The Statewide Watershed Program's purpose is to advance sustainable watershed-based management of California’s natural resources through community-based strategies.
The Statewide Watershed Program is an extension of the previous CALFED Bay-Delta Watershed Program, is administered through the Department of Conservation (Department), and includes grants for watershed coordinators. The Program operates with guiding principles and goals and objectives, that includes maintaining a commitment to public involvement and Program transparency.
Historical Statewide Watershed Program Documents are located in the Quick Links under Archives.
What's New
California Watershed Success Stories
The watershed projects in California have resulted in positive impacts to water, air, and land resources. Non-profit organizations, Resource Conservation Districts, consulting firms, and agencies have conducted watershed projects with grant funds and matching contributions. The California Watershed Success Stories, which are on our California Watershed Portal, provide examples of what restoration methods were found to be effective, the problems encountered, and the solutions implemented. We encourage the submission of additional Watershed Success Stories by contacting us at watershed@conservation.ca.gov.
USEPA Healthy Watersheds Initiative National Framework and Action Plan, 2011
The EPA has released the Healthy Watersheds Initiative (HWI) National Framework and Action Plan. The HWI is intended to protect the nation's remaining healthy watersheds, prevent them from becoming impaired, and accelerate restoration successes. The HWI National Framework and Action Plan is available at www.epa.gov/healthywatersheds.
2010 Watershed Coordinator Grant Program Awards
The Department is pleased to announce its 2010 Statewide Watershed Coordinator Grants Final Decision List. These latest grants are funded through Proposition 84 the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Act of 2006.
Project selection was the result of an extremely competitive process, with an impressive reponse from special districts, local governments, and non-profits throughout the state. There were 116 applications with funding requests totaling nearly $26 million. The large number of proposals received reflects the great need for watershed coordination in the state. The $9.15 million authorized for this three-year grant program was sufficient to support only 41 of the submitted proposals, for a total of $9,140,741. The Department recognizes that there were many compelling and high-quality proposals that could not be recommended for award due to funding constraints.
Prior watershed coordinators have shown great successes in both the management of water resources and the improvement of impaired watersheds. The Department encourages organizations which were not recommended for funding to continue watershed work through other means if possible. The instructions and scoring criteria used by our reviewers (Review Questions) are provided to assist you in self evaluation. The RFP and additional information regarding the grant program are available at our website: http://www.conservation.ca.gov/dlrp/wp/grants/Pages/wcgp_intro.aspx
If you wish to comment on the award decision or have questions regarding this decision, please contact the Department by submitting your comments electronically to watershed@conservation.ca.gov
California Watershed Portal
The Department has created the new California Watershed Portal; a library of information on California’s watersheds and their management, arranged under Tabs and Quick Links. From maps to grant programs, from agency contacts to data, the Portal provides watershed information and resources to agencies, organizations, and the public interested in watershed protection and management. The Portal began its life as a joint effort of the Natural Resources Agency and CAL EPA. It was transferred to DOC’s Statewide Watershed Program where it was updated and redesigned. Please feel free to contact us with suggested additions and improvements to the Portal.
Watershed Advisory Committee
The Secretary of the Resources Agency has appointed a 24-member State Watershed Advisory Committee to advise on the development and conduct of a new State Watershed Program. The Committee is responsible for guiding an extensive public outreach process to engage and receive advice from local people and communities on the construct of this new state program. There are two committee members representing each of the state's ten hydrologic regions and four at-large members with a particular emphsis on tribal, environmental justice and regional geographic focus.