The Santa Clara Valley Water District has $1.3 million available in grants, made possible by the voter-approved Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program Priority D3: Restore Wildlife Habitat. Under this priority, the district will be awarding grants for activities such as creating or enhancing wetland, riparian and tidal marsh habitat; protecting special status species; removing fish migration barriers; installing fish ladders; removing non-native, invasive plant species; and planting native species.
Qualifying projects will enhance creek and bay ecosystems, improve fish passage and habitat, leverage community funding through grants; and increase collaborations for stewardship activities among the various cities, nonprofit organizations, schools and underserved communities within Santa Clara County. The minimum grant amount per project is $50,000 and the maximum grant amount is $500,000.
Recently completed wildlife restoration projects include the Foothills Park Riparian Enhancement Project by Grassroots Ecology (formerly Acterra Stewardship) which received a grant to restore and enrich wildlife habitat by removing invasive vegetation, planting over 20 native species, and monitoring 4 miles of creek and throughout Foothills Park in Palo Alto.
Another recently completed grant-funded project was the Stream Stabilization and Habitat Enhancement Phase 2 at Vasona Creek by West Valley College. This project restored habitat by reseeding riparian vegetation, planting native species, protecting and relocating dusky-footed woodrat nests (a special status species). It also resulted in the creation of an outdoor classroom and “Stream Team” composed of faculty and staff to integrate the project into curriculum and raise student and public awareness of environmental issues and restoration.
The water district will host a public information workshop to provide an overview of the grants, application guidelines and process, including a demonstration of the recently implemented web-based grant administration system. Participation is recommended, but not mandatory. The workshop will take place on the following date and time:
Thursday, Feb. 8, from 4 – 5:30 p.m.
Location: Headquarters Bldg, Room A-143
5700 Almaden Expressway
San Jose, CA 95118
To RSVP to the workshop, or for any additional questions, email: grants@valleywater.org Grant proposals are due by March 30, 2018 at 11:59 p.m., submitted through: https://applygrants.valleywater.org/.
During the 15-year life of the Safe, Clean Water Program, the water district expects to distribute nearly $35 million in grants, partnerships and rebate programs, under several different funding categories. Each year, one or more grant programs will have a new funding cycle.
Valley Water News 