CDFW Holding Public Workshops in Central and Southern California to Promote Grant Funding Opportunities

Tue, 09 May 2023 15:39:50 GMT

Who: The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)

What: CDFW’s Restoration Grant Program is holding two in-person workshops in central and Southern California to provide information on various grant funding opportunities and the application process. Staff will present information on permitting tools available through the Cutting the Green Tape Program and the recently formed Cannabis Restoration Grant Program (CRGP).

When and Where: On May 11, an in-person/virtual workshop will be held in Ventura (PDF) at the County of Ventura, 800 S. Victoria Ave, Lower Plaza Assembly Room from 2:30 to 5 p.m. For the virtual option, click on the link above.

On May 12, an in-person workshop will be held in San Luis Obispo (PDF) at the California Conservation Corps, 1530 Madera Ave., Dining Hall Room from 10 a.m. to noon.

Why: In 2022, CDFW’s Restoration Grant Program announced the availability of $200 million in new funding opportunities, including $100 million in emergency drought funding for protecting salmon against drought and climate change. Funding under the Addressing Climate Impacts and Nature-Based Solutions initiatives provides support for projects addressing water and habitat impacted by climate change, as well as restoring wetlands and mountain meadows, and creating wildlife corridors. This funding also supports key initiatives including conserving 30 percent of California’s lands and coastal waters by 2030, while increasing the pace and scale of projects through the Cutting Green Tape Initiative. More information about these funding opportunities can be found at www.wildlife.ca.gov/grants.

CRGP is committed to promoting ecosystem restoration and ecological health in collaboration with a diversity of stakeholders. In 2023, CRGP announced $20 million in funding opportunities for Tribes, public agencies and non-profit organizations interested in restoring ecosystem function, improving habitat connectivity and assisting cultivators to become fully licensed. CRGP funded projects include enhancing fish and wildlife habitat for listed and sensitive species, restoring ecological resilience, improving water conservation and irrigation efficiency, sustainable agriculture practices and road improvement projects that reduce sedimentation. You can learn more about recent funding opportunities through CRGP’s latest announcement.

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Media Contacts:
Janice Mackey, CDFW Communications, (916) 207-7891
Lauren Barva, CDFW Grant Program, (916) 376-8637

CDFW Awards $26 Million for Ecosystem and Watershed Restoration, Protection and Scientific Study Projects Statewide

Wed, 22 Jun 2022 12:11:44 GMT

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has selected 23 ecosystem restoration and protection projects to fund under its Proposition 1 Watershed Restoration Grant and Delta Water Quality and Ecosystem Restoration Grant Program. The awards total $26 million.

Of the $26 million, approximately $21 million was awarded to 15 projects statewide through the Prop. 1 Watershed Restoration Grant Program. Approximately $5 million was awarded to eight projects through the Prop. 1 Delta Water Quality and Ecosystem Restoration Grant Program to projects that directly benefit the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

“California’s fish, wildlife and their habitats are facing continued impacts from climate change including persistent drought conditions,” said CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham. “These impacted species need strong conservation and protection efforts now more than ever. The projects that were awarded funding this year represent a collective effort to meet these challenges and push toward our conservation goals under California’s 30x30 Initiative.”

The approved projects complement CDFW’s ongoing initiatives toward species recovery and provide resilience to climate change, representing priorities outlined in the solicitation, as well as the California Water Action Plan, State Wildlife Action Plan, Sacramento Valley Salmon Resiliency Strategy, Delta Plan, California EcoRestore, Safeguarding California Plan, the California Biodiversity Initiative and the fulfillment of CDFW’s mission.

Projects approved for funding through the Prop. 1 Watershed Grant Programs include:

Acquisition Projects:

2022 Upper Truckee River Watershed Acquisition ($1,500,000 to California Tahoe Conservancy)
YMCA Camp Jones Gulch Conservation Easement ($1,002,000 to Sempervirens Fund)

Implementation Projects:

Lower Stotenburg Creek Coho Habitat Enhancement Implementation Project ($946,848 to Smith River Alliance)
Wheeler Gorge Campground Fish Passage Project - Implementation ($2,972,220 to Earth Island Institute)
Phase 1 Finney-Ramer Unit Habitat Restoration Project ($1,816,516 to River Partners)
Lower Lacey Meadow Restoration ($1,344,890 to Truckee River Watershed Council)
Rowdy and Dominie Creek Fish Passage Improvement Project ($6,108,032 to Tolowa Dee-ni Nation)
Fall Creek Fish Ladder Rehabilitation Project: Enhancing Survivability of Central California Coast Steelhead and Coho Salmon in the San Lorenzo River Watershed ($1,116,166 to San Lorenzo Valley Water District)

Planning Projects:

Kelsey Creek Fish Passage Project ($350,000 to Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians)
Cedar Creek Habitat Restoration and Passage Improvement Design ($202,291 to Hoopa Tribal Fisheries)
Soda Creek Restoration and Fisheries Improvement Planning Project ($180,327 to Trout Unlimited)
Clear Creek ACID Siphon Fish Passage Planning Project ($499,734 to Western Shasta Resource Conservation District)
Buena Vista Lagoon Enhancement Project Phase II ($1,000,000 to San Diego Association of Governments)
Robles Diversion and Fish Passage Design Planning Project ($1,557,926 to Ventura County Watershed Protection District)
Scott Creek Coastal Resiliency Project: Climate Change Technical Studies and Planning ($409,133 to Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County)

Projects approved for funding through the Prop. 1 Delta Water Quality and Ecosystem Restoration Grant Program include:

Scientific Studies:

Green Sturgeon Population Monitoring and Habitat Analysis ($812,184 to Regents of the University of California, Santa Cruz)
Quantifying Relative Risk of Collapse for Delta Fish Populations ($358,463 to Regents of the University of California, Davis)
Where, When and How do Wetlands Export Food for Smelt to Open Waters of the Estuary? ($703,883 to San Francisco State University)
Socio-Ecological Potential for Co-management of Tidal Wetlands for Fish and Fowl ($944,551 to Regents of the University of California, Davis)
Trade-offs and Co-benefits of Landscape Change in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta: Phase II Tidal Wetlands and Restoration ($196,114 to Point Blue Conservation Science)
Quantifying Component Mortality Rates of Juvenile Salmonids ($565,268 to Regents of the University of California, Santa Cruz)
Feasibility of Acoustic Telemetry in Delta Smelt ($1,226,518 to Regents of the University of California, Davis)
When the Rubber Meets the River: An Assessment of 6PPD-quinone on Delta Species of Conservation Concern ($547,024 to Regents of the University of California, Davis)

Additional projects are still under consideration. General information about CDFW’s Prop. 1 Restoration Grant Programs, as well as a schedule for upcoming grant solicitations, once available, can be found at wildlife.ca.gov/grants.

Funding for these projects comes from Prop. 1 bond funds, a portion of which are allocated annually through the California State Budget Act. More information about Prop. 1 is on the California Natural Resources Agency website.

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Media Contacts:
Matt Wells, CDFW Watershed Restoration Grant Branch, (916) 216-7848
Kirsten Macintyre, CDFW Communications, (916) 804-1714