The Nez Perce Tribe will receive a $1.9 million grant to restore the creek in Idaho County

The 61 grants announced Monday total $122.4 million to states, tribal nations and U.S. territories, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of the Interior. The grants support projects that conserve, restore, and connect wildlife habitats and ecosystems while improving community resilience and access to nature.

US Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said the America the Beautiful initiative was “transformative.”

“By working together across the federal family and through public-private partnerships, we have built a lasting pathway to support hundreds of locally-led collaborative conservation projects across the country,” Haaland said in the release. “The America the Beautiful Challenge has advanced tribal collaborations, funded a record amount of tribal-led efforts, and promoted the use of Indigenous knowledge to benefit endangered species and precious landscapes. These innovative investments will leave a lasting legacy on our nation’s lands and waters.”

According to the press release, approximately 42% of all America the Beautiful grants in 2024 will support projects implemented by Indigenous communities and organizations.