Wetland Conservation Program – Support Funds and Restoration Initiatives

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) Wetland Conservation Program (WCP) administers several public land-focused funding initiatives to support, restore, and enhance wetland habitats across California. These efforts are implemented through strategic use of state-allocated funds and are aimed at maintaining ecological diversity, supporting wildlife habitat, and promoting healthy nesting environments for bird populations. The WCP allocates $1.5 million annually in support funds to 14 major wetland wildlife areas under CDFW’s jurisdiction. These funds are sourced from the Public Resources Account (PRA) and are specifically intended for uses such as purchasing water or power to facilitate wetland flooding, improving water infrastructure, acquiring native plant materials for restoration, and controlling invasive species. The program ensures that funding is used efficiently and in alignment with enabling legislation to address the most pressing wetland management needs. In addition to these operational funds, the WCP also directs approximately $500,000 per year in capital outlay funds toward wetland restoration and enhancement projects. These projects focus on constructing or upgrading water distribution systems to replicate natural hydrology, reshaping lands to provide more diverse wetland habitats, and restoring native vegetation communities. These interventions support long-term ecosystem health and increase biodiversity on CDFW-owned lands. Complementing these efforts, the Nesting Bird Habitat Incentive Program (NBHIP) supports both public and private land projects to improve upland habitat for nesting birds and pollinators. On public lands, NBHIP provides funding to Wildlife Areas and National Wildlife Refuges for habitat enhancements such as planting native grasses, maintaining perennial forbs, and managing invasive plant species. Funded projects must ensure upland habitat is left undisturbed during the critical nesting season from April 1 to July 15, and must be located within one mile of summer water sources. These programs are not traditional grants awarded through a competitive application process but are internal funding mechanisms within CDFW to support projects that align with state wetland and wildlife management goals. However, external organizations or partners collaborating with CDFW may be involved in project implementation. For further information or inquiries, contact Brian Olson, Wetland Conservation Program Supervisor, or Andrew Greenawalt, Environmental Scientist. Both can be reached via email at Brian.Olson@wildlife.ca.gov and Andrew.Greenawalt@wildlife.ca.gov, respectively. Their office is located at 1010 Riverside Parkway, West Sacramento, CA, with a mailing address of P.O. Box 944029, Sacramento, CA 94244-2090.