Aquatic Resource Mitigation Fund
Working to sustain the functions and values of aquatic resources in New Hampshire.
The Aquatic Resource Mitigation (ARM) Fund Program ensures that funds generated through In-Lieu Fee (ILF) mitigation payments for unavoidable impacts to wetlands, streams and other aquatic resources are used to fund projects that replace, restore or protect aquatic resources within the same watershed. ILF payments are pooled according to nine watersheds (known as service areas) and awarded as competitive grants to fund restoration, enhancement and, in certain cases, preservation.
To meet the goal of no net loss of wetland functions, the ARM Fund Program seeks sustainable compensatory mitigation projects that will result in a net gain of resource acreage and/or functions and values.
2025 Annual Fund Grant Round
The ARM Fund Program is now accepting pre-proposals for the 2025 grant round. This year, over $7.5 million is available to fund compensatory mitigation activities in New Hampshire. Please view the 2025 ledger to understand the resource types, acreage and functions and values lost in the watersheds soliciting proposals.
The 2025 grant round is targeting projects with a high likelihood of success to support significant restoration, enhancement, establishment and, in some circumstances, preservation, at the larger landscape scale in watersheds that have sustained significant loss through wetland or stream permit decisions. The goal is for funded projects to be self-sustaining, natural systems within the landscape and climate in which they are located, with little or no ongoing maintenance needs or hydrologic manipulation.
Key Requirements
- Measurable increase in aquatic resource acreage and/or function.
- All materials listed as required on the reference checklist.
- Minimum five years monitoring.
- Permanent legal protection of project area and buffers.
- Compliance with federal and state rules and permitting.
For more details on the grant round, application process and this year’s target goals and objectives, please review the 2025 ARM Grant Guidance and Instructions.
Pre-proposals are due May 31, 2025. Pre-proposals are reviewed by the ARM Federal Interagency Review Team (IRT) and Site Selection Committee (SSC) to determine the project’s potential to provide compensatory mitigation. Eligible projects will be invited to submit a full proposal. Full applications are due September 5, 2025.
- Review 2025 Grant Guidance and Instructions.
- Watch a recording of the 2025 ARM Virtual Office Hour.
- Submit the Pre-Proposal Application by May 31, 2025.
- Await invitation to Full Application in July 2025.
- Submit Full Application by September 5, 2025.
The ARM calculator is a tool to estimate the ILF compensatory mitigation payment required to offset unavoidable project specific impacts if mitigation is required for a project.
Resources
Site Selection Committee
The Site Selection Committee is a team of state and non-governmental conservation agencies that review the applications and recommend funding for projects. Team members represent a breadth of expert knowledge in the fields of botany, wetlands ecology, wildlife biology, and stream science, and have decades of experience working in New Hampshire on environmental issues. The committee reviews the applications using the best available science and visits the sites to rank projects using the evaluation criteria.
What project types are eligible for ARM Fund grants? Where does the money for the ARM Fund come from? Who may apply? What are eligible project costs? Get answers to these and other common questions about applying for ARM Fund grants.
This mapping tool includes publicly available data layers that may be used by potential applicants to inform project eligibility and assist in the development of application materials.
The 2025 map shows available funding amounts for each service area. Additional funding may become available. The ARM Fund Program welcomes pre-proposals in any service area if funds can be used to support sustainable compensatory mitigation projects.