CDFW Awards Grants for Member Habitat Projects

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) in late September announced $41 million in grants that will fund 20 restoration and protection projects throughout the state, including two projects backed by Northern California ACWA members.

The grants will benefit wetlands and meadows, Southern California steelhead and watersheds impacted by cannabis cultivation, according to a CDFW news release. This continues efforts to support critical restoration projects with funding made available in late 2022 through the Nature Based Solutions Initiative and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, funding through CDFW's Cannabis Program, as well as funding dedicated to improving Southern California steelhead habitat through Proposition 68.

The Montague Water Conservation District received $1.85 million for a project to enhance flows on Parks Creek. Located on a major tributary to the Shasta River, this project will provide year-round fish passage and update infrastructure by installing a compliant fish screen. The resulting instream benefit will support the upper Parks Creek flow strategy developed with CDFW and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The CDFW also awarded $1,36 million to the Ukiah Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) for its Upper Russian River Groundwater Dependent Ecosystem and Interconnected Surface Water Study. The project will examine surface water-groundwater interconnection and groundwater-dependent ecosystems that support Chinook salmon and steelhead in the Upper Russian River and its tributaries.

The GSA includes the Upper Russian River Water Agency, Willow County Water District and the Mendocino County Russian River Flood Control & Water Conservation Improvement District.

More information about these funding opportunities, including guidelines and how to apply, general information about CDFW's grant programs, as well as a schedule for upcoming grant solicitations, once available, can be found at www.wildlife.ca.gov/grants.