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:
- The CA Department of Parks and Recreation Recreational Boating Facility grants (due February 1) assist with the development and improvement of marinas and boat launching facilities and associated parking areas, restrooms, and lighting.
- The Clarence E. Heller Charitable Foundation grant program (due February 1) includes a category for Environment and Health, which encourages regional planning integrating economic and social goals with sound environmental policies.
- The CA State Parks Land and Water Conservation Fund (due February 5) supports the acquisition or development of land to create new outdoor recreation opportunities for the health and wellness of Californians.
- State Water Resources Control Board Nonpoint Source Grants (due February 8) can fund projects to minimize degradation of water quality in areas that have been impacted by 2017 fires. Also included are riparian fuel management, fuel reduction and/or post fire rehabilitation.
- The Bureau of Reclamation Water SMART program (due February 13) supports projects that increase the reliability of water supplies; improve water management; and provide benefits for fish, wildlife, and the environment to mitigate impacts caused by drought.
- Strong Foundation grants (due February 15) fund environmental and conservation efforts, eco-spirituality, grassroots action, environmental education, capacity building, citizen participation, collaborative efforts, land acquisition, planning and training.
- 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.
- CALFIRE CA Climate Investments: Forest Health Program (pre-applications due February 21) fund a variety of practices such as fuel reduction, reforestation, etc. which increase the carbon stored in living trees, and protect forests, fish and wildlife habitats, native plant species, and water across California
- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS): North America Wetlands Conservation Act Standard or Small Grants Program (due February 23) provides funding for long-term protection, restoration, or enhancement of wetlands and associated uplands habitats for the benefit of wetlands-associated migratory birds.
- The National Wildlife Federation Trees for Wildlife grant (due February 23) provides native tree seedlings for restoration projects or community tree giveaway events.
- The USDA Conservation Innovation Grants National Program (due February 26) supports pilot projects, field testing, and on-farm research and demonstration, evaluation, or implementation of approaches to incentivizing conservation adoption and conservation technologies, practices, and systems.
- The Joseph & Vera Long Foundation grants (due February 26) fund projects that conserve the natural environment of Northern California, with a focus on habitat preservation, access to public lands, environmental education, and scientific research.
- The Access Fund Climbing Preservation Grant Program (due March 1) funds projects that preserve or enhance climbing access and opportunities, and conserve the climbing environment throughout the United States.
- The Central Valley Project Conservation Program and CVPIA Habitat Restoration Programs (due March 16) seek to improve habitats for species impacted by the Central Valley Project.
- The North American Native Fishes Association Gerald C. Corcoran Educational Grants (due March 31) fund projects to educate the general public about native North American fishes and their environment.
- The Hind Foundation (rolling) provides grants in the areas of plant and wildlife protection, land conservation, and ecosystem conservation.
- The Wildlife Conservation Board’s Forest Conservation Program (rolling) supports the conservation, preservation, and restoration of productive managed forest lands, forest reserve areas, redwood forests, and other forest types, including the conservation of water resources and natural habitat for native fish, wildlife, and plants found on these lands.
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.
California Water Plan eNews – 1/3/18
This week’s California Water Plan eNews includes:
- New draft chapters posted for tomorrow’s Update 2018 workshop
- Looking at the water reuse legislation coming before Congress this year
- The benefits of using recycled water for agricultural irrigation
- COMET webinar will cover uses in the conservation process
- Smart Growth conference set for next month in San Francisco
- Climate adaptation forum set for this summer in Sacramento
California Water Plan eNews – 12/13/17
This week’s California Water Plan eNews includes:
- Workshop for two chapters of Update 2018 set for the first week of the new year
- Strategic Growth Council awards $34 million in grants for land conservation projects
- Dozens of watershed restoration projects receive funding from CDFW
- Science board seeking public comments on two Delta documents
- Annual water law symposium will focus on California’s infrastructure
- Water 101 Workshop will include optional bus tour of the Delta
Final Report on the Upper Middle Fork Project – Ceyhan, Ishida, Kavvas, Ohara
The Upper Middle Fork Project (UMF) project pilots coordinated implementation by two of the IRWM Plan signatories. Plumas County and the Sierra Valley Groundwater Management District each manage significant portions of the project area. The Upper Middle Fork project pilots the integration of local water management knowledge, local land and water use authorities, and the best available science to further the capacity to practice sustainable resource stewardship at the regional scale.
The goals of this project are:
1) to investigate climate scenarios and their effect on groundwater storage levels, summer base flows, and flood flows within the Upper Middle Fork watershed;
2) to develop a surface water/groundwater water budget that can be utilized to help coordinate the future management actions of the local organizations on the Upper Middle Fork watershed land/water resources.
The full report can be downloaded here (85 MB).
The project was funded by a Department of Water Resources Proposition 50 Grant.
California Water Plan eNews – 12/6/17
This week’s California Water Plan eNews includes:
- Sustainable management BMPs will be introduced at three public meetings
- Conservation board approves $2.6 million in funding for fish and wildlife projects
- Funding available for watershed project proposals submitted to Reclamation
- California Water Commission sets two-day meeting for next week in Sacramento
- Online survey will help identify electricity-saving technologies for California
- Water federation posts fact sheet on benefits of infrastructure rating system
- How the Chesapeake Bay watershed is preparing to deal with climate change