These projects have relatively lower risk involved, and are fairly straightforward for land conservation groups. Working with a Government Partner Government agencies are used to applying for federal grants. They have the systems to handle grant application, accounting, staffing and hiring, and can advance funds until grant monies are actually received. If you can get a government agency to adopt your project, it may relieve a tremendous burden on your organization to carry out the project. Nevertheless, there also may be disadvantages to having a government agency do the project.
Governmental organizations can be bureaucratic and typically have high overhead.
The project may cost more and take longer than if you do it yourself. Still, especially if the project involves actual construction, or requires a lot of hiring, having the government actually carry it out, perhaps in conjunction with your organization, is probably the most practical path for many smaller nonprofits. Of course you will have to find a government partner to do the project. The Regional Water Quality Control Board is a possibility, although they rarely do actual construction projects. Some municipal utility districts may be willing to apply for such funds, even though they historically have not received transportation funding.