Riverine Stewardship Program

Department of Water Resources · State of California

At a glance

Riverine Stewardship Program is a closed California state grant opportunity from the Department of Water Resources (State of California). The application deadline was November 13, 2025. Total estimated funding is $6M. Applicant types listed as eligible include public agency. 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

Jun 1, 2022Posted
Nov 13, 2025Application deadline

Opened: Jun 1, 2022
Close date: Nov 13, 2025
Award floor: Not specified
Award ceiling: Not specified
Est. total funding: $6,000,000
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 — The Costa-Machado Water Act of 2000 -Proposition 13
Matching funds: Not Required
Funding method: 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: 3 years
Expected award announcement: October 2022
Letter of intent: Required
Geography: Geographic Limit of the “Delta export service area” and Counties within the Association of Bay Area Governments (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma), areas of the state outside the delta that receive water from the State Water Project or the Central Valley Project, either directly or by exchange, by means of diversions from the Delta.
How to submit: Online: https://water.ca.gov/Work-With-Us/Grants-And-Loans/GRanTS
Latest change note: Updated amount and contact phone numbers. Updated application deadline.

Who can apply

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

Public Agency

Additional information on eligibility (from the listing)

Eligible projects must support water quality and supply consistent with Water Code section 79205.6 and may include: -Innovative green infrastructure that enhances water availability, groundwater storage, fish and wildlife habitat restoration, creation of cool water refugia. -Fish-friendly intakes for agriculture diversions. -Fish passage solutions that remove barriers to fish migration or improve passage. -Increase or improve floodplain availability.

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 RSP supports fish passage improvements & similar projects that increase ecological, stream management, climate, & community improvement benefits. Program goals include protecting, restoring, and enhancing the natural environment of riparian systems. RSP supports innovations in green infrastructure to provide habitat enhancements that benefit aquatic species and fish migration & adapt to climate change.

Description

The Riverine Stewardship Program will prioritize funding for projects and programs that meet one or more of the following requirements: • Can be completed expeditiously and provide near-term benefits and alleviation of urgent problems related to water supply and water quality affecting native species and aquatic habitats. • Provide instream water quality benefits by improving aquatic habitats and restoring natural ecosystem functions through green infrastructure designs and solutions that increase water supplies, enhance water supply reliability, groundwater storage, or improve water quality. • Support public-private partnerships. • Align with the Water Resilience Portfolio Sections 3, 9,10,11, and/or 29. • Further support National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Endangered Species Management and Recovery Plan that support salmon, steelhead, and other native fish populations. • For programs and projects designed to increase water supplies, enhance water supply reliability, groundwater storage, or improve water quality. • Concept proposals will be reviewed monthly. Applicants will be invited to submit full applications following concept review.

Program page on the agency site ↗

Past applications & awards

Historical data · not a prediction

Reported by the agency for this listing

Fiscal year 2024–252 applications · 1 award
Fiscal year 2023–240 applications · 0 awards
Fiscal year 2022–233 applications · 2 awards
Fiscal year 2021–220 applications · 0 awards

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

Awards published: 3
Total awarded: $1,651,243
Median award: $561,243 calculated
Smallest – largest: $500,000 – $590,000

Recipients by type: Public Agency (3)

Areas served: Statewide (1), Marin County (1), Stanislaus County (1)

Largest awards to organizations

Marin Municipal Water District (Marin Water)Lagunitas Creek Salmon Spawning Gravel Improvement Project$590,000 · FY 2022–23
City of OakdalePhase III of the Stanley Wakefield Wilderness Area Salmonid Habitat Restoration Project$561,243 · FY 2022–23
City of BerkeleyCodornices Creek Restoration at Ninth Street Bend$500,000 · 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)

RSP@water.ca.gov
1-916-820-3891

Quick answers

Who is eligible to apply for “Riverine Stewardship Program”?

The official listing names these applicant types as eligible: Public Agency. It adds: “Eligible projects must support water quality and supply consistent with Water Code section 79205.6 and may include: -Innovative green infrastructure that enhances water availability, groundwater storage, fish and wildlife habitat restoration, creation of cool water refugia. -Fish…” Additional restrictions may apply; review the full guidelines.

How much funding is available through “Riverine Stewardship Program”?

Per the notice, total estimated program funding is $6,000,000.

How do I apply for “Riverine Stewardship Program”?

Applications go directly to Department of Water Resources, not through GrantsJunction. Submission: online at https://water.ca.gov/Work-With-Us/Grants-And-Loans/GRanTS. 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