Habitat Enhancement and Restoration

Wildlife Conservation Board · State of California

At a glance

Habitat Enhancement and Restoration is an open California state grant opportunity from the Wildlife Conservation Board (State of California). Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. Total estimated funding is $10M. Applicant types listed as eligible include nonprofit, public agency and tribal government. It is listed on the California Grants Portal. Cost sharing is not required.

Summary assembled from the official notice's fields. The official notice governs.

Key facts

Opened: Nov 18, 2024
Close date: Ongoing
Award floor: Not specified
Award ceiling: Not specified
Est. total funding: $10,000,000
Expected awards: Not specified
Matching funds: Not required
Funding instrument: Grant

Program details (as published on the California Grants Portal)

Type: Grant
Funding source: State
Matching funds: Not Required — Cost share is not required but may be beneficial, in particular to complete a larger project. Applications with higher proportions of secured cost share contribution towards total project cost will score more points through the “Cost Share” application evaluation criterion.
Funding method: Advances & Reimbursement(s)
Estimated number of awards: Dependant on number of submissions received, application process, etc.
Estimated award amounts: Dependant on number of submissions received, application process, etc.
Award period: 2-4 year grant terms
Expected award announcement: Continuous
Letter of intent: Required
Geography: Statewide
How to submit: Online: https://wcb.us-1.smartsimple.com/s_Login.jsp
Latest change note: Updated planned events info URL.

Who can apply

Applicant categories as listed on the California Grants Portal. GrantsJunction maps them to detailed applicant types for search and matching.

Nonprofit
Public Agency
Tribal Government

Can your organization apply?

A quick check against the listed applicant types — other requirements in the notice still apply.

Based on the published notice. Review the official notice for complete eligibility requirements.

What it funds

Purpose and description as published on the California Grants Portal.

Purpose

The purpose of this program is to provide assistance for the restoration and enhancement of fish and wildlife resources.

Description

Consistent with Fish and Game Code section 1301, this program provides assistance for the restoration and enhancement of fish and wildlife resources. Eligible projects include: native fisheries restoration; restoration of wetlands; restoration of coastal, tidal, or fresh water habitat; other native habitat restoration projects including coastal scrub oak, grasslands, and threatened and endangered species habitats; in-stream restoration projects, including removal of fish passage barriers and other obstructions; and other projects that improve the quality of native habitat throughout the State.

How to apply

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Read the program guidelinesThe agency's solicitation or guidelines set eligibility details, scoring criteria and required documents. Open ↗
Confirm eligibility and fitCheck your organization type and location (see Geography above).
Submit the letter of intentThis program asks for a letter of intent before the full application; check the guidelines for its due date.
Find out how to submitOnline: https://wcb.us-1.smartsimple.com/s_Login.jsp Open ↗
Request letters of support and partner commitmentsPartners need time to write and sign letters; ask early.
Finish a full draft of the application and budgetFollow the guidelines' format exactly; state programs often require specific forms and attachments.
Ask the program contact any questions earlyScott McFarlin · scott.mcfarlin@wildlife.ca.gov Open ↗
Internal review and sign-offLeave time for leadership or board approval and a final proofread.
Submit while funds remainSubmit a few days early and keep your submission confirmation.

Past applications & awards

Historical data · not a prediction

Reported by the agency for this listing

Fiscal year 2025–2635 applications · 7 awards
Fiscal year 2024–257 applications · 9 awards

Counts as published on the California Grants Portal. Award counts can read zero until decisions are announced.

Awards published: 9
Total awarded: $15,991,639
Median award: $907,000 calculated
Smallest – largest: $600,000 – $5,350,000

Recipients by type: Nonprofit (5), Public Agency (4)

Areas served: Alameda County (2), Contra Costa County (2), Napa County (2), Orange County (2), Del Norte County (1), Los Angeles County (1), San Diego County (1), Marin County (1), San Francisco County (1), San Mateo County (1), Santa Clara County (1), Solano County (1)

Largest awards to organizations

Ducks Unlimited, Inc.Eden Landing, Phase ll$5,350,000 · FY 2024–25
State Coastal ConservancySan Francisco Bay Invasive Plant Control$2,639,000 · FY 2024–25
East Bay Regional Park DistrictRoddy Ranch Golf Course Restoration$2,453,000 · FY 2024–25
Chapparal Lands ConservancyOtay Mesa Habitat Restoration, Phase III$1,492,000 · FY 2024–25
Smith River AllianceLake Earl Wildlife Area Enhancement$907,000 · FY 2024–25
Napa County Resource Conservation DistrictNapa River Watershed Planning$899,639 · FY 2024–25
Huntington Beach Wetlands ConservancyHuntington State Beach Dune Restoration$864,000 · FY 2024–25
Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica MountainsSouth LA County Habitat Connectivity Masterplan Augmentation$787,000 · FY 2024–25
Coastal Corridor AllianceRandall Preserve Resource Planning$600,000 · FY 2024–25

Source: California Grants Portal grant award data. Awards to individuals are counted but not named. Past awards show who was funded; they do not predict future decisions.

Program contact (as published)

Scott McFarlin
scott.mcfarlin@wildlife.ca.gov
1-916-217-6345

Changes we detected

Oct 15, 2026: Contact email changed from kurt.malchow@wildlife.ca.gov to scott.mcfarlin@wildlife.ca.gov
Oct 14, 2026: Estimated total funding changed from $15,000,000 to $10,000,000

Quick answers

Who is eligible to apply for “Habitat Enhancement and Restoration”?

The official listing names these applicant types as eligible: Nonprofit, Public Agency and Tribal Government. Additional restrictions may apply; review the full guidelines.

How much funding is available through “Habitat Enhancement and Restoration”?

Per the notice, total estimated program funding is $10,000,000.

How do I apply for “Habitat Enhancement and Restoration”?

Applications go directly to Wildlife Conservation Board, not through GrantsJunction. Submission: online at https://wcb.us-1.smartsimple.com/s_Login.jsp. Read the program guidelines on the agency's site first; state programs set their own forms and registration requirements.

Other open California state opportunities, matched on agency, categories and wording.

OpenState of California