Southwest Rivers Headwaters Fund
Supports science-based restoration and protection of aquatic and riparian habitats in the Rio Grande and Colorado River headwaters to benefit native species and ecosystem health.
Funder: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Due Dates (Anticipated): November 2026 (Southwest Rivers Headwaters Fund RFP submission deadline)
Funding Amounts: Typical annual pool: $1–1.5 million; individual awards ~$50,000–$400,000; 5–6 grants/year; 1-year projects common
Summary: Supports restoration and protection of aquatic and riparian habitats in the headwaters of the Rio Grande and Colorado River to benefit native species and ecosystem health.
Key Information: Matching contributions are strongly encouraged; geographic focus is headwaters/tributaries in CO, NM, AZ, UT, NV, WY.
Description
The Southwest Rivers Headwaters Fund, administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), is a competitive grant program supporting process-based restoration, protection, and enhancement of aquatic and riparian species and their habitats in the headwaters of the Rio Grande and Colorado River watersheds. Launched in 2019, the Fund is a partnership with organizations including the Trinchera Blanca Foundation, Walton Family Foundation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, and U.S. Bureau of Land Management.
The Fund addresses the decline of native southwestern riparian species by mitigating habitat loss, environmental change, and invasive species. Supported projects typically focus on:
- Wetland, riparian, and instream habitat restoration (e.g., reconnecting floodplains, restoring dynamic channel processes, increasing native vegetation)
- Increasing water availability for species and their habitats, or removing barriers to flow
- Reintroducing or translocating priority aquatic species to improved habitats
Priority species include Rio Grande cutthroat trout, North American beaver, Chiricahua leopard frog, southwestern willow flycatcher, and other conservation-dependent aquatic and riparian species. Projects must yield measurable ecological outcomes and advance conservation strategies for headwater streams, which are vital for downstream water users, fish, and wildlife.
