1677 - *State Lake Improvement Fund (SLIF)
Funding Opportunity Details

State Lake Improvement Fund

Pre Application Deadline: Jan 11, 2026 11:59 PM

Final Application Deadline: Feb 1, 2026 11:59 PM

Description

• State Lake Improvement Fund (SLIF)

  Arizona State Parks and Trails (ASPT) is pleased to administer the State Lake Improvement Fund (SLIF). Eligible projects must directly relate to bodies of water that allow gasoline powered motorized boat use. Projects could include:

   

  • Development of new boat launches
  • Docks
  • Watercraft
  • Marking buoys
  • Trailers
  • Support facilities around lakes such as parking lots, bathrooms, campgrounds and picnic tables.
  • Drones to clean plastic, algae, and other floating trash from lakes and waterways.
  • Law enforcement agencies/fire service agencies may also be able to purchase drones for search, rescue and recovery operations. 

   

  Overview summary:

  • $250,000 minimum request and $750,000 maximum request
  • SLIF grants are a reimbursement grant, meaning the sponsor must be able to pay for the project costs in full as they are incurred.  
  • SLIF grants do not require any matching funds, however, applicants may receive additional scoring points when matching funds are present. 
  • ASPT anticipates that this will be a competitive funding cycle where not all proposals will be funded. Several factors are used in determining the award amount to each applicant including but are not limited to; available funding, number of applicants, past grant history, and evaluation score. Please see attachments for more information about how proposals will be scored. 
  • SLIF funds have a mandatory term of public use which varies based on grant specifics (typically 15 years or less, unless using funds to purchase land). 

   

  Project Requirements:

  • ASPT expects that sponsors are taking substantive action within 90 days of receiving the Approval of Proceed letter. Substantive action could include the release of a Request for Proposal to procure equipment or services, submission of claims for other grant related expenses, or completion of other milestones. 
  • Quarterly status reports are required. Reimbursement of claims will be withheld if status reports are not up to date. 

   

  Eligible Agencies:

  • State, County, Local, Tribal Government agencies. 

   

  ELIGIBLE EXPENSES:

  To fund projects on waters where gasoline-powered boats are allowed, limited to the following:

  (a) Public launching ramps.

  (b) Public piers, marinas or marina stadia.

  (c) Public toilets, sanitation facilities and domestic waters.

  (d) Public picnic tables and facilities.

  (e) Public parking areas.

  (f) Lake construction or improvement.

  (g) Marking buoys and other safety facilities.

  (h) Watercraft.

  (i) Public campgrounds.

  (j) Acquisition of real and personal property through purchase, lease, agreement or otherwise for the purpose of providing access to waters where boating is permitted.

  (k) Design and engineering projects.

  3. To fund the purchase of drones to clean plastic, algae, biomass and other floating trash from lakes and waterways.  The drones shall be equipped with the following specifications:

  (a) Time stamped and GPS locating data sensors to provide constant monitoring of lakes and waterways.

  (b) Collision avoidance.

  4. To fund the purchase of drones by law enforcement agencies and fire service agencies for the purposes of search, rescue and recovery operations and training in the use and operation of the drones.

  D. Projects involving expenditure of monies from the fund may be accomplished by the Arizona state parks board, by the Arizona game and fish commission, by the board of supervisors of any county, by the governing body of a city or town or by the governing body of a fire district if the projects do not interfere with any vested water rights or the operation or maintenance of water projects, including domestic, municipal, irrigation district, drainage district, flood control district or reclamation projects. The Arizona outdoor recreation coordinating commission, established by section 41-518, shall examine applications for eligible projects, determine the amount of funding, if any, for each project and submit a list of projects, subject to prior review by the joint committee on capital review, to the Arizona state parks board for allocation from the fund.  The board shall annually report to the legislature the expenditures made for such projects in conjunction with the report required by section 41-511.12.

  • *NOTE:  Eligible boating law enforcement and safety equipment shall include only that equipment required to make a patrol boat initially operational, such as boat, trailer, motor, radios, lights, and first-aid.  Vehicles to transport these boats are not eligible.  Eligible recipients for such grants shall include state agencies, counties and incorporated municipalities.  Federal agencies are not eligible for boating law enforcement and safety equipment grants.

  (i) Public campgrounds - picnic tables and benches, pads, restroom/shower buildings, ramadas, grills, kiosks, trash receptacles

  (j) Acquisition of real and personal property through purchase, lease, agreement or otherwise for the purpose of providing access to waters where boating is permitted

  (k) Housing for law enforcement and safety personnel – up to $55,000 per unit in SLIF funds may be used for new construction and renovation

  (l) Design and engineering projects - Limited to 10% of the grant award.  Design and engineering activities completed by the applicant’s internal staff may be included as a source of match but are not eligible for reimbursement.   Design and engineering activities that are contracted out are eligible for reimbursement.

  Other allowable scope items:  Essential landscaping; necessary utility infrastructure; essential access internal to a facility or site; directional, informational, or safety-related signs.

  Ineligible scope items:  Paved access roads, nonessential landscaping, grant administration, archaeological data recovery, environmental impact statements or NEPA studies.  

   

  DEADLINE

  Pre-applications are due January 11, 2026 11:59pm

  Applications are due February 1, 2026 11:59pm

Attachments

Website links