Stewardship Council Land Protection Grants Program
2025 Land Protection Grants Program Announcement: Applications Due by June 1st
The Stewardship Council announces the opening of the 2025 Land Protection Grants Program. Funding through the Land Protection Grants Program supports the advancement of land protection projects that protect and/or enhance the Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit Rivers and their Outstandingly Remarkable Resource Values (ORRVs) as set forth in the Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit Rivers Stewardship Plan.
Eligible entities include municipalities, 501(c)(3) organizations, and state agencies that have land conservation as a primary function in the communities along the Wild and Scenic designated rivers (Ayer, Bolton, Brookline, Dunstable, Groton, Harvard, Hollis, Lancaster, Pepperell, Shirley, and Townsend). The Stewardship Council may consider applications from municipalities and organizations based outside the Wild and Scenic communities when the project will directly benefit the Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit Rivers’ resources and communities. These organizations are encouraged to consult with the Stewardship Council before applying to discuss their eligibility. Grant awards from previous years can be viewed by year on this website under the Council Grants tab above.
Applications are being accepted now through June 1, 2025. Awards will be announced in late June. View the 2025 Land Protection Grants Program RFP and Grant Application (Word) (PDF).
The Stewardship Council announces the opening of the 2025 Land Protection Grants Program. Funding through the Land Protection Grants Program supports the advancement of land protection projects that protect and/or enhance the Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit Rivers and their Outstandingly Remarkable Resource Values (ORRVs) as set forth in the Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit Rivers Stewardship Plan.
Eligible entities include municipalities, 501(c)(3) organizations, and state agencies that have land conservation as a primary function in the communities along the Wild and Scenic designated rivers (Ayer, Bolton, Brookline, Dunstable, Groton, Harvard, Hollis, Lancaster, Pepperell, Shirley, and Townsend). The Stewardship Council may consider applications from municipalities and organizations based outside the Wild and Scenic communities when the project will directly benefit the Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit Rivers’ resources and communities. These organizations are encouraged to consult with the Stewardship Council before applying to discuss their eligibility. Grant awards from previous years can be viewed by year on this website under the Council Grants tab above.
Applications are being accepted now through June 1, 2025. Awards will be announced in late June. View the 2025 Land Protection Grants Program RFP and Grant Application (Word) (PDF).
The Stewardship Council's Land Protection Grants Program supports the advancement of land protection projects that protect and/or enhance the Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit Rivers and their Outstandingly Remarkable Resource Values (ORRVs) as set forth in the Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit Rivers Stewardship Plan (Stewardship Plan). The program will further local conservation efforts by providing funds to support acquisition, transaction, and other due diligence costs associated with land protection.
Land protection goals set forth in the Stewardship Plan include:
Who is eligible to apply? Eligible entities include municipalities, 501(c)(3) organizations, and state agencies that have land conservation as a primary function in the communities along the Wild and Scenic designated rivers (Ayer, Bolton, Brookline, Dunstable, Groton, Harvard, Hollis, Lancaster, Pepperell, Shirley, and Townsend). The Stewardship Council may consider applications from municipalities and organizations based outside the Wild and Scenic communities when the project will directly benefit the Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit Rivers’ resources and communities. These organizations are encouraged to consult with the Stewardship Council before applying to discuss their eligibility.
What types of projects are funded? The Land Protection Grants will support acquisition and transaction costs for land protection projects (fee or easement/restriction) in the Nashua River watershed. Allowable costs may include, but are not limited to surveys, appraisals and appraisal reviews, attorney’s services for title searches, closing services, deed preparation and negotiation, baseline document preparation, easement and land recording, and other professional services. Funds can also be used to acquire direct real estate interests (fee or easement/restriction) in land. Entities may apply for multiple grants, but the applications must be for discrete projects.
What is the application cycle? Each year the Stewardship Council develops a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Community Grants Program. The RFP will be made public in early April with an early June application deadline.
View 2023 Land Protection Grant Awards.
Land protection goals set forth in the Stewardship Plan include:
- Encourage voluntary land conservation to protect important riverfront and watershed lands.
- Increase land protection efforts to focus on connecting existing protected greenways.
- Restore and sustain lands along all water bodies, including wetlands and their surrounding lands, as linear greenways for their natural resource values.
- Protect priority land habitat, especially along the three rivers and their tributaries.
- Protect priority headwater streams that supply coldwater downstream.
- Recognize and protect important historical and cultural landscape features related to the rivers.
Who is eligible to apply? Eligible entities include municipalities, 501(c)(3) organizations, and state agencies that have land conservation as a primary function in the communities along the Wild and Scenic designated rivers (Ayer, Bolton, Brookline, Dunstable, Groton, Harvard, Hollis, Lancaster, Pepperell, Shirley, and Townsend). The Stewardship Council may consider applications from municipalities and organizations based outside the Wild and Scenic communities when the project will directly benefit the Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit Rivers’ resources and communities. These organizations are encouraged to consult with the Stewardship Council before applying to discuss their eligibility.
What types of projects are funded? The Land Protection Grants will support acquisition and transaction costs for land protection projects (fee or easement/restriction) in the Nashua River watershed. Allowable costs may include, but are not limited to surveys, appraisals and appraisal reviews, attorney’s services for title searches, closing services, deed preparation and negotiation, baseline document preparation, easement and land recording, and other professional services. Funds can also be used to acquire direct real estate interests (fee or easement/restriction) in land. Entities may apply for multiple grants, but the applications must be for discrete projects.
What is the application cycle? Each year the Stewardship Council develops a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Community Grants Program. The RFP will be made public in early April with an early June application deadline.
View 2023 Land Protection Grant Awards.
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