Butte Creek/Sutter Bypass Weir 1 Improvement Design and Permitting Project
🏛 Fish and Wildlife Service (DOI-FWS)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for design and permitting work on water infrastructure that supports fish passage and agricultural water delivery. Applicants must be eligible to receive federal funds and not appear on the SAM.gov Exclusions database. The project focuses on redesigning Weir #1 on Butte Creek/Sutter Bypass to improve water diversion and fish passage.
Projects must be located in California's Sacramento Valley region and directly support Fish and Wildlife Service conservation goals. Work involves final design, engineering studies, and environmental permitting for a rock ramp structure replacement.
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Program description
The Butte Creek Sutter Bypass West Borrow Canal (WBC) Weir #1 is a dilapidated weir structure and is no longer able to be used as a weir for the purposes of diverting and delivering water for agricultural use and to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Sutter National Wildlife Refuge (Sutter NWR). The USFWS seek the design and permitting required for the partial removal of the weir and construction of a rock ramp that will maintain water surface elevations adequate to provide reliable water diversion rates and flows sufficient for fish passage. A feasibility study and report for Weir 1 has already been completed; final design and permitting are the next logical step in addressing the conditions at the weir. The flows required for diversion and passage should be consistent with minimum flow agreement requirements (M&T Ranch Agreement Decree Diversion 50) as well as flows through the fish passage structure at the Giusti Weir, located approximately 3.75 mile upstream. The flows of Butte Creek are diverted past the natural outlet to the Sacramento River (known as the Butte Slough Outfall Gates and under most conditions are directed downstream through the Butte Slough. The Butte Slough is bifurcated at a point just upstream of the State Route 20 bridge crossing, identified as the East-West Diversion Weir. The East-West Diversion splits the flows of Butte Slough to approximately 60% to the East and 40% to the West side borrow canals. Butte Slough above the East-West Diversion Weir is capable of handling a flow of approximately 2,000 cfs within its natural banks (Jones & Stokes 2002).The mission of the USFWS is “working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people”. Fish and Aquatic Conservation is integral program within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and supports the mission by working with partners to achieve benefits for aquatic species and their habitats. This project helps meet FWS Fish and Aquatic Conservation goals of a program working together to deliver resilient habitats, healthy fish, connected people, and strong partnerships. More information can be found at https://www.fws.gov/program/fish-and-aquatic-conservation.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative detailing design approach and permitting strategy
- Budget and Budget Narrative
- Letters of support from water agencies and environmental partners
- Résumés of key project personnel
- Proof of SAM.gov registration
Program contact
- 👤 Fish and Wildlife Service
- 📧 andrew_trent@fws.gov
- 📞 22041-3803
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 15.648 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$4,584,917
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$3,500,000
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$3,360,500
-
$3,095,200
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$2,611,569
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$2,142,604
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$1,900,000
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$1,358,021
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$1,335,600
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$1,331,700
Top States by Funding
- CA 35 awards $35.8M
- UT 2 awards $0.2M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 15.648). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2019 | $1,487,655 | |
| 2020 | $6,711,255 | |
| 2021 | $1,870,621 | |
| 2022 | $9,253,146 | |
| 2023 | $8,432,835 | |
| 2024 | $7,120,934 | |
| 2025 est. | $10,000,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $8,000,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Entities must be eligible to receive federal funds and not be excluded in SAM.gov. Applicants typically include water agencies, wildlife organizations, and engineering firms working on FWS projects.
What is the deadline?
The deadline is July 19, 2026. This is a fixed deadline with no rolling acceptance.
What activities does this fund?
Funding covers design, engineering studies, and environmental permitting for the Weir #1 improvement project. The work must support fish passage and water diversion objectives.
How competitive is this funding?
Awards range from $1 to $850,000, with a total pool of $850,000. Competitiveness depends on project readiness and alignment with FWS Fish and Aquatic Conservation priorities.
Can we get a multi-year award?
The grant description focuses on design and permitting phases. Multi-year funding is not explicitly mentioned for this project.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Emphasize how your design maintains reliable water diversion consistent with the M&T Ranch Agreement minimum flow requirements and Giusti Weir flows.
- Show that your permitting approach addresses both water delivery and fish passage goals simultaneously, demonstrating integrated planning.
- Include letters of support from water agencies, landowners, and environmental partners involved with Butte Creek management.
- Provide clear timelines linking this design/permitting work to future construction phases and demonstrating project readiness.
- Highlight any feasibility study findings or technical data that justify your proposed design approach for the rock ramp structure.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications fail when they don't clearly address both water diversion and fish passage equally. Weak permitting plans or unclear regulatory pathway reduce competitiveness. Missing letters of support from required water agencies and tribal stakeholders weakens proposals.
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