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Urban Streams Restoration Program

Grantor:
Department of Water Resources
Departmental Grant ID:
Department of Water Resources
Portal ID:
190509
Status:
Active
Open Date:
10/1/26 13:22
Opportunity Type:
  • Grant
Last Updated:
 | 
Categories:

Details

Purpose:

The Urban Streams Restoration Program (USRP), established by Water Code section 7048 which declared that urban creek protection, restoration, and enhancement are best undertaken by local agencies and organizations with assistance from the State. The USRP funds projects and provides technical assistance to restore streams impacted by urban development to a more natural state.

Description:

The USRP goals include:

(1) protecting, enhancing, and restoring the natural, ecological value of streams;

(2) preventing future property damage caused by flooding and bank erosion;

(3) promoting community involvement, education, and riverine stewardship.

A major objective of the USRP is to bring people together around projects that foster community relationships while ensuring the community’s interests are incorporated into the project’s planning, design, and outcomes. Local community-supported projects can support local economies, renew a community’s understanding of the value of streams, and make them a centerpiece for the community while expanding their contact with nature. 

USRP requires a public outreach and education component that is designed to encourage community participation in the planning process, public support for long-term management for a minimum 10-year timeframe, and to increase the public’s understanding of the project’s benefits to the environment and the sustainability of California's water resources. These activities may include but are not limited to: community organizing, resource interpretation, multilingual translation, natural science, community education, and communication-related to water, parks, climate change resiliency, and other outdoor pursuits.

Eligible projects must be consistent with the goals of the USRP outlined in Water Code sections 7048 and Proposition 4. The USRP has set aside over 40 percent of the grant funds ($15 M) allocated to program to support projects that provide direct and meaningful benefits to Disadvantaged Communities, Severely Disadvantaged Communities and Vulnerable Populations. 

Eligible project types include, but are not limited to:

o Bank stabilization and revegetation.

o Recontouring of channels to improve or reestablish floodplain function and localized flood protection.

o Installation of bioswales prior to water reaching urban streams.

o Removing of culverts or storm drains to stabilize channels to achieve flood control objectives and daylighting of streams.

o Purchase of lands or structures on lands to allow for floodplain reconnection and floodwater detention or wetlands/tidal zone restoration.

The USRP may also fund planning-only grants for projects with an intended construction component. 

Concept proposals will be reviewed monthly. Applicants will be invited to submit quarterly full proposals following the concept review.

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible Applicants:

  • Nonprofit
  • Public Agency
  • Tribal Government

Requires a partnership of two applicants (sponsor and co-sponsor): one local public agency, Tribe, or a certified 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and local community group. The USRP recognizes partnerships when there is a signed MOU between authorities representing the partners included in the application

Eligible Geographies:

USRP serves urban and urbanizing communities across the entire state. 

Important Dates

The date on which the grantor expects to announce the recipient(s) of the grant.
Summer 2027
The length of time during which the grant money must be utilized.
3 years

Funding Details - Prod Migration Test

The total projected dollar amount of the grant.
$20,562,000.00
A single grant opportunity may represent one or many awards. Some grantors may know in advance the exact number of awards to be given. Others may indicate a range. Some may wish to and wait until the application period closes before determining how many awards to offer; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display.
12 – 15
Grant opportunities representing multiple awards may offer awards in the same amount or in varied amounts. Some may wish to wait until the application period closes before determining per-award amounts; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display.
Dependent
Certain grants require that the recipient(s) provide a letter of intent.
Yes ( see Description for details )
Certain grants require that the recipient(s) be able to fully or partially match the grant award amount with another funding source.
No
The funding source allocated to fund the grant. It may be either State or Federal (or a combination of both), and be tied to a specific piece of legislation, a proposition, or a bond number.
  • State

Funding Source Notes:

The Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024 (Proposition 4; Pub. Resources Code, § 90000 et seq.)

The manner in which the grant funding will be delivered to the awardee. Funding methods include reimbursements (where the recipient spends out-of-pocket and is reimbursed by the grantor) and advances (where the recipient spends received grant funds directly).
  • Advances & Reimbursement(s)

How to Apply

State agencies/departments recommend you read the full grant guidelines before applying.

Resources

For questions about this grant, contact:
1-916-873-5010, USRPinfo@water.ca.gov

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