Grant Funding Available for Habitat Enhancement Projects
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) is seeking grant applications to help fund projects that enhance or restore habitat for wildlife, with available funding totaling $750,000. All eligible agencies and projects are encouraged to apply.
The grants stem from the Environmental Enhancement Fund (EEF), whose selection committee includes representatives from the California Coastal Conservancy, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and OSPR. The committee may select multiple projects. Previous EEF awards have typically ranged from $100,000 to $300,000. Applications including multiyear projects may also be submitted.
To qualify, an environmental enhancement project must meet all the following requirements:
- Be located within or immediately adjacent to waters of the state,
- Have measurable outcomes within a pre-determined timeframe,
- Be designed to acquire, restore or improve habitat and/or restore ecosystem function for the benefit of fish and wildlife.
Funds come from OSPR’s EEF, which collects fines and penalties from spill violations in accordance with California’s Lempert-Keene-Seastrand Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act. Disbursement of grant money is contingent on the availability of funds in the EEF.
Grant applications must be received by 5 p.m. on Oct. 18, 2022. Selected projects will be notified in spring 2023. Interested parties can find more information about this funding opportunity on OSPR’s website, or by contacting OSPR Environmental Scientist Daniel Orr at (916) 559-1381.
CDFW Photo: European beachgrass at Point Reyes North Great Beach.
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Media Contacts:
Daniel Orr, OSPR Resource Restoration Program, (916) 599-1381
Steve Gonzalez, OSPR Communications, (916) 715-9072