WASHINGTON, D.C.—As the Forest Service intends to engage tribal nations and underserved communities, we have an opportunity to become excellent hosts, extending invitations that are backed by investment. One way the agency is working to do this is through the sixth annual Wild and Scenic Rivers Stewardship Partnership Funding opportunity, made possible through a partnership between River Network and the Forest Service Washington Office Wild and Scenic Rivers Program. This funding supports nonprofit and tribal organizations working on or planning for stewardship activities on wild and scenic rivers.

One of the main goals of the funding program is to foster a shared stewardship approach between local district offices, nonprofits and tribal entities. However, there are groups interested in partnering with the Forest Service that don’t have the existing relationships with local units which are required to apply for the Stewardship Awards that the program has provided in previous years. Enter a new funding category established in 2023—the Relationship Building Awards. These funding awards cover salaries and/or travel costs for organizations’ staff members who will build these relationships. The hope is to make federal agency funding more accessible, bringing more folks to the table, not just those who have well-established, historic relationships already in place.

A 2023 funding recipient, Idaho Rivers United, has focused efforts on building relationships with the Salmon-Challis National Forest and the Nez Perce Tribe. After getting interest in the program from tribal executives, they have begun coordinating with the Nez Perce youth outreach program director to develop a curriculum for river trips on the Main Salmon Wild and Scenic River that will balance and maximize youth enjoyment, education and engagement.

Check out the program map highlighting wild and scenic rivers layered next to the Climate and  Environmental Justice Screening Tool and share the opportunity widely. This year’s application window is open until May 30.