The FWCP was established to compensate for impacts to fish, wildlife, and their supporting habitat, resulting from the construction of existing BC Hydro dams.

BC Hydro has water licence obligations in the Columbia and Peace regions, and has made voluntary commitments to address the impacts of dams in the Coastal Region. BC Hydro fulfills the applicable obligations through the work of the FWCP.

The FWCP is funded annually by BC Hydro. The FWCP directs those funds towards projects that address priority actions across its three regions to fulfill its mission, and work towards its vision of thriving fish and wildlife populations in watersheds that are functioning and sustainable.

We fund projects that align with our Action Plans, which reflect regional conservation priorities and priority actions. An independent Board in each region reviews all grant applications and project funding decisions. Our Boards include representatives from BC Hydro, the Province of B.C., Fisheries and Oceans Canada, First Nations and public stakeholders.

• Coastal Region Board and Committee List
• Columbia Region Board and Committee List
• Peace Region Board and Committee List

Learn more about our grants and projects we fund, subscribe at fwcp.ca/subscribe.

The Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP) conserves and enhances fish and wildlife in watersheds impacted by BC Hydro dams. The FWCP is funded annually by BC Hydro. The FWCP directs those funds towards priority actions across its three regions to fulfill its mission and work towards its vision of thriving fish and wildlife populations in watersheds that are functioning and sustainable.

By funding projects to support fish and wildlife populations in our Coastal, Columbia and Peace Regions, the FWCP is fulfilling BC Hydro’s applicable water licence obligations and voluntary commitments to compensate for fish and wildlife impacts.

We fund and support the following types of actions, which are consistent with our mandate:

1. actions to create, restore, or otherwise improve the function of ecosystems that have been impacted by BC Hydro activities;
2. actions to create, restore, or otherwise improve the function of alternate ecosystems that provide a better opportunity for investment;
3. specific management actions for species of interest, as identified by recovery teams and action/implementation groups;
4. baseline inventories that contribute to the development of habitat- or species-based actions within our Action Plans;
5. monitoring programs designed to measure the effectiveness of FWCP-funded habitat and species actions;
6. actions that contribute to all aspects of managing co-operatively managed conservation lands; and
7. participation as a team member in species of interest planning.

We do not fund or support the following activities, which are beyond our mandate:

1. core activities of government or non-government agencies or programs (i.e. if the proposed project is being undertaken to inform a specific regulatory or legislative requirement, it is considered a core activity of government);
2. programs designed exclusively to address government harvest objectives;
3. policy development related to land or wildlife management;
4. administration of government regulations;
5. leading the development of species recovery goals;
6. funding, coordinating, or leading National Recovery Teams for species at risk; and
7. engaging in enforcement and compliance activities, except in relation to co-operatively managed conservation lands.

Our next intake of grant applications for fish and wildlife projects will open in August 12, 2020. Our annual intake of grant applications will close Friday, October 30, 2020 at 5 p.m. PDT.

Actions identified in our Action Plans are eligible for an FWCP grant. Our Action Plans define priority actions for each watershed or sub-region, and reflect our mission, geographic scope, and three strategic objectives:

1. conservation;
2. community engagement; and
3. sustainable use.

The Action Plans also provide important context about hydro-generating facilities, information gaps, limiting factors, and other information to characterize the watershed or sub-region.

Within our Action Plans, priority actions are grouped by five broad types:

1. habitat-based actions;
2. species-based actions;
3. research and information acquisition actions;
4. monitoring and evaluation actions; and
5. land securement.

Our Action Plans also identify how important each action is to us (i.e. priority #1, #2, or #3). A priority #1 action will score higher than a priority #2 or #3 action, when grant applications are evaluated. Actions identified as “directed” are not eligible for a grant. These are projects that our regional Boards will direct through a separate request for proposal process. Do not submit a grant application for a “directed” project. Contact us if you are not sure.

Grant applications for projects that do not clearly address a priority action identified in an Action Plan will not be considered for an FWCP grant.

Our Action Plans guide FWCP investments in fish and wildlife projects, and are referenced annually by our regional Boards to track progress toward implementation, set annual priorities, and guide decision-making in setting out and approving the Annual Operating Plan for each region. Actions in our Action Plans are eligible for FWCP funding and align with our vision, mission, and geographic scope.

Each region has its own set of Action Plans and associated priorities.

Coastal Region Watershed Action Plans

Columbia Region Action Plans

Peace Region Basin and Action Plan Update

Any group, government agency, First Nation, business, or individual that can meet our mandatory requirements (e.g. WorkSafeBC and commercial general liability insurance) is eligible to receive an FWCP grant. In the past, First Nations, municipal, provincial, or federal agencies, stewardship groups, consultants, and educational institutions have been approved for FWCP grants.

We offer three different grants for fish and wildlife projects.

1. Seed Grant

Our Seed Grant is available if you have a project idea and need financial support to further develop it before submitting a Large Grant application. Seed Grant funding is intended to offset costs to fill information gaps, explore project feasibility, and prepare technical information. Use our Seed Grant to grow your idea into a future Large Grant application. Up to a maximum of $5,000 is available from the FWCP.

2. Small Grant

Our Small Grant is available for projects that align with our Action Plans and have a total project cost of less than $20,000. The total project cost includes funding from all sources including, but not limited to, the FWCP, other funders (if any), the total value of all in-kind contributions (if any), and applicable taxes. Your Small Grant application does not require a written project proposal.

3. Large Grant

Our Large Grant is available for projects that align with our Action Plans and have a total project cost of more than $20,000. The total project cost includes funding from all sources including, but not limited to, the FWCP, other funders (if any), and the total value of all in-kind contributions (if any), and applicable taxes. Your Large Grant application must include a written project proposal (maximum six pages).

We use an online grant management system to manage all aspects of your FWCP grant, starting with your grant application. Access our online grant management system at https://fwcp.smartsimple.ca/

Follow these steps:
1. Review the regional Action Plans of interest to you.
2. Review and comply with applicable regional requirements and guidance.
3. Develop a project idea to fulfill an action in any Action Plan(s);
4. Login to our online grant management system at fwcp.ca/apply-for-funding
5. Complete your mandatory Notice of Intent (Peace Region only);
6. Start your online grant application;
7. Fulfill all mandatory grant application requirements; and
8. Submit your grant application by the 2020 deadline (October 30, 2020 at 5 p.m. PDT.).

1. Review regional Action Plans
A series of Action Plans define Priority Actions eligible for an FWCP grant in each of our three regions. Decisions about what grant applications and projects are approved, are guided by these Action Plans (i.e. we fund projects that align with our Action Plans).

Please review the Action Plan(s) in the region(s) of interest to you. Base your grant application for a potential project on any one, or more, of the actions recommended in our regional Action Plans.

Coastal and Columbia Region Action Plans are online at:
• Coastal Region fwcp.ca/region/coastal-region OR fwcp.ca/action-plans-coastal-region/
• Columbia Region fwcp.ca/region/columbia-region/ OR fwcp.ca/action-plans-columbia-region/

NEW Peace Region Action Plans
We are updating our Peace Region Action Plans. Final, updated 2020 Peace Region Action Plans will be available August, 2020. Earlier versions of Action Plans no longer provide current guidance on Priority Actions for our Peace Region. Review our updated 2020 Action Plans before starting your grant application.

2. Review regional guidance and priorities
Requirements and priorities vary by region. Review our regional guidance, requirements, and priorities to ensure your project idea and grant application are in alignment.

3. Develop a project idea to fulfill an action
Based on your knowledge and experience, consider how you might fulfill a priority action in one of our three regions. To help you develop a project idea, these are some of the questions we’ll ask as you to answer in your online grant application:
1. How does your project idea align with an Action Plan(s)?
2. Which Priority Action(s) would your project address?
3. Where would the work take place?
4. How would you go about the work?
5. What would the outcome be?
6. What species would benefit?
7. Would you need partners?
8. What would it cost?
9. How would you share the results and what you learned with others?

Our regional managers can help you align your project idea with one or more Priority Actions in our Action Plans, and our grant applications. Please contact us to talk about your project idea.

4. Login to our online grant management system and start grant application
All grant applicants must use our online grant management system to apply.

Coastal and Columbia Regions
If you’ve applied for an FWCP grant online before, you can login at fwcp.ca/apply-for-funding. If this is the first time you’ve applied online for an FWCP grant, you must register online at fwcp.ca/apply-for-funding.

Peace Region
If you’ve applied for an FWCP grant online before, you can login at fwcp.ca/apply-for-funding and start your mandatory Notice of Intent now. If this is the first time you’ve applied online for an FWCP grant, you must register online at fwcp.ca/apply-for-funding and then start your grant application, which begins with the mandatory Notice of Intent.

5. Complete mandatory Peace Region Notice of Intent

If you are submitting a 2021 grant application in our Peace Region, our online grant management system will prompt you to complete and submit the mandatory Notice of Intent. The fall 2020 deadline for the Notice of Intent is September 11, 2020 at 5 p.m. PDT.

6. Start your online grant application
Follow the online instructions to start your grant application. There are lots of instructions in the online grant application, but if you need help, submit your questions online, email them to fwcp@bchydro.com or call 604-528-8136.

7. Fulfill all mandatory requirements
Be sure to complete all sections of the grant application and fulfil all mandatory requirements. These requirements vary by region. Review our regional guidance and priorities (See 2 above).

8. Submit your grant application by the deadline

The grant intake closes promptly at 5 p.m. PDT on Friday, October 30, 2020. We accept and review grant applications received by the deadline. Avoid submitting your application immediately before the deadline in case you need to make corrections or additions. When you submit your grant application, the grant management system validates it to ensure required information has been provided. Allow time to correct any validation errors.

Helpful Tips
• Save time by asking us for a copy of your previous grant application. This is useful if you’re resubmitting an application, or if you are applying for subsequent years of a multi-year project.
• You can save your grant application and return to it anytime.
• The grant application is organized by key sections (see tabs in the online grant application), and you can complete the grant application in any order you wish.
• If your project spans multiple years, you must apply for one year of project funding at a time, even if your proposed project spans multiple years. You must apply for funding annually for proposed multi-year projects. Approval of annual FWCP funding for a multi-year project does not guarantee FWCP funding in future years.

Our annual intake of grant applications opens Wednesday, August 12, 2020. The Peace Region Notice of Intent deadline is September 11, 2020 at at 5 p.m. PDT. and the grant intake closes on Friday, October 30, 2020 at 5 p.m. PDT.

This FAQ provides an overview of our grant applications and what information you’ll be asked to provide.

Description

Project summary: project title, project summary statement, and project urgency.
Project details: species that will benefit, detailed project description.
Applicant information: proponent organization, project contact, signing authority, collaborators, project partners, project volunteers.

Project info

Project location information: location description, project coordinates (latitude and longitude).
Alignment with Action Plan(s): primary Action Plan, primary project type, priority action, how will project address priority action, secondary Action Plan alignment.
Single or multi-year project: define project duration, and provide overview of project achievements and challenges for ongoing multi-year projects.
Project phases: start-up, fieldwork, data entry and analysis, draft reporting, community engagement (i.e. define how you plan to share your project results and involve others in your proposed project?)
Benefits: benefits to fish or wildlife, benefits to First Nations, stakeholders, and/or communities.
Permits and approval: BC Hydro-owned lands, proximity to BC Hydro facility, landowners, required permits, and approvals.

Project budget

Budget: labour expenses, materials/equipment/transportation and field expenses, other funding sources, total project cost, total FWCP grant requested.
Funding: is this a resubmission of a previously “not approved” application? Have you previously received FWCP funding?

Proposal and letters of support

A six-page (maximum length) project proposal is required for Large Grant applications only; letters of support may be required (see regional requirements and guidance).

Experience

Project contact experience: it is mandatory to include the experience and credentials of the project contact. It is optional to include the credentials and experience of other team members.

All grant applications go through a three-stage review process that ends with a final decision by each Regional Board about proposed projects in each of our three regions.

Stage 1            Review by Regional Manager
Each FWCP regional manager reviews grant applications to ensure they are complete and in alignment with priority actions in our Action Plans.

In our Peace Region, the First Nations Working Group (FNWG) reviews all Notices of Intent (NOI) received by the deadline. When this review is complete, the regional manager will advise all Peace Region grant applicants which First Nations they are expected to contact about the proposed project and any other applicable regional guidance.

Stage 2            Review by technical committees and First Nations Working Group 
Fish and wildlife technical committees in each region review each grant application for technical merit. In our Peace Region, the First Nations Working Group also evaluates grant applications for inclusion of traditional ecological knowledge, incorporation of First Nation cultural values, and involvement of First Nations in the proposed project, where appropriate.

Results from the technical committees and First Nations Working Group (Peace Region) review are provided to each Board to assist in their review and final decision-making in Stage 3.

Stage 3            Review by Board members
The three regional Boards review each grant application for projects proposed in their region. The Boards consider the results of all Stage 2 evaluations and make final decisions on which grant applications will be approved with conditions. The regional Boards evaluate the grant applications and are responsible for all project and funding decisions in each region.

How are grant applications evaluated?
During Stage 2 of our review process, the FWCP’s fish and wildlife Technical Committees in each region review all grant applications and evaluate them for:

1. Alignment with the FWCP’s strategic objectives (e.g. conservation, sustainable use, and community engagement) and investment criteria.
2. Alignment with priority actions in our Action Plans.
   • In each Action Plan, every action has been assigned a priority of #1 (highest), #2, or #3. During the evaluation of grant applications, a proposed project that aligns with a priority #1 action will be awarded more points, and a proposed project for a priority #2 or #3 action will receive fewer points.
3. Conservation and enhancement of fish or wildlife that will result from the proposed project.
   4. Overall quality of the grant application.
   5. Technical merit, feasibility, and likelihood of success.
   6. Deliverables and project outcomes.
   7. Team qualifications and experience.
   8. Cost-effectiveness.
   9. Innovation and creativity.

In our Peace Region, our First Nations Working Group also reviews each grant application at Stage 2 and evaluates each one for:

1. effective communication with First Nations about the proposed project prior to submitting a grant application;
2. partnership, training, or participation opportunities; and
3. recognition and inclusion of cultural values and traditional knowledge.

During Stage 3 of our review process, our Regional Boards review each grant application and consider the results of other evaluations, their evaluation of the grant application, and the balancing of priorities including, but not limited to, the:

1. balance between projects that benefit primarily fish or wildlife;
2. balance of projects between Action Plans;
3. value of funding fewer high-cost, single-year projects or a several smaller-cost projects; and
4. impact of multi-year funding on future year projects.

The Boards’ review and evaluation considers each grant application relative to the FWCP’s strategic objectives: conservation, sustainable use, and community engagement. Board members in each region review all grant applications and evaluate them for:

1. the benefit of the proposed project to fish or wildlife, and ecosystems, impacted by BC Hydro dams;
2. alignment with annual regional priorities or regional guidance;
   • Additional points will be awarded during the evaluation process to applications that address one or more of the three Columbia Region priorities.
3. likelihood of improving or maintaining opportunities for sustainable use;
   4. overall value of the project including, but not limited to, partnerships with First Nations and other funding partners, in-kind contributions, and volunteers;
   5. engagement of First Nations, public, community and local stakeholders; and
   6. overall quality of the grant application.

If your grant application is approved, you will be notified in writing of all conditions that must be fulfilled before finalizing a contribution agreement, starting work on your proposed project, and receiving the first payment installment. The conditions are determined by the regional Boards, and vary by grant application and proposed project.

All approved grant applicants will be required to fulfill our mandatory requirements (e.g. WorkSafeBC and general commercial liability coverage).

All grant applicants were notified about our Boards’ funding decisions in February 2020.