Mark September 8 on the calendar. That is the day the Ohio River Basin Fish Habitat Partnership releases its FY27 Request for Proposals, opening a funding round for the exact kind of work our member groups do.
The FY27 RFP drops September 8 and applications are due October 9, 2026. Funding supports on-the-ground projects that protect, restore, and reconnect fish habitat throughout the Ohio River Basin. An informational webinar runs September 18, with FAQ office hours September 23 through 25.
What the money funds
The partnership, coordinated through American Rivers, is one of the regional fish habitat partnerships operating under the National Fish Habitat Partnership umbrella. Its grants go to stream restoration, barrier removal and reconnection, and habitat improvement, the projects that turn a degraded reach back into water a smallmouth or a darter can live in. Eligible projects must fall within the partnership’s Ohio River Basin boundary, which covers our entire region.
The on-ramp for applicants
The partnership has built a friendly path in this year. The September 18 informational webinar walks through the funding opportunity, the application process, project priorities, and tips for submitting a competitive proposal. The casual FAQ office hours September 23 through 25 are for anyone who wants to drop in with questions before the deadline.
One timing note for our network: the webinar lands on September 18, the same day Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds letters of intent are due. Plan the week accordingly. An ambitious group could conceivably line up both.
Why it matters for the rest of us
Fish habitat money is watershed money by another name. Questions go to Pierce VanValkenburg, Associate Director of River Restoration at American Rivers and coordinator of the partnership, at pvanvalkenburg@americanrivers.org.
Details from the Ohio River Basin Fish Habitat Partnership’s August 27, 2026 announcement and orbfhp.org. Key dates: RFP September 8, webinar September 18, office hours September 23 to 25, applications due October 9, 2026.
