Proposition 1 - Stream Flow Enhancement Program Grant

Proposition 1 - Stream Flow Enhancement Program Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: California Wildlife Conservation Board
Last Updated: October 08, 2025

Summary

The Proposition 1 Stream Flow Enhancement Program in California aims to improve stream flows for the benefit of fish and wildlife. It provides $200 million in funding for projects that align with the California Water Action Plan, focusing on enhancing water flow in streams supporting anadromous fish and at-risk species. The program facilitates water transactions, conservation projects, and habitat restoration efforts to ensure sustainable water resource management and resilience against climate change.

Overview

The Stream Flow Enhancement Program (SFEP) funds projects that enhance stream flows across the state of California. The SFEP defines enhanced streamflow to mean: a change in the amount, timing, and/or quality of water flowing down a stream, or a portion of a stream, to benefit fish and wildlife. Funded projects are also consistent with the objectives and actions outlined in the California Water Action Plan, with the primary focus on enhancing flow in streams that support anadromous fish; support special-status, threatened, endangered, or at-risk species; or provide resilience to climate change. California voters approved the Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014 (Proposition 1) to provide funding to implement the three objectives of the California Water Action Plan, namely: 1) more reliable water supplies, 2) the restoration of important species and habitat, and 3) a more resilient and sustainably managed water resources system that can better withstand inevitable and unforeseen pressures in the coming decades. Proposition 1 authorized the Legislature to appropriate $200 million to the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) to fund projects that result in enhanced stream flows and which WCB distributes through a competitive basis via the SFEP. In 2021, the California State legislature passed Senate Bill 170 the Budget Act of 2021 (SB 170). SB 170 allocated $100 million dollars from the state general fund to the WCB to fund projects to enhance instream flow for the purposes of protecting fish and wildlife. The process, procedures, and criteria through which WCB administers the SFEP are described in the .General Grant Guidelines (PDF). Project Examples Examples of project types (should not be viewed as exhaustive lists of eligible project types): Water Transactions (refer to California Water Code section 79709)Acquisition of water or water rights from willing sellers, or acquisition of land that includes water rights or contractual rights to water Short- or long-term water transfers and leases Water rights instream dedication pursuant to CWC section 1707 Forbearance agreements Conservation easementsWater conservation projects (actions that provide more efficient use of water diverted or reduces the amount diverted from a stream, resulting in enhanced stream flow) coupled with adequate long term (≥20 years) protections for the conserved waterOff-channel water storage Changes in the timing or rate of diversion or source water supply Irrigation ditch lining or piping Stock-water systems Agricultural tailwater recovery/management systemsChanging points of diversion Groundwater storage and conjunctive use Reservoir operations both at existing and new storage sites Habitat restoration projects that enhance stream flow and improve aquatic and riparian conditionsWet meadow restoration Forest management practices (e.g., thinning) Reconnecting flood flows with restored flood plains Eradication of invasive plant species with high water use rates, relative to native plant speciesAcquisition of land or interests in land that lead to a direct and measurable enhancement to stream flow, improving upon existing flow conditions Stream flow gauging Scientific studies that assess effectiveness of previously implemented projects and/or inform design and implementation of future stream flow enhancement project(s)

Eligibility

We've imported the main document for this grant to give you an overview. You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Eligible grantees are limited to public agencies, nonprofit organizations, public utilities, federally recognized Indian tribes, state Indian tribes listed on the Native American Heritage Commission's California Tribal Consultation List, and mutual water companies(CWC §79712(a)). Additionally, in order to be eligible for funding, all the following criteria apply: A project proposed by a public utility that is regulated by the Public Utilities Commission or a mutual water company shall have a clear and definite public purpose and shall benefit the customers of the water system and not the investors (CWC §79712(b)(1)).An urban water supplier, as defined in CWC section 10617, shall adopt and submit an urban water management plan in accordance with the Urban Water Management Planning Act (Part 2.6 (commencing with Section 10610) of Division 6) (CWC §79712(b)(2));An agricultural water supplier, as defined in CWC section 10608.12(a), shall adopt and submit an agricultural water management plan in accordance with the Agricultural Water Management Planning Act (Part 2.8 (commencing with section 10800) of Division 6) (CWC §79712(b)(3)); and In accordance with CWC section 10608.56, an agricultural water supplier or an urban water supplier is ineligible for funding unless it complies with the requirements of Part 2.55 (commencing with CWC section 10608) of Division 6. (CWC §79712(b)(4)).

Ineligibility

Grant proposals from federal agencies, private individuals or for-profit enterprises will not be accepted.