CDFW Opens Application Process for Wetlands Restoration Projects for Greenhouse Gas Reductions

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has announced a two-phase application process for project grant funds through its 2019 Wetlands Restoration for Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reduction Program. Approximately $12.75 million will be shared between approved projects.

The Wetlands Restoration for Greenhouse Gas Reduction Program restores wetland ecosystems to provide essential services to California’s people, wildlife and fish. Wetlands have high carbon sequestration rates which are capable of sequestering carbon for decades. There is tremendous opportunity to restore large areas of mountain meadow, coastal tidal, and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta wetlands that do not currently provide the full potential of carbon storage or other benefits due to historical land use.

The Wetlands Restoration for GHG Reduction Program is funded by California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing GHG emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment – particularly in disadvantaged communities. At least 35 percent of these investments are located within and benefiting residents of disadvantaged communities, low-income communities, and low-income households across California.

Applications for the upcoming grants have a two-phase application process: a pre-application proposal and a final application proposal. The pre-application focuses on basic eligibility requirements as outlined in the Proposal Solicitation Notice (PSN). The PSN can be found at: https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Watersheds/Greenhouse-Gas-Reduction.

CDFW will host online Pre-Application Workshops on Wednesdays, July 10 and July 31from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. via Skype. These meeting will allow CDFW to walk potential applicants through the application process. To join the Skype meeting go to: https://meet.wildlife.ca.gov/erin.aquino-carhart/C4CBBY5D.

Additionally, CDFW will assist applicants in calculating the greenhouse gas benefits of their projects in order to establish potential eligibility. Approved pre-applicants will then be invited to submit a final application and participate in the final review process.

Pre-applications are due no later than Tuesday, Aug. 13 at 4 p.m. Pre-Applications must be submitted through CDFW’s new window WebGrants application portal at: https://watershedgrants.wildlife.ca.gov/index.do. CDFW has developed a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) site based on previously received grant application’s processes and PSN Public Workshops. This document can be found at: https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=170306&inline.