Jordan River improvement grants of up to $450,000 are due Oct. 30

The Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands has up to $450,000 available for safety, recreation, conservation and restoration projects on or next to sovereign lands of the Jordan River, and proposals are due Oct. 30, 2026, according to the division's request for proposals. ^[1]

The money may go to one project or be split among several. Eligible categories include safety, recreation and conservation improvements, capital projects that increase access to river recreation, partnerships such as a bike or boat rental concession, trail, river and parkway maintenance, invasive species removal and replanting, and environmental education. The grant-funded portion of a project must be finished by Dec. 31, 2027. ^[1]

Applicants submit a single PDF of up to eight pages, not counting resumes or letters of support, by email. Proposals must include a cover sheet, a location map and any permissions needed to work on the site, a timeline, an itemized budget and a disclosure of other state funding. Matching funds at a 1-to-1 ratio are encouraged and carry 10% of the ranking score, but the request says matching contributions are not required. ^[1]

A committee of division staff, other Department of Natural Resources representatives and non-applicant members of the Jordan River Commission will rank the proposals. The division says it will notify successful applicants within 30 days of the deadline. The request does not state a cutoff hour for Oct. 30. ^[1]

The division's Jordan River funding page lists a separate round for recreational access projects with up to $2 million, open to cities, counties and the commission with at least an equal match. That round's deadline was Sept. 30, 2026. ^[2]