§3954 National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grants

Summary

The Director must use money made available under section 3955 to give matching grants to coastal States for coastal wetlands conservation projects. Grants go first to projects that follow the National Wetlands Priority Conservation Plan under section 3921 and to States that have dedicated funding programs for buying coastal wetlands, natural areas, or open spaces. Projects in maritime forests on coastal barrier islands get extra consideration. Any grant must include terms that keep land or water bought, restored, or managed with the money protected for long‑term conservation of the area and the fish and wildlife that depend on it. The Federal share can pay no more than 50 percent of a project’s total cost, except it can pay up to 75 percent if the State uses a trust fund whose principal is not spent or a dedicated recurring funding source (for example, real estate transfer fees, cigarette taxes, tax check‑offs, or motor vehicle license plate fees). The State’s match must come from non‑Federal sources, and in‑kind donations like property or volunteer services can count toward the State share. The Director may make progress payments as a project moves forward, but Federal payments overall cannot exceed the Federal share described above. The Director may agree to pay a Federal share later only if future funds become available; the United States is only liable if money is available. Using funds under section 3955, the Director must also direct the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Wetland Inventory to update and digitize wetlands maps for Texas and to assess the status, condition, and trends of wetlands in that State.