Grant Application Opportunities and Notices

Governor Newsom announced today CDFW's award of $50 million in grants to 15 projects to support a diverse array of habitat restoration projects in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, McCloud River, and wetland and meadow projects statewide. These projects include several that directly support Governor Newsom’s recently released California’s Salmon Strategy for a Hotter, Drier Future, which outlines six priorities and 71 actions to build healthier, thriving salmon populations in California.

Funding for these projects comes from CDFW's Drought for Protecting Salmon, Addressing Climate Impacts, and Nature Based Solutions initiatives, as well as the remaining funds from CDFW's Proposition 1 funded Delta Water Quality and Ecosystem Restoration Grant Program. See press release for the list of awarded projects.

The Fisheries Restoration Grant Program (FRGP) now offers adaptive contingency funding for currently awarded projects. Current grantees can apply by following the FRGP's Contingency Funding Guidelines (PDF). These adaptive funds allow projects to request additional funds to successfully complete their awarded project. Funds are available to support the existing project scope and are not available for activities beyond the original scope.

CDFW's Prop 1 and 68 grant programs offer similar contingency opportunities; more information can be found in the Prop1/68 Contingency Funding Guidelines (PDF).

Links to the guidelines are on FRGP’s web page and Restoration Grants Resources web page.

Thank you and please contact your FRGP grant manager with any questions.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is now accepting concept proposal applications for projects under the Fisheries Restoration Grant Program (FRGP). The 2024 FRGP Proposal Solicitation Notice (PSN) (PDF) and 2024 FRGP Guidelines (PDF) outlines the priorities and requirements to apply. The concept proposal application phase is open until March 4th, 2024. The Full application opens March 5 through April 18, 2024. Applications must be submitted via CDFW WebGrants.

For more information, please see the 2024 PSN, 2024 Guidelines, and the FAQ (PDF). Applicants should refer to the Online Instructions (PDF) for information about how to complete the application and the Rich Text Format Application (Word) to help organize your application.

CDFW will be hosting several PSN workshops to assist applicants in understanding the requirements of the PSN and Guidelines. Information on the date and time of each workshop is available on FRGP’s Solicitation Page.

Finally, please share this solicitation, particularly, with someone who you think has never heard of or applied to FRGP.

Thank you!

On May 25, 2023, CDFW announced $20.4 Million in grant funding to protect salmon habitat and other California fish and wildlife species statewide. This is the third round of grant awards made in 2023 with funding made available last year under Drought, Climate and Nature-Based Solutions Initiatives, bringing the total grant funding awarded to nearly $80 million.

View all projects awarded today online.

CDFW announced nearly $36 million in projects to benefit salmon and their habitats, and to further support climate resiliency, wildlife corridors and wetlands restoration. These awards include $29 million in Drought Emergency Salmon Protection Grants to 10 projects demonstrating support from and collaboration with Tribes and landowner interests in the Shasta and Scott rivers and their watersheds and $9 million from the same fund to Tribes in the Klamath River mainstem for post-McKinney Fire debris flow damage remediation, slope and sediment stabilization, and restoration for salmonids.

CDFW also released its new Grant Project StoryMaps, interactive web pages to view project information with photos, starting with these recent awards. A separate Drought - Protecting Salmon StoryMaps features just the Salmon projects funded with Emergency Drought funding. Projects will continue to be added to these StoryMaps so continue to check back.

CDFW Announces $22.5 Million to Benefit Salmon and Support Critical Habitat Projects Statewide. These awards are part of a new effort to support critical restoration statewide with $200 million in new funding for multi-benefit ecosystem restoration and protection projects under Drought, Climate and Nature Based Solutions Initiatives. CDFW will announce additional awards throughout the month of March.

CDFW will also host an in-person workshop with the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) and State Coastal Conservancy (SCC) on April 19, 2023 in Carlsbad, CA (PDF), to provide information on grant funding opportunities as well as permitting tools available through CDFWs Cutting the Green Tape Program. Additional in-person workshops will be announced on CDFWs Restoration Grants webpage.

CDFW will host an online public workshop (PDF) on Thursday, February 23, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., to provide an update on funding opportunities through the new Restoration Grant Programs as well as permitting tools through CDFW’s Cutting the Green Tape Program.

Please contact WatershedGrants@wildlife.ca.gov with any questions.

CDFW today announced the availability of over $200 million in new funding for multi-benefit ecosystem restoration and protection projects under Drought, Climate and Nature-Based Solutions Initiatives.

The Watershed Restoration Grants Branch (WRGB) has released its Call for Concepts (PDF) outlining the availability and process for applying for this funding, as well as updated WRGB General Grant Programs Guidelines (PDF) for all programs including detailed information on eligibility, project types, program and funding requirements.

To support these new initiatives, WRGB has launched a new, single application portal which will remain available on an ongoing basis, allowing applicants to submit one application for consideration under multiple funding streams. Concept proposals must be submitted electronically through CDFW WebGrants.

We are excited to usher in this new funding and a streamlined process. Please visit CDFW’s Restoration Grant Opportunities web page for additional information.