---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 3744"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "3744"
heading: "Wildlife partnership program"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/3744"
units:
  - "Chapter 57A — Partnerships for Wildlife"
---

# §3744. Wildlife partnership program

- (a) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/3743.md?p=7) shall provide the amounts available in the [Fund](/usc/16/3743.md?p=4) to [designated State agencies](/usc/16/3743.md?p=2) on a matching basis to assist in carrying out [wildlife conservation and appreciation projects](/usc/16/3743.md?p=9) that are eligible under [subsection (b)](#b) of this section.
- (b) **Eligible projects—** The following [wildlife conservation and appreciation projects](/usc/16/3743.md?p=9) shall be eligible for matching [funds](/usc/16/3743.md?p=4) from the [Fund](/usc/16/3743.md?p=4):
  - (1) inventory of [fish and wildlife](/usc/16/3743.md?p=3) species;
  - (2) determination and monitoring of the size, range and distribution of populations of [fish and wildlife](/usc/16/3743.md?p=3) species;
  - (3) identification of the extent, condition, and location of the significant habitats of [fish and wildlife](/usc/16/3743.md?p=3) species;
  - (4) identification of the significant problems that may adversely affect [fish and wildlife](/usc/16/3743.md?p=3) species and their significant habitats;
  - (5) actions to [conserve](/usc/16/3743.md?p=1) [fish and wildlife](/usc/16/3743.md?p=3) species and their habitats; and
  - (6) actions of which the principal purpose is to provide opportunities for the public to use and enjoy [fish and wildlife](/usc/16/3743.md?p=3) through [nonconsumptive activities](/usc/16/3743.md?p=6).
- (c) **Project standards—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/3743.md?p=7) shall not provide funding to carry out an eligible [wildlife conservation and appreciation project](/usc/16/3743.md?p=9) unless the [Secretary](/usc/16/3743.md?p=7) determines that such a [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4)—
  - (1) is planned adequately to accomplish the stated objective or objectives;
  - (2) utilizes accepted [fish and wildlife](/usc/16/3743.md?p=3) management principles, sound design and appropriate procedures;
  - (3) will yield benefits pertinent to the identified need at a level commensurate with [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) costs;
  - (4) provides for the tracking of costs and accomplishments related to the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4);
  - (5) provides for monitoring, evaluating, and reporting of the accomplishment of [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) objectives; and
  - (6) complies with all applicable Federal environmental laws and regulations.
- (d) **Limitations on Federal payment—** The amount of appropriated Federal [funds](/usc/16/3743.md?p=4) provided from the [Fund](/usc/16/3743.md?p=4) by the [Secretary](/usc/16/3743.md?p=7) to any [designated State Agency](/usc/16/3743.md?p=2) with respect to any fiscal year to carry out an eligible [wildlife conservation and appreciation project](/usc/16/3743.md?p=9) under this section—
  - (1) may not exceed $250,000;
  - (2) may not exceed one third of the total [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) cost for that fiscal year;
  - (3) may not exceed 40 percent of the total [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) cost for that fiscal year if [designated State agencies](/usc/16/3743.md?p=2) from two or more [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) cooperate in implementing such a [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4); and
  - (4) may not be used to defray the administrative cost of [State](/usc/16/3743.md?p=8) programs.
- (e) **Non-Federal share of projects—**
  - (1) **State share—** Of the total cost each fiscal year of each [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) carried out with amounts provided by the [Secretary](/usc/16/3743.md?p=7) under [subsection (a)](#a), at least ⅓ shall be paid with amounts from [State](/usc/16/3743.md?p=8), non-Federal sources, except that if [designated State agencies](/usc/16/3743.md?p=2) from 2 or more [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) cooperate in implementing such a [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) at least 30 percent shall be paid with amounts from such [State](/usc/16/3743.md?p=8), non-Federal sources. Payments required by this paragraph may not be in the form of an in-kind contribution.
  - (2) **Private share—** Of the total cost each fiscal year of each [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) carried out with amounts provided by the [Secretary](/usc/16/3743.md?p=7) under [subsection (a)](#a), at least ⅓ shall be paid with amounts from voluntary contributions by private entities or [persons](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b), except that if [designated State agencies](/usc/16/3743.md?p=2) from 2 or more [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) cooperate in implementing such a [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4), at least 30 percent shall be paid from such sources. Subject to the approval of the [Secretary](/usc/16/3743.md?p=7), such contributions for a [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) may be in the form of, but are not required to be limited to, private cash donations, and the contribution of materials, equipment, or services necessary for the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4).
- (f) **Eligibility of designated State agencies—** No [designated State agency](/usc/16/3743.md?p=2) shall be eligible to receive matching [funds](/usc/16/3743.md?p=4) from the Wildlife [Conservation](/usc/16/3743.md?p=1) and Appreciation [Fund](/usc/16/3743.md?p=4) if revenue derived from activities regulated by such an agency is diverted for any purpose other than the management and [conservation](/usc/16/3743.md?p=1) of [fish and wildlife](/usc/16/3743.md?p=3). Such revenue shall include, but not be limited to, all income from the sale of hunting, fishing and trapping licenses; all income from nongame checkoff systems; all income from the sale of waterfowl, habitat [conservation](/usc/16/3743.md?p=1), and other stamps that are requisite for engaging in certain activities regulated by the [designated State agency](/usc/16/3743.md?p=2); all income from the sale of any commodities and products by the [designated State agency](/usc/16/3743.md?p=2) from lands and waters administered by the [State](/usc/16/3743.md?p=8) for [fish and wildlife](/usc/16/3743.md?p=3) purposes; and all [funds](/usc/16/3743.md?p=4) apportioned to the [designated State agency](/usc/16/3743.md?p=2) under the Federal Aid in Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs.
- (g) **Establishment of Fund—**
  - (1) The [Secretary](/usc/16/3743.md?p=7) shall establish the [Fund](/usc/16/3743.md?p=4), which shall consist of amounts deposited into the [Fund](/usc/16/3743.md?p=4) by the [Secretary](/usc/16/3743.md?p=7) under paragraph (2) of this subsection.
  - (2) The [Secretary](/usc/16/3743.md?p=7) shall deposit into the [Fund](/usc/16/3743.md?p=4) amounts appropriated to the [Secretary](/usc/16/3743.md?p=7) for deposit to the [Fund](/usc/16/3743.md?p=4), of which not more than 4 percent shall be available to the [Secretary](/usc/16/3743.md?p=7) to defray the costs of administering this chapter and evaluating [wildlife conservation and appreciation projects](/usc/16/3743.md?p=9).
- (h) **Authorization of appropriations—** There are authorized to be appropriated to the [Fund](/usc/16/3743.md?p=4) and to the [Secretary](/usc/16/3743.md?p=7) not to exceed $6,250,000 for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2003.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 102–587, title VII, § 7105, Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5097; Pub. L. 103–375, § 6(4)–(7), Oct. 19, 1994, 108 Stat. 3495, 3496; Pub. L. 105–312, title III, § 303, Oct. 30, 1998, 112 Stat. 2958.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1998—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 105–312 substituted “not to exceed $6,250,000 for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2003.” for “for each of fiscal years 1992 through 1998 not to exceed $6,250,000.”

1994—Subsec. (d)(5). Pub. L. 103–375, § 6(4), struck out par. (5) which read as follows: “may not exceed the State share of the cost of implementing such a project.”

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 103–375, § 6(5), amended heading and text of subsec. (e) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The share of the cost of carrying out eligible projects under this section shall be from a non-Federal source and shall not be in the form of an in-kind contribution.”

Subsec. (g)(2). Pub. L. 103–375, § 6(6)(A), amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: “The Secretary shall deposit into the Fund—

“(A) amounts appropriated to the Secretary for deposit to the Fund, of which not more than 4 percent shall be available to the Secretary and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to defray the costs of administering this chapter and evaluating wildlife conservation and appreciation projects; and

“(B) amounts received as donations from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation or other private entities or persons for deposit to the Fund.”

Subsec. (g)(3), (4). Pub. L. 103–375, § 6(6)(B), struck out pars. (3) and (4) which read as follows:

“(3) The Secretary may accept and use donations from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and other private entities or persons for purposes of assisting States under this section.

“(4) Of the total amount provided from the Fund to assist a State in carrying out a wildlife conservation and appreciation project under subsection (a) of this section, at least 50 percent shall have been donated to the Fund by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.”

Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 103–375, § 6(7), substituted “1998” for “1995” and struck out before period at end “to match the amount of contributions made to the Fund by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation”.