Ecosystem Restoration and Water Quality Grant Program – Proposition 1

The Proposition 1 Ecosystem Restoration and Water Quality Grant Program provides competitive grants for multibenefit ecosystem and watershed protection and restoration projects in accordance with statewide priorities. Program priorities are: 1) ecosystem protection, restoration, and enhancement; 2) water quality; and 3) water-related agricultural sustainability. Emphasis is placed on projects that use public lands and those that maximize voluntary landowner participation in projects that provide measurable and long-lasting habitat or species improvements in the Delta and Suisun Marsh. The Conservancy will fund planning projects, which include pilot projects. Allowable activities for planning projects include but are not limited to: project scoping: partnership development, outreach to impacted parties, stakeholder coordination, negotiation of site access and land tenure; planning and design: engineering design, planting plans, identifying appropriate best management practices; environmental compliance: permitting, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) activities, Delta Plan consistency; science: developing adaptive management and monitoring plans, baseline monitoring, biological surveys, and studies that will aid and inform the implementation of an on-the-ground project; application development for Proposition 1 implementation grant (as part of a larger planning grant; cannot be a stand-alone proposal for grant application development). The Conservancy will fund implementation projects, which includes acquisitions projects. Allowable activities for implementation projects include but are not limited to: construction activities: dredging, earthmoving, construction of infrastructure; habitat restoration and enhancement: planting and revegetation, invasive vegetation removal, implementation of Best Management Practices; acquisition of real property: appraisals (including water rights appraisals), negotiation, due diligence, surveys, escrow fees, title insurance, closing costs; final planning and design; environmental compliance (other than CEQA and NEPA): permitting, Delta Plan consistency; science: developing adaptive management and monitoring plans, baseline monitoring, pre- and post-project monitoring; post-project maintenance within the three-year funding term. Applicants must submit a concept proposal, as found on the Conservancy’s website, before submitting a full proposal. Partnerships are encouraged but not required. Technical assistance is not offered. There are no limitations on number of submissions by organizations. Applications are received via email for concept proposals and by uploading files to a designated site for full proposals. Awards are announced at a Board Meeting and applicants are informed with a letter. The Conservancy has awarded 29 grants to date and the average grant amount is approximately $1.36 million.