The following list of coastal/waterways grant opportunities was released by California Consulting, Inc.:
Coastal/Waterways Grants
California Ocean Protection Council: SB 1 Grant Program
Deadline: Track 1 (Pre-planning and Planning) will be due Friday, March 22, June 28th, and October 4th 2024 at 5:00 p.m. PT
Track Two proposals (Projects in the Implementation Project Phase) will be accepted through a competitive process starting in mid-late 2024
Amount: Track 1: $200,000 - $1,500,000; Track 2: $1,500,000 - $10,000,000 Match: Encouraged, but not required
Link: https://www.opc.ca.gov/sb-1-funding/#Background
In 2021, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 1 (Atkins, 2021) into law. Senate Bill 1 (SB 1) directs the state to provide funding to local and regional governments to develop sea-level rise (SLR) adaptation plans and implementation projects. In 2022 and 2023, OPC received $37.5 million and $54.5 million respectively to support the implementation of SB 1, with an additional $10 million anticipated in the 2024-2025 budget. Ultimately, OPC’s SB 1 SLR Adaptation Planning Grant Program (SB 1 Grant Program) aims to provide funding for coastal communities to develop consistent SLR adaptation plans and projects to build resilience to SLR along the entire coast of California and San Francisco Bay.
SB 1 Grant Program
The SB 1 Grant Program contains two funding tracks: one for pre-planning and planning phases (Track One), and one for the project phase (Track Two).
Track 1
Track One proposals (projects in the Pre-planning, Data Collection, and Planning Phases) are now being accepted through a rolling, quarterly process.
See the SB 1 Grant Program Solicitation (PDF) for details on this funding opportunity. Applicants must use the SB 1 Track 1 Proposal Template and Instructions (.docx), and be sure to address the minimum criteria listed in the SLR Adaptation Criteria.
Beach and Coast Accessibility Program (BCAP)
Deadline: Applications reviewed on a rolling basis.
Amount: Minimum grant award is $1,000, maximum is $30,000.
Match: Not required.
Link: https://www.coastkeeper.org/bcap/
Eligibility: Federally recognized tribes, public agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Description: The Beach and Coast Accessibility Grants program, managed by Orange County Coastkeeper in partnership with the State Coastal Conservancy, provides funding to increase accessibility to California's coast. Grants support projects that acquire beach wheelchairs, all terrain wheelchairs, beach accessibility mats, maintenance parts, and adaptive equipment for kayaks, as well as temporary storage for this equipment. The goal is to enhance barrier-free access to beaches, lakes, rivers, and bays across California.
Relevant Projects:
● Purchasing outdoor wheelchairs and adaptive equipment.
● Acquiring and maintaining beach accessibility mats.
● Outreach and marketing for promoting accessibility.
Program Management: The program is funded by the State Coastal Conservancy and administered by Orange County Coastkeeper. It aims to increase public access to coastal areas and improve visitor experiences.
Application Process: Submit applications via email to [email protected]. Applications should include project details, equipment needs, storage solutions, outreach plans, management and maintenance strategies, and a preliminary budget.
For more information, visit the Beach and Coast Accessibility Grants page.
California Coastal Conservancy
Deadline: Ongoing
Amount: There are no maximum or minimum grant amounts for this funding; however, it is anticipated that most grants will be between $200,000 and $5,000,000.
Match: No
https://scc.ca.gov/grants/
The Coastal Conservancy funds a wide variety of projects along the California coast, San Francisco Bay, and in coastal watersheds to increase availability of beaches, parks and trails for the public, protect and restore natural lands and wildlife habitat, preserve working lands, and increase community resilience to the impacts of climate change.
The Conservancy will fund most stages of a project including: pre-project feasibility studies, property acquisition, project planning including community involvement, design, environmental review, permitting, construction, and project-related monitoring. We do not fund operation and maintenance activities.
UPCOMING:
NOAA: Community-Based Restoration Grant Program
Deadline: FY2024 NOFO not yet released, but will be sometime soon (est.) Amount: $150,00 to $2,000,000
URL: www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/habitat-conservation/current-and-past-community-based restoration-projects
Match: No matching requirement. However, applicants are strongly encouraged to combine NOAA Federal funding with formal matching contributions or informal leverage from a broad range of sources in the public and private sectors to implement restoration. Eligibility: Like Minded organizations from all sectors, including non-profits, state agencies, tribal organizations, and local governments.
URL: www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/habitat-conservation/community-based-habitat restoration
Summary: NOAA’s Community-based Restoration Program provides funding and technical assistance for restoration projects that ensure fish have access to high-quality habitat. The goal of these projects is to recover and sustain fisheries—particularly those species managed by NOAA Fisheries, or those listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Since its start in 1996, the Community-based Restoration Program has contributed technical assistance and nearly $217 million to more than 2,200 coastal habitat restoration projects. These projects have restored more than 93,000 acres of habitat and opened more than 4,300 stream miles for fish migration. Projects range from improving access to habitat by restoring coral reefs to rebuilding coastal wetlands. NOAA most typically supports implementing priority habitat restoration actions that have already been identified in applicants’ recovery plans for threatened and endangered species. In addition to benefiting fisheries, habitat restoration yields community and economic benefits such as increased coastal resiliency, commercial and recreational opportunities, decreased safety hazards, and reduced maintenance costs. NOAA also offers technical support in navigating project planning and design, environmental compliance, project management, monitoring, etc. to help our partners overcome technical challenges and build solutions that boost fish populations, recover threatened and endangered species, and support resilient coastal communities.
Division of Boating and Waterways: Shoreline Erosion Control Grant Program Deadline: February 2025
Amount: $100,000 to $1 million
Match: Yes - 50%
Eligibility: Federal, state, regional and local government agencies by providing funding for projects that stop or reverse the impact of erosion on California’s shoreline. URL: https://dbw.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=28766
Summary: This shoreline erosion control grant will provide funding to study problems of beach erosion, while constructing projects that stabilize beaches and shoreline areas either through the strategic placement of sand or via hard structures like seawalls, groins, and rock revetments in concentrated areas to protect vital public infrastructure.
Division of Boating and Waterways: Public Beach Restoration Grant Program Deadline: February 2025
Amount: $100,000 to $1 million
Match: Yes - 15%
Eligibility: Local, regional, state, and federal government agencies located on the open coastline or within the San Francisco Bay.
URL: https://dbw.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=28766
Summary: The Public Beach Restoration Grant Program helps to fund restoration, enhancement, and nourishment of public beaches through the cost-effective engineered placement of sand on the beach or in the nearshore environment. Carefully planned beach restoration can minimize the erosive forces of ocean waves to protect vital public infrastructure and accommodate the recreational needs of visitors to California’s beaches.
Boat Launching Facility 2023/2024 Grant
Deadline: February 2025
Amount: $7 Million Average
Match: No
https://dbw.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=28818
BLF PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO:
Funds engineering, construction, inspection, permits, construction contingencies, and other project related costs.
CA Division of Boating & Waterways' Ramp Repair and Modification Grant Program Estimated Deadline: February 2025
Amount: Up to $1.5M
Eligibility: Public boat launching facilities that are owned/operated/maintained by local government agencies and who have been previously funded DBW
Match Requirement? No
https://www.grants.ca.gov/grants/division-of-boating-and-waterways-local-assistance-statewide ramp-repair-and-modification-grant-program
fy24/#:~:text=The%20Statewide%20Ramp%20Repair%20and,boat%20ramps%20as%20needed %20due
BRIEF SUMMARY OF WHAT THIS FUNDS:
The Statewide Ramp Repair and Modification Grant Program provides grant funding to public agencies to quickly restore safe and convenient public boating access by correcting public health and safety issues caused by unexpected damage due to flood, accidents, wildfires or by extending existing boat ramps as needed due to drought conditions at DBW-funded boat launching facilities. Typical grant-funded items include repairing or replacing boat ramps, boarding floats, restroom and parking facilities for vehicles with boat trailers.
California Coastal Conservancy: Coastal Stories Grant Program
Deadline: March 2025
Amount: Up to $175,000
Eligibility: Federally recognized tribes or tribally led nonprofits, nonprofit organizations, and public agencies are eligible for funding. To be eligible, a nonprofit organization must qualify under the provisions of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Other community-based organizations and tribes that are not federally recognized may apply with a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor. Match: there is no threshold or minimum requirement for matching contributions. https://scc.ca.gov/coastal-stories-grant-program/
These are the priorities of the Coastal Stories grant program:
● Promote a sense of belonging in outdoor spaces by presenting perspectives that include BIPOC and/or other historically excluded communities.
● Engage representatives of BIPOC and/or other historically excluded communities to develop and share their coastal perspectives and stories.
● Improve educational content in California’s outdoor spaces by correcting one-sided histories, retelling stories in more appropriate and inclusive ways, and developing new content that shares untold stories.
● Use creative forms of interpretation and storytelling.
We will fund planning and preparation activities such as hiring historians/ storytellers/ artists, community engagement, designing materials, acquiring permits and permissions, and installation, creation, or implementation of project. Please see our Inclusive Interpretive Material Guidelines for specific suggestions on producing inclusive content.
Videos from the Onboarding webinar on how to manage your Coastal Stories grant can be found here.
National Coastal Resilience Fund
Deadline: Spring 2025
Amount: For planning and design projects, estimated average awards are typically in the range of $100,000 to $1 million. For RestorationImplementation projects, average awards are typically in the range of $1 million to $10 million. Larger scale and/or higher impact projects are prioritized across all project categories.
Match: Not required, but encouraged
https://www.nfwf.org/programs/national-coastal-resilience-fund?activeTab=tab-2 The National Coastal Resilience Fund restores, increases and strengthens natural infrastructure to protect coastal communities while also enhancing habitats for fish and wildlife. Established in 2018, the National Coastal Resilience Fund invests in conservation projects that restore or expand natural features such as coastal marshes and wetlands, dune and beach systems, oyster and coral reefs, forests, coastal rivers and floodplains, and barrier islands that minimize the impacts of storms and other naturally occurring events on nearby communities.
Surrendered and Abandoned Vessel Exchange (SAVE)
Deadline: April 2025
Amount: Reimbursement
Match: Yes, 10%
https://dbw.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=28816
The SAVE grant program is designed to remove, reduce and prevent abandoned recreational vessels from entering our waterways. Administered by the California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW), grants are awarded annually to qualified local public agencies statewide. The SAVE program, formerly called the Abandoned Watercraft Abatement Fund and the Vessel Turn In Program enacted in 1998 and 2010 respectively, has provided millions of dollars in grants and has successfully removed thousands of vessels.
Division of Boating and Waterways: Boating Safety & Enforcement Equipment Grant (BSEE)
Deadline: April 2025
Amount: $12,000 to $148,000
Match: No
Eligibility: Local government agencies who can demonstrate a need for boating safety and law enforcement equipment pursuant to the application assessment criteria. Grants are for local boating safety and law enforcement only.
URL: https://dbw.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=28778
Summary: Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) provides grants to local government agencies to purchase boating safety and law enforcement equipment through the Boating Safety and Enforcement Equipment Grant Program (BSEE). Examples of allowable marine patrol enforcement equipment:
● Law Enforcement Patrol Boats
● Marine Patrol Equipment
● Personal Watercraft (PWC)
● Search and Rescue Equipment
● Dive Gear
● Engines, repowers, and replacements