Proposition 68: Rivers and Streams Grant Program

The Proposition 68 Rivers and Streams Grant Program, administered by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, aims to restore and protect vital river ecosystems. This funding supports projects that enhance habitats for fish and wildlife, improve water retention, and promote landscape resilience. With a budget of $25 million for fisheries and wildlife, the program emphasizes river and stream restoration, habitat reconnection, and necessary infrastructure improvements to ensure ecological sustainability and community adaptation to climate change.

The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection, And Outdoor Access For All Act Of 2018 (Proposition 68) funding for CDFW grants for projects that:
improve a community's ability to adapt to the unavoidable impacts of climate change
improve and protect coastal and rural economies, agricultural viability, wildlife corridors, or habitat
develop future recreational opportunities, or
enhance drought tolerance, landscape resilience, and water retention
The CDFW Watershed Restoration Grants Branch distributes Proposition 68 funds on a competitive basis to projects that address these priorities:
River and Stream Restoration - Restoration of rivers and streams for fisheries and wildlife
Southern Steelhead Habitat Restoration - Restoration of Southern California Steelhead habitat
Fish and Wildlife Habitat Restoration - Improvement of conditions for fish and wildlife in streams, rivers, wildlife refuges, wetland habitat areas, and estuaries
Proposition 68 funds supports three types of projects: 1) planning, 2) implementation, and 3) acquisition projects.
Funding is available in PRC section 80132(d) to restore and protect rivers and streams in support of fisheries and wildlife, including, but not limited to, reconnection of rivers with their floodplains, riparian and side-channel habitat restoration, and restoration and protection of upper watershed forests and meadow systems that are important for fish and wildlife resources.
Restoring, protecting or enhancing riparian, and aquatic, habitat;
Improving local watershed management;
Restoration and protection of upper watershed forests and meadow systems; andRemoving sediment or trash.
Funding
Funding for competitive grants will be contingent upon fund availability. Proposition 68, passed by California voters in June 2018, amended the PRC to add, among other articles, section 80132, subdivisions (d), (e)(2), and (g), authorizing the Legislature to appropriate up to $25,000,000 to CDFW to restore and protect rivers and streams in support of fisheries and wildlife, including $5,000,000 in the KlamathTrinity watersheds; up to $30,000,000 to CDFW to restore Southern California Steelhead habitat; and up to $30,000,000 to CDFW to improve conditions for fish and wildlife in streams, rivers, wildlife refuges, wetland habitat areas, and estuaries; respectively.

Eligibility

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