeka shiner.