The California Watershed Protection Fund supports projects designed to improve water quality and protect watersheds across California.
Donor Name: Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment
State: California
County: Orange County (CA)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 09/13/2024
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The fund originated with a $50,000 mitigation payment from a Clean Water Act (CWA) enforcement case brought by San Francisco Baykeeper, and out of this humble beginning, the SF Bay Citizens Action Fund was created. Within a few years, the fund expanded to cover watersheds throught the State as several other groups including the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance and Los Angeles Waterkeeper among others, directed their mitigation payments to Rose. The fund continues to be enabled by settlements in CWA citizen suits and supports projects which benefit the surface water quality where enforcement actions have been brought.
Priority Areas
- Priority will be given to community-oriented grassroots groups as well as to organizations with a strong track record of community-based water quality work.
- They especially encourage projects that involve impacted communities, benefit vulnerable populations, and that are centered around principles of equity and environmental justice.
Funding Information
- The maximum grant amount is $40,000 with most grants expected to range between $10,000 and $30,000.
- Most grants are for a one-year period; however, you do not have to ask for a one-year grant. It is permitted to request a shorter or longer grant period if that is what you need.
Allowable Projects and Activity Focus
- Projects must benefit the surface water quality of the watershed in question. Eligible activities include water stewardship, conservation, outreach and education, restoration, and watershed protection.
- Projects focusing exclusively on groundwater quality are only eligible if there is known interconnectivity to surface waters.
Geographic Scope
The eligible geographies for this fund vary cycle to cycle due to funding fluctuations. For the Fall 2024 cycle, funding is available for the following watersheds:
- Tomales Bay and adjacent watersheds, including Walker Creek
- The Napa River (limited funding available)
- The Santa Ynez River watershed, including San Miguelito Creek
- Los Angeles watersheds, including the Los Angeles River, San Gabriel River, San Jose Creek, Dominguez Channel, Port of Long Beach, and San Pedro Bay
- Orange County watersheds, including the San Gabriel River, Newport Bay, and the Santa Ana Delhi Channel
- San Diego watersheds, including the Otay River, San Luis Rey River, and San Diego Bay
Eligibility Criteria
- The applicant must be a 501(c)3 organization, fiscally-sponsored by a 501(c)3, or a governmental or tribal entity. If you work with a small organization that lacks non-profit status but has a compelling project, the Rose Foundation may be willing to act as your fiscal sponsor for this grant proposal. Nonprofit colleges, universities, university clinics and graduate programs are eligible to apply, but university overhead is limited to 5% of grant award.
- The applicant must demonstrate the capacity to complete the proposed project as well as a strong track record of community-based water quality stewardship.
For more information, visit RFCE.
