Created to fulfill one of the purposes of the Chesapeake Watershed Investments for Landscape Defense (Chesapeake WILD) Act of 2020, the Chesapeake WILD grant program supports projects to conserve, steward, and enhance fish and wildlife habitats and related conservation values in the watershed. The program is guided by five themes, or pillars, that are drawn from the Act:
Conserving and restoring fish and wildlife habitats
Enhancing climate resilience
Building community partnerships, particularly in historically underserved areas
Increasing public access for recreation
Improving water quality
The Chesapeake WILD program is administered by the Service's Science Applications program in collaboration with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The annual Request for Proposals for the fund opens for two months in mid winter. Grants are awarded in late summer. For information on how to apply, visit the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund page.