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Introduction
Welcome to the Grants Program Website for the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (Central Coast Water Board). You can:
- Learn about grant funding opportunities
- Learn about grant projects being implemented in the Central Coast Region
- Obtain resources for Grant Project Directors
Central Coast Water Board Vision and Priorities
The Central Coast Water Board’s Vision of Healthy Functioning Watersheds promotes healthy aquatic habitat, clean groundwater and proper land management. The Central Coast Water Board encourages local agencies and organizations to promote healthy watersheds through grant funding opportunities that focus on the Central Coast Coast Water Boards. Central Coast Water Quality Priorities (July 2011)
The Central Coast Water Board identified the highest priorities for external projects as Low Impact Development (LID), Irrigation and Nutrient Management, Groundwater Recharge Area Protection, and Riparian Buffer Zone Designation and Protection. Our "Priorities for External Projects" (hot link) summarizes these priorities, including the scope, scale, and key project elements. Equally important is our focus on project performance and funding accountability. Priorities for External Projects
Program Background
The Central Coast Water Board's Grants Program provides administrative and technical oversight for grant projects being implemented in the Central Coast Region. The specific goals of the Grants Program are to:
- Facilitate the successful implementation of grant projects that address the Central Coast Water Board’s Vision measurable goals and water quality priorities
- Integrate grant project data and products into Central Coast Water Board Programs
- Provide easy access to grant information to Central Coast Water Board stakeholders (public outreach).
Upcoming Grant Funding Opportunities
The California Nonpoint Source Program (NPS) allocates approximately $4.5 million of CWA Section 319(h) funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to support implementation and planning projects that address water quality problems in surface and ground water resulting from NPS pollution. The Federal 319h Program is an annual federally funded nonpoint source program that is focused on controlling activities that impair beneficial uses and on limiting pollutant effects caused by these activities. Projects focused on working toward achieving the goals of TMDLs to restore beneficial uses will be the most competitive in the selection process. Each year specific Program Preferences are identified for impairments in watersheds from the list of adopted or nearly adopted TMDLs. Click here for more information on the 319h Program Guidelines and Preferences . CWA Section 319h funds are directed to projects in watersheds with plans that address USEPA's Nine Key Elements.
The 2012 Clean Beaches Initiative (CBI) Grant Program guidelines were approved by the State Water Board on June 5, 2012. The CBI grant program provides funding for implementation and research projects that restore and protect the water quality and the environment of coastal waters, estuaries, bays, and near shore waters. Priority is given to projects that reduce bacterial contamination on California public beaches. Approximately 49.5 Million dollars are available. Applications are solicited and accepted on a continuous basis. Please check the website for when the program will re-open to accept concept proposals for implementation projects. Click here for more information.
The Fertilizer Research and Education Program (FREP) within the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Division of Inspection Services is currently accepting full proposals to address the issue of nitrates in groundwater in environmentally sensitive areas of California. Full proposals should include experimental field research focusing on the “pump and fertilize” method in concert with nitrogen budget worksheets to show proof-of-concept for selected key crops, irrigation systems, and soils. Contact FREP staff at FREP@cdfa.ca.gov for more information.
The Public Resources Code requires that the Proposition 84 Storm Water Grant Program funds be used to provide matching grants to local public agencies for the reduction and prevention of Storm Water contamination of rivers, lakes, and streams.
The Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006 (Prop 84) provides $1 Billion to the Department of Water Resources for Integrated Regional Watershed Management Plans DWR has a number of IRWM grant program funding opportunities. Current IRWM grant programs include: IRWM Implementation and Stormwater Flood Management.. The Central Coast Water Board encourages local agencies and organizations to promote healthy functioning watersheds through grant funding opportunities and to engage early in the process, by attending scoping meetings, commenting on draft grant program guidelines, and attending applicant workshops.
The National Water Quality Initiative will work in priority watersheds to help farmers, ranchers and forest landowners improve water quality and aquatic habitats in impaired streams. NRCS will help producers implement conservation and management practices through a systems approach to control and trap nutrient and manure runoff. Qualified producers will receive assistance for installing conservation practices such as cover crops, filter strips and terraces. Click here for more information
Wells Fargo Environmental Grant Program offers two environmental grant programs focused on addressing local environmental priorities in our communities and providing support that fosters innovation to help accelerate a "green" economy. Click here for more information
CDPR's Pest Mgt Alliance Grants Program provides funding for projects that increase implementation and adoption of proven, effective integrated pest management (IPM) practices that reduce pesticide risks to human health and the environment. Click here for more information
Restoring anadromous salmon and steelhead habitat is a commitment the Fisheries Restoration Grant Program (FRGP) and partners have embraced. With population of some salmon at critically low levels, there are many opportunities for restoration projects that will directly benefit the salmon and steelhead trout in California. Click here for more information
The Department of Conservation (DOC) offers grants and other funding programs to further California's goals toward, agricultural land conservation and watershed restoration and management. Click here for more information
To receive future information on upcoming grant funding opportunities by e-mail.,
please subscribe online to our Central Coast Region “Grant Funding Opportunities” electronic mailing list.
The Division of Financial Assistance (DFA) administers the implementation of the State Water Board's financial assistance programs, which includes loan and grant funding for construction of municipal sewage and water recycling facilities, remediation for underground storage tank releases, watershed protection projects, nonpoint source pollution control projects, etc. For a complete description of funding opportunities, visit the State Water Board DFA Website. For updates on specific State Water Board grant programs, you may also wish to subscribe to specific electronic mailing lists.
Grant Projects
Currently, Regional Board staff manages ten 319h, Prop 50, and Prop 84 grant-funded projects that are being implemented in the Central Coast Region totaling more than $6 Million. State Board and Department of Resources staff also manage numerous additional projects via the Stormwater and IRWM Programs as well.. These grant projects are located throughout the Central Coast Region and address Watershed Protection, Water Management, Agricultural Water Quality, Drinking Water, Urban Storm Water, and Non-Point Source Pollution Control.
- Complete Inventory of Grant Projects in the Central Coast Region
- Inventory of Completed Grants in the Central Coast Region
- PG&E Settlement funded projects: Water Board staff manages PG&E Settlement funded projects that demonstrate the ability to reduce contributions of sediment, nutrients, pesticides and/or other pollutants, on Elkhorn Slough or Moss Landing Harbor and watersheds tributary to the Slough and Harbor, including the Salinas River, Moro Cojo Slough and Tembladero Slough. For a list of selected projects that demonstrate the effectiveness of management measures implemented on Irrigated Agricultural Lands, click here.
Resources for Grant Project Directors
The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board), Division of Financial Assistance, requires specific forms be completed by contract/grant recipients for Propositions 13, 40, 50, and 319(h) projects. If you need a form or a sample template that is not at the link above, please contact your Grant Manager.
The reference materials contained in this resource guide will give you an overview of the expectations that the State Water Board has regarding management and implementation of your grant project. The resource guide will introduce you to the negotiation and grant execution process, the forms and templates the State Water Board expects you to complete, Internet resources available to you, the reports you will have to submit, and the invoice process for reimbursement of your expenditures.
For more information on the Central Coast Water Board’s Grants Program, or if you are planning on submitting a project application, please contact the Grants Program Coordinator, Katie McNeill, at (805) 549-3336 or the Grants Program Analyst, Diane Glanville at (805) 542-4629.
