Flood Partnership: Real-time Data Grant Program
🏛 Department of Water Resources (California)
✓ Free, no account · Source: California Grants Portal · Last verified Oct 7, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations working on climate resilience, water resources, biodiversity, and public access projects in California. Applicants should focus on projects that benefit disadvantaged communities, severely disadvantaged communities, tribes, or other vulnerable populations. Projects must demonstrate community engagement and deliver measurable, direct benefits. The Conservancy evaluates applications against eight climate resilience goals including safe communities, park access, water management, biodiversity, urban forests, land remediation, extreme heat mitigation, and wildfire prevention.
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Program description
The need to improve public safety and achieve other benefits through integrated flood management is urgent due to more people living and working in flood-prone areas, better understanding of system deficiencies, and possible changes in flood magnitude and frequency from a changing climate. In 2018, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) launched the Flood Partnership, in collaboration with the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The Flood Partnership is intended to reduce the risk and consequences of flooding in California by strengthening the collaboration, data sharing, and funding resources that are already in place; and by identifying and addressing unmet needs. As part of the Flood Partnership, California began the long process of improving the coordination and alignment of federal, State, and local agencies in planning for and responding to flood emergencies, on a watershed-by-watershed basis. To encourage this increased level of coordination and alignment, DWR has set up funding programs to support this effort. DWR is also planning on assisting other agencies in identifying other non-DWR sponsored grant and funding assistance programs and assisting in obtaining funding assistance from those programs. Program Directed Activities DWR will use program funds for Direct Expenditures or Directed Action activities that fulfill the intent of the funding source used. Direct expenditure projects are proposed by DWR either on its own initiative or in response to a solicitation from a California public agency. DWR will apply these guidelines as it deems applicable and appropriate. Direct expenditure projects must address an interest of the State and may be proposed and approved at any time. Grant Eligibility California public agencies that own or have primary responsibility for a dam under the jurisdiction of the Division of Safety of Dams are eligible to apply. Public agencies include counties, cities, water districts, flood control districts, irrigation districts, municipal utility districts, service districts, Joint Power Authorities, or other local government entities in California. The geographic scope of this grant is statewide. Eligible Grant Activities and Tasks This is a direct Grant Program designed to achieve the objective and goals of the Flood Safety Partnership. The typical activities funded under the first round of this Grant Program include: • Purchase and installation of equipment needed for collecting, storing, transmitting, and sharing of real-time reservoir elevation data with the California Data Exchange Center (CDEC). Specifications and standards for real-time data collection will be included in the final Grant Guideline.• Purchase and installation of equipment needed for collecting, storing, transmitting, and sharing of real-time hydro-meteorological data with CDEC.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- Conservation Organization
- Individuals
- Nonprofits
- Public Authority
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- Tribal Nation
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- Concept Proposal (Phase 1)
- Full Application (Phase 2)
- Community engagement documentation
- Letters of support or partnership agreements
- Project budget and cost-sharing documentation
Program contact
- 📧 RDDGprogram@water.ca.gov
- 📞 1-916-837-5700
Funding track record
Past applications & awards under this program (California Grants Portal) — how competitive it is.
By fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Applications | Awarded | Award rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-2027 | 4 | — | 0% |
Source: California Grants Portal
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
The grant description does not specify eligible applicant types. Contact BH UWC staff directly to confirm your organization's eligibility.
What is the deadline?
The deadline is not specified in the grant description. Check the BH UWC website or contact staff for application deadlines and phase timelines.
What types of projects are funded?
Projects addressing climate resilience, water resources, biodiversity, urban forests, park access, heat mitigation, wildfire prevention, or land remediation. Community engagement is required.
How much funding can I request?
Award amounts are not specified. The total funding pool is $48 million. Contact the Conservancy to learn typical award ranges.
Is cost-sharing required?
Yes, cost-sharing is required. The exact percentage is not specified in the grant description. Confirm matching requirements with BH UWC staff.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Contact BH UWC staff and attend a grant workshop before submitting your concept proposal. This consultation is strongly recommended.
- Clearly demonstrate how your project benefits disadvantaged, severely disadvantaged communities, tribes, or vulnerable populations.
- Show evidence of community engagement, co-design, or identification of community-identified needs in your proposal.
- Align your project with at least one of the Conservancy's eight climate resilience goals.
- Document measurable, direct benefits your project will deliver. Avoid speculative or indirect outcomes.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications fail when they lack clear community engagement or don't demonstrate direct benefits to vulnerable populations. Projects without alignment to the eight climate resilience goals are less competitive. Poor cost-benefit ratios or benefits that don't match project scale reduce success.
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