Erie Access Improvement Grant
Forecasted
Erie Access Improvement Grant supports nonprofit and government partners in funding fishing access, habitat, technology, and research projects to improve public fishing in the Lake Erie watershed.
Funder: Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
Due Dates (Anticipated): December 2026 (Annual application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Reimbursement funding with a usual 50% match; projects generally completed within two years
Summary: Supports public fishing access, fish habitat, technology, and fisheries research in the Lake Erie watershed.
Key Information: Applicants must finance project costs upfront and arrange a PFBC pre-application discussion and site visit.
Description
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) administers the Erie Access Improvement Grant through its Statewide Public Access Grant Program. It supports nonprofit and government partners working to improve public fishing access, protect or improve fish habitat, and otherwise benefit public fishing at Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay, and their tributaries, including waters flowing into those tributaries. The goal is to provide anglers with high-quality access to the watershed’s unique fishing opportunities.
Supported work includes land and fishing-easement acquisitions, design and engineering, access development and rehabilitation, fishing piers, trails, fish cleaning stations, habitat projects, fisheries research, and aquatic invasive species prevention or mitigation. Lake Erie permit revenues support the program through a restricted Fish Fund account established under Act 159 of 2004. Act 56 of 2020 expanded the program to additional public-fishing benefits, including new technology and research.
