About the Environmental Enhancement Fund

The Environmental Enhancement Fund (EEF) grant program is administered by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Office of Spill Prevention and Response. The objective of this grant program is to award grants to nonprofit organizations, cities, counties, cities and counties, districts, state agencies, and departments; and, to the extent permitted by federal law, to federal agencies to support environmental enhancement projects located within or immediately adjacent to waters of the state. An enhancement project is a project that acquires habitat for preservation, or improves habitat quality and ecosystem function above baseline conditions, and that meets all of the following requirements:

1. Is located within or immediately adjacent to waters of the state, as defined in California Government Code (of Section 8670.3);
2. Has measurable outcomes within a predetermined timeframe.
3. Is designed to acquire, restore, or improve habitat or restore ecosystem function, or both, to benefit fish and wildlife.

The “Grant Application and Administrative Procedures Guide for the EEF Grant” and application form, as well as “Frequently Asked Questions”, are available for download from this page. Questions may also be sent via email to Daniel.Orr@wildlife.ca.gov.

Grant proposals are not currently being accepted. Please check back summer 2023 or contact Daniel.Orr@wildlife.ca.gov for updates on the next request for proposals.

• Grant Application and Administrative Procedures Guide; Environmental Enhancement Fund Grant Program (PDF)(opens in new tab)
• Grant Application Form (PDF Form)
• Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)(opens in new tab)

To learn about ongoing projects see a copy of the EEF August 2022 Report (PDF)(opens in new tab)EEF August 2022 Report (PDF)(opens in new tab)

Completed EEF Projects

Restoration of Point Reyes North Great Beach Critical Dune Habitat

• The project included restoration of coastal dune habitat through removal of invasive species. The project leveraged previous efforts and primarily focused on removal of invasive European beach grass and vegetation monitoring.
• Awarded $54,242 from January 2015 to January 2017
• See a copy of the Point Reyes North Great Beach Critical Dune Habitat Final Project Report (PDF)(opens in new tab)

Restoration of Salt Marsh-Upland Transition at Tijuana Slough Final Project Report

• The project restored and enhanced degraded salt marsh-upland transition habitat. Work included vegetation mapping, planting design, planting of native vegetation, invasive removal and monitoring.
• Awarded $85,000 from February 2015 to January 2017
• See a copy of the Salt Marsh-Upland Transition at Tijuana Slough Final Report (PDF)(opens in new tab)

Community Based Restoration on the Fort Ord Dunes State Park

• The project included restoration of native dune habitat through the propagation and outplanting of native species. The project directly involved 220 local school students and 50 volunteers in propagation, outplanting and sowing native seeds at the restoration site.
• Awarded $7,963 from October 2015 to September 2016
• See a copy of the Fort Ord Dunes Final Project Report (PDF)(opens in new tab)

Dune Restoration at Morro Strand State Beach

• The project restored dune habitat through removal of invasive species. Project focused on removal of European Beach grass and ice plant. The project also included propagation, outplanting, fencing, outreach and monitoring.
• Awarded $150,000 from July 2013 to June 2016
• See a copy of the Dune Restoration at Morro Strand State Beach Final Report (PDF)(opens in new tab)

Sonoma Creek Tidal Marsh Enhancement

• This project was designed to enhance the tidal fluctuation and habitat functionality. The main features of the project included construction of a main channel reconnecting areas of the marsh to Sonoma Creek, interior marsh mounds, and a transition to offer high tide refuge for marsh wildlife. EEF funds were primarily used for construction within a larger project framework.
• Awarded $100,000 from January 2015 to June 2016
• See a copy of the Sonoma Creek Tidal Marsh Enhancement Final Report (PDF)(opens in new tab)

Sears Point Tidal Restoration

• This project included enhancement of tidal wetlands through construction of 300 marsh mounds within the tidal basin.
• Awarded $364,466 from July 2014 to October 2015
• See a copy of the Sears Point Tidal Restoration Final Report (PDF)(opens in new tab)

Oyster Restoration at Elkhorn Slough

• This project utilized construction of restoration substrates to enhance native oyster recruitment. Work included construction, deployment, monitoring and adaptive management of 164 clam shell necklaces, 96 stake reefs and 27 concrete reef balls derived fro local materials.
• Awarded $95,480 from July 2012 to August 2014
• See a copy of the Oyster Restoration at Elkhorn Slough Final Report (PDF)(opens in new tab)

McDaniel Slough Tidal Restoration

• This project included 212 acres of tidal habitat restoration, creation of 35 acres of brackish and freshwater wetlands, construction of trails and interpretive features, construction of eco-levees, flood levees and wetland perimeter. EEF funded work included levee grubbing, construction, materials, marsh enhancement, revegetation and administrative work.
• Awarded $250,000 from July 2012 to June 2014
• See a copy of the McDaniel Slough Tidal Restoration Final Report (PDF)(opens in new tab)

Point Arena II Resource Lands Conservation

• Acquisition of lands for public trust to be held by Bureau of Land Management. Land acquisition contributed to the Point Arena-Stornetta California Coastal National Monument (CCNM) the first mainland based unit of the CCNM.
• Awarded $151,370 as contribution to this acquisition

EEF Meetings

• Environmental Enhancement Committee Meeting Documents