Sierra Nevada Conservancy Funding Opportunities Newsletter – April/May 2018

Sierra Nevada Conservancy
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES NEWSLETTER
April-May 2018

 

Upcoming Grants that Might be of Interest:

Interested in other funding for fuel reduction, parks and trails, habitat preservation, or environmental education? Grant Research Memos on a variety of topics are available on the SNC funding opportunities webpage.

Department of Water Resources (DWR) Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Implementation Grant Timelines: IRWM grants can support a broad range of water and watershed activities. Proposition 1 provided $510 million in grants through this program, the bulk of which is for implementation projects. The new draft Proposal Solicitation Package (PSP) for Proposition 1 IRWM Implementation Grants is expected to be released by DWR in April, with a 45-day public comment period. The final PSP will be published in the summer, and IRWM grant applications will be due by the end of the year. In order to be eligible for this grant program, projects must be listed in the IRWM Plan for your Region. Contact your local Regional Water Management Group (your County should be able to give you a contact) for more information.

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.

Small Community Water/Wastewater Survey and Workshop – March 30, 2018

Upper Feather River

Small Community Water/Wastewater Workshop

 March 30, 2018; 1:00-4:00 PM

 Plumas County Fairgrounds, Mineral Building: 204 Fairground Rd, Quincy, CA 95971

In 2017, the Sierra Institute for Community and Environment was selected by representatives from each Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) regions in the Mountain Counties Funding Area (MCFA) to be the applicant for the Proposition 1 Disadvantaged Community (DAC) Involvement Program.

For more Information please see:

https://www.water.ca.gov/Work-With-Us/Grants-And-Loans/IRWM-Grant-Programs/Proposition-1/DAC-Involvement-Program

http://www.sierrawaterworkgroup.org/disadvantaged-communities-dac-and-tribal-involvement-program.html

The MCFA Disadvantaged Communities and Tribal Involvement Program includes the following objectives:

  1. Work collaboratively to involve DACs, community-based organizations, tribes and stakeholders in IRWM planning efforts to ensure balanced access and opportunity for participation in the IRWM planning process.
  2. Increase the understanding, and where necessary, identify the water management needs of DACs and tribes on a Funding Area basis.
  3. Develop strategies and long-term solutions that appropriately address the identified DAC and tribal water management needs to the grantee.

The Sierra Water Workgroup (SWWG) is working with the Sierra Institute to fulfill Objective 2: Identify the water management needs of DACs in each IRWM in the Funding Area. All water managers in the region are encouraged to participate; however, a parallel effort is also being conducted with tribes in the MCFA. In order to accomplish this task, SWWG is taking the following steps:

  • Conduct preliminary water and wastewater needs assessment (please see attachment)
  • Conduct a Water/Wastewater Workshop (see attached agenda)
  • Follow-up with water purveyors and other stakeholders on critical needs
  • Finalize report for IRWM region

We would appreciate your completing the survey not later than March 19th. If you are unable to attend the workshop in person, please complete the survey and let us know if you would like to schedule a meeting via conference call.

The finalized water and wastewater needs report will be distributed to all participants. This report will support IRWM planning efforts and future funding opportunities through the IRWM Grant Program or other financial assistance programs.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call or email:

Liz Mansfield, Executive Director for SWWG

Cell (916) 273-0488; sierrawaterworkgroup@gmail.com

or

Uma Hinman, Hinman & Associates Consulting, Inc.

Cell (916) 813-818; uhinman@comcast.net

Thank you for your time to complete the survey. We look forward to understanding your water and wastewater needs!

NRCS Invites Proposals for 2018 Conservation Innovation Grants

NRCS Invites Proposals for 2018 Conservation Innovation Grants

DAVIS, Calif., Feb. 23, 2018 – USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in California is now accepting proposals for its Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program. Up to $375,000 is available for one- to three-year grants. The maximum award amount for any project will not exceed $75,000 in FY 2018. Proposals are due by April 17, 2018.

CIG is a voluntary program to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. The proposed projects should augment existing NRCS technical tools (planning, assessment and/or delivery) to better facilitate conservation on farms and ranches.

In 2018 NRCS California is prioritizing proposals that improve the “technical toolbox” to address the following on-farm resource concerns: soil and water quality, wildlife habitat, water conservation, forest health, air quality, waste recycling and energy conservation. Applicants are encouraged to explore the full program announcement to better match their proposals to these needs. Please see www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/ca/programs/financial/cig/

Funds will be awarded through a statewide competitive grants process and in 2018 will not include a pre-proposal process.  Eligible applicants include state and local government, nongovernment organizations, Tribal governments, eligible private business and individuals. Applicants may contact Erik Beardsley at Erik.Beardsley@ca.usda.gov for more information.

Applications must be received by 5 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time on April 17, 2018. Applications must be submitted electronically through www.grants.gov. In addition, a PDF of the complete application must be emailed to Erik.Beardsley@ca.usda.gov. Both submissions must be received by the submission due date.

Contacts: Anita Brown, Public Affairs Director (530) 792-5644
Alan Forkey, Farm Bill Programs Manager (530) 792-5653

Upper Feather River RWMG Solicitation for Implementation Projects

NEWS RELEASE

Upper Feather River Solicitation for Implementation Projects

By the Upper Feather River Integrated Regional Water Management Group

The Upper Feather River Regional Water Management Group (RWMG) has opened a solicitation for its Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Plan implementation projects. The purpose of the solicitation is to perform periodic updates to the IRWM Plan implementation project list. Projects should address adopted Plan goals and objectives, California Water Plan resource management strategies, and Department of Water Resources’ priorities for projects. Projects developed through this process will undergo a review and selection process for inclusion in the IRWM Plan as implementation projects, which will then be eligible for future Department of Water Resources IRWM grant funding opportunities. Benefits of having a project included in the IRWM Plan also extend to supporting other local and regional efforts to secure competitive statewide grant funding.

Application forms and information are available at (http://featherriver.org/documents/). This is an open solicitation with RWMG review and consideration scheduled to occur quarterly. In order for projects to be eligible for the next Department of Water Resources IRWM implementation grant, projects should be submitted for inclusion in the Plan now. Project applications may be submitted at any time and will be considered for inclusion in the Plan at the next RWMG meeting, which will be posted on the calendar.

The Upper Feather River (IRWM) Plan was updated and accepted by the Department of Water Resources in December 2016 after a two-year process involving extensive input from residents, Tribes, and water managers in the region. The RWMG, which is the governing body responsible for updating and implementing the Plan, is committed to ensuring that the region remains active in the California Water Plan and IRWM Program. Please see our website for further information on the program, news, and upcoming meetings (http://featherriver.org/).

Questions may be directed to Uma Hinman at UFR.contact@gmail.com or (916) 813-0818.

A Risk Assessment of California’s Key Source Watershed Infrastructure – Pacific Forest Trust

In 2016, California enacted AB 2480, which defined source watersheds — the forests, meadows, and streams that supply water to its reservoirs — as an integral part of the state’s water system infrastructure. The law acknowledges that source watershed restoration and conservation are an essential complement to built water system infrastructure repair and maintenance, and necessary for a more reliable water supply. This report presents the first comprehensive assessment of conditions and restoration needs for the five source watersheds that deliver water to the Shasta and Oroville reservoirs, the state’s two largest reservoirs and the core of the state’s water supply. Together, these reservoirs provide drinking water for over 28 million Californians and agricultural water for millions of acres of farmland. The report can be viewed here.

Proposed 2018 California Water Bond

The Water Supply and Water Quality Act of 2018 is a citizen’s initiative water bond that will appear on the November 2018 statewide California ballot. It will invest $8.877 billion dollars in California water infrastructure, including key categories like: safe drinking water, Sustainable Groundwater Management (SGMA) implementation, watershed restoration, fish and wildlife habitat conservation, infrastructure repair, and many other important water management programs.

For more information on the water bond, click the link: https://waterbond.org/

California Plan eNews – 2/14/18

This week’s California Water Plan eNews includes:

  • Webinar will provide preview of Update 2018 public review draft
  • Next California Water Commission meeting set for Feb. 21, in Sacramento
  • $85 million in groundwater sustainability funding recommended by DWR
  • Little Hoover Commission calls for changes in the way the state’s forests are managed
  • Council endorses three-year plan to improve equity in government practices
  • Arizona receives framework for developing direct potable reuse
  • State scorecard on water efficiency to be discussed at upcoming webinar

The Sierra Nevada Watershed Improvement Program Annual Summit – March 7, 2018

Sierra Nevada Watershed Improvement Program Annual Summit

The Sierra Nevada Watershed Improvement Program will be holding their annual summit in Sacramento on Wednesday, March 7, 2018.

Taking A Regional Approach to Implementing California’s Climate Goals

For more information on the program, click the link:  http://restorethesierra.org/2018wipsummit/

California Water Plan eNews – 2/7/18

This week’s California Water Plan eNews includes:

  • CWC releases results of initial review for proposed water storage investment projects
  • How seagrass and kelp may help with a problem off the California coast
  • $3.4 million available for projects to restore forest areas damaged by wildfires
  • Sierra Nevada watershed summit will look at regional approach to climate goals
  • DWR lists projects that deliver the latest climate science and information
  • Water conflict management and diplomacy to be discussed during webinar next week

SNC Funding Opportunities Newsletter – February-March 2018

Sierra Nevada Conservancy

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES NEWSLETTER

February-March 2018

Upcoming Grants that Might be of Interest:

Interested in other funding for fuel reduction, parks and trails, habitat preservation, or environmental education? Grant Research Memos on a variety of topics are available on the SNC funding opportunities webpage.

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.

Congratulations to the Maidu Summit Consortium and Conservancy for their Watershed Restoration planning grant from the Department of Fish and Wildlife to restore Tásmam Kojóm – Big Meadow.

Grant Writing Workshops are available to help build the capacity of organizations that serve the Sierra Nevada Region. If you are interested in organizing or attending a workshop, contact your Area Representative.