Fishing ponds and other manmade or natural bodies of water are extremely vital to America's economic and environmental health. If you are in search for grant funding to assist with the construction, maintenance or conservation of a fishing pond there are various government agencies who can provide much needed funding to assist you. Knowing what agencies to turn to can help you find the funding you need.

Lake and Pond Grant Program

For Massachusetts residents the Lake and Pond Grant program provides funding for the preservation, enhancements and production of public lakes and ponds on the commonwealth. These grants are competitive and are capped at a maximum of $25,000. For application materials contact the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Department of Conservation and Recreation 251 Causeway Street Boston, MA 02114 617-626-1250 mass.gov

Recreation Resource Management Grant

The Recreation Resource Management Grant can be utilized to help the conservation and resource maintenance of lands designated by the Bureau of Land Management, mostly located in the Western United States and Alaska. These grants can be utilized to cover the conservation or creation of ponds and fisheries in these areas. Grants are awarded on a competitive basis. For application materials contact the Bureau of Land Management.

Chief Bureau of Land Management 1849 C Street, NW, 302 LS, Washington, DC 20240 202-452-5041 blm.gov

Fish Habitat Program

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources offers a Fish Habitat program that funds the construction and maintenance of fishing ponds. The grant funds can cover the cost of land acquisition up to 90 percent of cost and can be used for a variety of other function such as dredging of pond waters, manipulation of fish organisms and the construction of aeration systems. For application materials contact the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources 502 E. 9th Street, Des Moines, IA 50319-0034 515-281-5918 iowadnr.gov