Proposition 4 Grant Program

Purpose

The Conservancy's Proposition 4 program aims to support watershed improvement, forest health biomass utilization, chaparral and forest restoration, and workforce development, and to reduce the risks of climate change impacts upon communities, fish and wildlife, and natural resources, and to increase public access.

Description

The California Tahoe Conservancy (Conservancy) leads California's efforts to restore and enhance the extraordinary natural and recreational resources of the Lake Tahoe Basin (Basin). The Conservancy uses available funding to accomplish its mission and Strategic Plan through grants for land acquisition, planning, implementation, and monitoring on the California side of the Basin. California voters approved Proposition 4 (the Climate Bond), the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clear Air Bond, on November 5, 2024. The measure authorizes $4.1 billion in general obligation bonds to finance a drought, water, parks, climate, coastal protection, and outdoor access for all program. Per Public Resources Code section 91520, subdivision (i), the bond allocates $25.5 million to the Conservancy for watershed improvement, forest health, biomass utilization, chaparral and forest restoration, and workforce development. Per Public Resources Code section 93020, subdivision (a), the bond allocates $29 million to the Conservancy to reduce the risks of climate change impacts upon communities, fish and wildlife, and natural resources, and increase public access. Typically, the Conservancy funds grants on a rolling basis without a request for proposals or due dates, but certain funding sources or programs involve funding announcements or specific requirements. All applicants must complete a pre-application (letter of intent) and receive approval to move on to an application. Conservancy staff are available to consult with grant applicants prior to, or during, any step in this process. Please refer to the Grant Guidelines (https://tahoe.ca.gov/grant-guidelines/) for additional information on eligible activities, funding priorities, funding considerations, grant categories, administrative requirements, and grant process. For additional questions visit the website at https://tahoe.ca.gov/grants/ or contact Conservancy staff at grants@tahoe.ca.gov. Note: At this time the Conservancy has received Proposition 4 (Climate Bond) Wildfire and Forest Resilience early action funding. Prop. 4 Protect Biodiversity and Accelerating Nature-Based Climate Solutions funding is not yet available.