California Stream Flow Enhancement Program

The Wildlife Conservation Board's Stream Flow Enhancement Program funds projects that change the amount, timing or quality of stream flow for fish and wildlife, including water transactions with willing sellers (leases, transfers, instream dedications, forbearance) and on-farm water conservation such as irrigation ditch lining or piping, stock-water systems, tailwater recovery, off-channel storage and changing points of diversion. Grants go to nonprofits, public agencies, Tribes and other eligible entities, which partner with irrigators and ranchers; conserved water must be protected for at least 20 years.

• WCB-eligible grantees (nonprofits, public agencies, tribes; Prop 1 entities) per the General Grant Guidelines.

• Water conservation projects must be "coupled with adequate long term (≥20 years) protections for the conserved water".

• Primary focus on "enhancing flow in streams that support anadromous fish; support special-status, threatened, endangered, or at-risk species; or provide resilience to climate change."

Conserved water must be protected for 20 years or more.

Published amounts: "From 2016 to 2021, the SFEP has granted approximately $134 million in funding to 128 projects."

Apply through the WCB Project Portal (WCB Grant Opportunities page). "Projects that may result in a change to water rights are encouraged to consult early with" the State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Rights.

Deadline text on the page: No program-specific deadline posted; pre-applications through the WCB Project Portal.