Ecosystem Restoration: Temporary Water Crossing Structures

Agency: Department of Agriculture – Forest Service

 

Description:

For grants to States and Tribes to establish loan, rental/lease, or cost-share programs for portable skidder bridges, bridge mats, or other temporary water crossing structures, to minimize stream bed disturbance on non-Federal land and Federal land.

For State programs, entities that engage in primary (e.g., loggers) and secondary (e.g., sawmills, pulp mills) forest product operations are eligible to participate in cost-share, rental and loan programs. Entities engaging in other activities on forest lands requiring temporary water resource protection measures are only eligible to participate in rental and loan programs.

Bill Section:

40804(b)(5)

Potential Cost:     

$50,000,000

Timeline:

FY22-26

Implementation Status/Rulemaking:   

On November 17, 2022, the Forest Service announced the availability of $8 million in grants for States and Tribes through FY2022 Temporary Bridge Funding. Applications were originally due December 20, 2022 but later extended to January 31, 2023: Source

In August 2023, the Forest Service announced the availability of another $8 million in grants for States and Tribes through FY2023 Temporary Bridge Funding. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis for funding FY2023-FY2026: Source

The Forest Service has announced $3 million grants to States and $1.9 million grants to Tribes. A full list of grantees is available here