The Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley Restoration Fund (LMAV Fund), administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), provides grants to support the restoration, enhancement, and conservation of bottomland hardwood forests, wetlands, and aquatic habitats in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley (LMAV). The fund also supports voluntary conservation practices on working agricultural lands, improves aquatic connectivity, and enhances community resilience for both people and wildlife.

The 2025 grant cycle is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), International Paper’s Forestland Stewards Partnership, the Walton Family Foundation, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Awards are expected to range from $150,000 to $1,000,000, with matching funds encouraged at a minimum 1:1 ratio of non-federal cash or in-kind contributions. Projects that cannot meet the matching requirement must contact NFWF for a waiver.

Eligible projects must be located within the LMAV region in Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. Preference will be given to projects within focal geographies, near National Wildlife Refuges, or adjacent to state Wildlife Management Areas. Proposals should align with NFWF’s LMAV Business Plan, which prioritizes restoration efforts benefiting key species such as the Louisiana black bear, swamp rabbit, forest birds, waterfowl, and freshwater fish.

Funded projects must focus on one or more of the following priorities:

Bottomland Hardwood Forest Enhancement and Maintenance – Forest management activities such as thinning, invasive species control, and crop tree release to improve wildlife habitat and water quality.
Bottomland Hardwood Forest Restoration – Reforestation of harvested lands or afforestation of cropland, including addressing barriers such as seed availability.
Wetland and Floodplain Hydrology Restoration – Reconnecting wetlands, improving water management, and enhancing wetland function for wildlife.
Conservation Practices on Agricultural Lands – Implementing cover crops, no-till farming, and nutrient management to reduce runoff and improve soil health.
Outreach and Technical Assistance – Providing landowners with conservation planning, education, and incentives to implement sustainable practices.
Forest Conservation through Easements – Facilitating conservation easements to protect high-quality bottomland hardwood forests.
Improving Aquatic Connectivity – Removing or retrofitting barriers to restore fish migration and enhance aquatic ecosystems.
Monitoring and Research – Measuring habitat restoration impact on target species populations.
The application period closes on April 24, 2025, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time, with awards announced in August 2025. Projects should be completed within 24 to 48 months, with significant progress expected in the first year.

To apply, applicants must submit proposals through NFWF’s Easygrants online system. Additional application guidance and metrics are available through the program’s Tip Sheet and business plan. Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact NFWF program staff before submission.

For inquiries, applicants can contact:

Jay Jensen, Regional Director – jay.jensen@nfwf.org | 202-595-2650
Zack Bernstein, Program Manager – zachary.bernstein@nfwf.org | 202-595-2433
Sarah Vest, Program Coordinator – sarah.vest@nfwf.org | 202-888-1657
Technical assistance with the online system is available through Easygrants Helpdesk (easygrants@nfwf.org | 202-595-2497, Mon-Fri, 9 AM - 5 PM ET).