The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) released the Restoration Grant Program draft guidelines authorized and funded by Proposition 1, passed by California voters in November 2014. The DFW is now seeking public input on these guidelines via email, postal mail, and a series of public meetings.
Proposition 1 provides DFW $285 million for ecosystem restoration projects outside the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta), and $87.5 million for projects that benefit the Delta. The draft guidelines can be accessed here.
Written comments should be emailed to WatershedGrants@wildlife.ca.gov, or mailed to:
California Department of Fish and Wildlife Restoration Grant Program 1416 Ninth Street Sacramento, CA 95814The DFW will hold three public meetings in March and April 2015 for the purpose of receiving comments on the draft guidelines. The meeting dates and locations will be posted on the DFW website, accessed here, when available.
The purpose of the guidelines is to establish the process, procedures, and criteria through which the DFW will administer competitive grants for multi-benefit ecosystem and watershed protection and restoration projects in accordance with statewide priorities, including those in the California Water Action Plan. To achieve this, the DFW is creating two new grant programs. The Watershed Restoration Grant Program will focus on watershed restoration outside of the Delta, and the Delta Water Quality and Ecosystem Restoration Grant Program will focus on water quality, ecosystem restoration, and fish protection facilities that benefit the Delta.