Two Workshops: Sierra to California All-Lands Enhancement (SCALE) and Capacity Building – May 23-24, 2017

USFS Region 5 – Capacity Building Workshop

Register Today!

The National Forest Foundation (NFF) is hosting a capacity-building workshop for community-based and collaborative forest management groups in Sacramento on May 24, 2017.  The workshop will focus on governance and decision-making; public education and engagement; planning with the Forest Service; and funding for collaboration, implementation, and monitoring, among other topics.  Travel assistance is available.  If you have questions about the workshop contact Dorian Fougères, National Forest Foundation, at 530-902-8281 or dfougeres@nationalforests.org.

 

Click Here to Register for NFF Capacity Workshop

Context for the Workshop

On May 23 and 24, 2017, the U.S. Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region, National Forest Foundation, and Sierra Institute for Community and Environment will host a pair of one-day workshops in Sacramento to advance peer learning, all lands management, and capacity-building of community-based and other collaborative forest management groups in California.  Registration for both workshops is now open.  Space is limited, so please register as soon as possible. Note that if you plan to attend both days, you must register for each workshop separately because the workshops are administered and funded separately.

 

Details on Sierra Institute Session focusing on SCALE efforts
Tuesday, May 23
The workshop will focus on all-lands management, from planning to implementation, and will foster discussion about existing tools and authorities for all lands-lands management implementation, facilitate work sessions to discuss specific ways to advance individual projects, and identify future opportunities for partnership with state and federal agencies. Travel and lodging support is available for participants in the Sierra to California All-Lands Enhancement (SCALE) effort.

Details
Tuesday, May 23
8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sacramento State Alumni Center
Cost: $25/ Person
Includes lunch, beverages & snacks

If you have questions about the Sierra Institute workshop, please contact Kyle Rodgers, Sierra Institute for Community and Environment, at 530-284-1022 or krodgers@sierrainstitute.us.

 

Click Here to Register for Sierra Institute Session

SNC Seeking Public Input on Grant Guidelines – due 4/14/17

Sierra Nevada Conservancy Seeking Public Input on Grant Guidelines

The Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) is seeking public input on updated grant guidelines for the Conservancy’s Proposition 1 grant program. The SNC grant program is funded by Proposition 1, the Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014, which was passed by voters in November 2014.

The SNC is proposing that the second grant round will continue to focus on forest health projects, including projects to reduce the risk of large, damaging wildfires. These types of projects are specifically called out in Proposition 1 and the California Water Action Plan, in recognition of the critical role watersheds play in California’s water future.

A series of three public workshops will be held in early April 2017 to gather public comment and familiarize potential grantees with the application process. Dates and locations of these workshops to be announced soon.

To access the draft Grant Guidelines on the SNC website, please click here. Interested parties can submit comments via email to grants.SNC@sierranevada.ca.gov or by mail to Sierra Nevada Conservancy, Attn: Grants Administration, 11521 Blocker Drive, Suite 205, Auburn, CA 95603.

Public comments will be accepted through Friday, April 14, 2017.

California Water Plan eNews – 3/15/17

This week’s California Water Plan eNews includes:

  • Applications being accepted to fund public benefits of water storage projects
  • Technical memo and appendices released for Central Valley flood plan
  • Climate change resolution passed by State Water Resources Control Board
  • $20 million approved for California streamflow enhancement projects
  • Project proposals for wetlands enhancement funding are due this week
  • Data portal to be featured at next SRWP committee meeting
  • UC Davis to host Rustici Rangeland Science Symposium next week

PG&E Opens $1 Million Grant Program to Support Local Climate Change Resilience Planning

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.— In 2016 alone, more than 5,700 wildfires burned across the state of California according to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. And despite record rain this winter, climate change is expected to increase the number of large wildfires as well as the length of the wildfire season in California. To help Californian communities meet this challenge, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) launched its Better Together Resilient Communities grant program today.

Through the program, PG&E will invest $1 million over five years – or $200,000 per year – in shareholder-funded grants to help communities better prepare for, withstand, and recover from extreme events and other risks related to climate change. This year, the company is calling for proposals that will build healthy and resilient forests and watersheds to help communities prevent and prepare for increasing wildfire risk.

“At PG&E, we believe adapting to the reality of climate change must include helping our communities to become more resilient to its many potential effects, such as the risk of wildfires. One way to do that is to work closely with our local partners, as well as those at the state and federal level, to support the best and most innovative ideas — with a particular focus on those who live in highly vulnerable areas,” said Geisha Williams, CEO and President of PG&E Corporation.

PG&E will award two grants of $100,000 through a competitive process. A panel of community and sustainability leaders, including the League of California Cities and members of PG&E’s Sustainability Advisory Council will play an advisory role with the program.

Strategies and solutions resulting from the grants will be made publicly available to help all communities, and encourage local and regional partnerships.

“Climate change is having extreme effects on our planet, and the state of California is facing increasing weather-related risks, including more frequent and more intense wildfires. I applaud PG&E for partnering with vulnerable communities on this science-based climate change resilience initiative. This new grant program will help Californians prepare for a future with more wildfires and other impacts from a changing climate,” said Dr. Jonathan Foley, Executive Director of the California Academy of Sciences and member of PG&E’s Sustainability Advisory Council.

“We’re delighted to see PG&E taking this leadership role in helping protect California’s communities from wildfire.  As we work to ensure a safe, sustainable environment for our firefighters, their families, and our communities, it is essential to gain a better understanding of how to reduce the risks climate change and wildfires pose to lives and property,” said Lou Paulson, President, California Professional Firefighters.

“Extreme weather and climate change are threatening the safety of communities across central and northern California. With wildfire and other risks increasing to historic levels, we must generate innovative, collaborative solutions to succeed. We applaud PG&E for offering a program that focuses on these risks and encourages the collaboration needed to keep our communities safe now and in the years to come,” said Tom Trott, general manager of Twain Harte Community Services District.

Grant Criteria and Eligibility

Grant proposals will be assessed according to the following criteria:

  • Partnerships: the extent to which the proposal reflects a collaborative effort among multiple organizations
  • Replicability: the extent to which the proposal identifies how others can learn from and adopt the resulting strategies and solutions
  • Assistance to disadvantaged communities: the extent to which the proposal addresses the identified needs of disadvantaged communities
  • Measurable impact: the extent to which the proposal includes practical, measurable and innovative ways to address community needs and climate risks

To be eligible, applicants must be a governmental organization, educational institution or 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. All applicants must include a local government within PG&E’s service area as a partner.

Learn more about the grants and how to apply at pge.com/resiliencegrants.

California Water Plan eNews – 3/1/17

This week’s California Water Plan eNews includes:

  • DWR and WEF host water summit in Sacramento
  • New GSA formation notification system launched
  • New documents available on California Water Commission website
  • AWE and EPA WaterSense to host commercial irrigation webinar
  • Public workshop on Delta Plan performance measures amendment
  • S. Bureau of Reclamation seeking new water marketing strategies

NFWF Grant Opportunity for aquatic resources restoration projects – due 3/17/17

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (“NFWF”) has announced the availability of more than $8M in funding for aquatic resources restoration projects within the Sacramento District California In-Lieu Fee Program Area (“ILF Program Area”), which spans 37 counties and 65,000 square miles within the State of California. NFWF intends to partner with public, private, and non-profit organizations to help fund and implement on-the-ground wetland and/or waters restoration (re-establishment or rehabilitation), establishment (creation), and/or enhancement projects. (In certain circumstances, preservation projects may be acceptable, but they are generally not preferred.) Projects may be stand-alone proposals or may be an identifiable component of a larger project.

In each case, the restoration, establishment, enhancement, and/or preservation benefits provided by the project must be clearly demonstrated and must meet all applicable requirements set forth in the 2008 Compensatory Mitigation for Losses of Aquatic Resources Final Rule (“2008 Rule”). These requirements are set forth in the 2008 Rule at 33 CFR Part 332.8(j) and 33 CFR Part 332.4(c)(2)-(14); and 40 CFR Part 230.98(j) and 40 CFR Part 230.94(c)(2)-(14).

The Request for Proposals has been updated and revised since the November 2016 release. We currently anticipate that proposals will be accepted and funds will be awarded on a semi-annual basis with two application cycles each calendar year. Application deadlines for the first funding cycle of 2017 are as follows:

Pre-Proposal due date: March 17, 2017

Full Proposal due date: April 21, 2017

For additional information on the ILF Program and how to apply for funding, please visit our RFP webpage at: http://www.nfwf.org/ilf/Pages/February2017_RFP.aspx.

For more information or questions about this Request for Proposals, please contact:

Chris Gurney
Wetland Program Director, Impact-Directed Environmental Accounts (IDEA)
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
90 New Montgomery Street, Suite 1010
San Francisco, CA  94105
Direct: (415) 593-7627
Fax: (415) 778-0998
Christopher.Gurney@nfwf.org

CFCC Funding Fairs 2017

Click here for the California Financing Coordinating Committee Funding Fair 2017 Schedule.

CFCC agencies fund the following types of eligible infrastructure Projects:

• Drinking Water
• Wastewater
• Water Conservation
• Water Use Efficiency
• Water Quality
• Energy Efficiency
• Water Supply
• Flood Management

April 5, 2017
California Rural Water Association
1234 North Market Blvd
Sacramento, CA 95834
Workshop will be Webcast.
Access link will be on the CFCC Website at:
http://www.cfcc.ca.gov/funding_fairs.htm

May 2, 2017
8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Agency Presentations:
Shasta Public Libraries
Redding Library, Community Room
1100 Parkview Ave.
Redding, CA 96001

California Water Plan eNews – 2/8/17

This week’s California Water Plan eNews includes:

  • DWR offers online survey to get public input on redesigning website
  • 15 IRWM proposals chosen to receive a total of $4.2 million in funding
  • Applications being accepted for agricultural irrigation project grants
  • 2017 CFCC funding fair schedule opens April 5 in Sacramento
  • Graywater cost-benefit questions to be discussed during webinar
  • Water commission agenda includes two updates on pending regulations
  • The success of Texas water planning detailed in new water journal report

California Water Plan eNews – 2/1/17

This week’s California Water Plan eNews includes:

  • California Water Plan Update 2018 public survey will be open through Monday
  • DWR posts appendices for draft groundwater replenishment report
  • Post project monitoring options being offered for public comment
  • Video provides history lesson on Central Valley Flood Protection Board
  • Summit set to discuss need for funding Sierra watershed restoration
  • Technical conference on funding for water studies to be hosted by MWD
  • PPIC speaker series on California’s future will include discussion of water projects

Sierra Nevada Conservancy Funding Opportunities Newsletter 1/26/17

Upcoming grants that might be of interest:

  • The Bureau of Reclamation WaterSMART Phase II Grants (due February 15) provide up to $100,000 to address critical water supply needs, water quality, and ecological resilience. The purpose of this program is to support established watershed groups in implementing on-the-ground watershed management projects.
  • The Rose Foundation California Wildlands Grassroots Fund (due February 15) provides funding to grassroots conservation organizations advocating for the permanent protection of intact wildlands to help preserve California’s wilderness and native biological diversity. The Fund’s program includes support for restoration and stewardship.
  • Strong Foundation grants (due February 15) support efforts that instill an ecological ethic in individuals and communities, and that encourage grassroots environmental action.
  • The California Arts Council Local Impact Grant Program (due February 17) provides project and partnership support for small arts organizations reaching communities that have limited access to the arts, including rural areas.
  • The Off-Highway Vehicle Grant Programs (due March 6) provide funding for planning, development, maintenance, and restoration of motorized recreational trails.
  • The Farmers Market Promotion Program grants (due March 27) support the development, improvement, and expansion of farmers markets, roadside stands, community-supported agriculture programs, and agritourism activities.
  • The Federal Lands Access Program (due April 7) develops transportation and infrastructure projects (roads, parking, bike trails, etc.) that provide access to federal public lands, particularly those with high recreation use.
  • The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation In-Lieu Fee Program helps fund on‑the-ground wetland restoration, establishment, and enhancement projects in priority service areas. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

 

Your SNC Area Representative can help you set up an individual consultation with the SNC Funding Team to get advice about specific funding opportunities or general fund development strategies. To take advantage of this resource, contact your Area Representative.

Sierra Nevada Conservancy Funding Opportunities Newsletter