Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund 2026

The Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund Grant is administered by the Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Committee under the Department of Conservation and Development. This program is supported entirely by fine revenues from violations of the Fish and Game Code and Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations within Contra Costa County. Funding is intended to benefit the county’s fish and wildlife resources in accordance with Section 13103 of the California Fish and Game Code. The Board of Supervisors makes the final award decisions, based on recommendations from the Fish and Wildlife Committee. The grant’s primary purpose is to support projects that improve habitat, advance scientific research, provide public education, address the needs of threatened and endangered species, and resolve human-wildlife conflict issues. The Committee encourages proposals that include collaboration with law enforcement and community cultural organizations to enhance enforcement education, especially in communities that may not be aware of fish and game laws. Multilingual signage and educational materials are encouraged. The Committee prioritizes funding for service-oriented and educational projects or direct purchases of goods and materials that do not require labor on public land. Operating costs and overhead, such as salaries and utilities, are generally not recommended for funding. Funding may be used for activities allowable under Section 13103, including but not limited to habitat improvement, wildlife breeding or release, predator control, public education, research, and other approved conservation activities. Construction-related projects that qualify as “public works” under California law must comply with prevailing wage, public bidding, and contractor registration requirements. The grant is a cost reimbursement program, but exceptions exist for nonprofits demonstrating financial hardship or for small projects under $1,000 needing advance funding. Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time on Friday, August 1, 2025. Proposals may be emailed or mailed, but postmarks will not substitute for the deadline. Applicants qualifying under specific subsections of Section 13103, namely (d), (h), (i), or (m), must send a draft proposal by June 27, 2025, for eligibility verification with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Applications must include a signed cover page, a project description explaining how it benefits fish and wildlife in the county, a schedule to complete the project within one year of notification (by January 2026), an itemized budget, an annual organizational budget, organization details, qualifications, responsible individuals, permit status, and any requests for funding exceptions. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, schools, and government agencies. The program typically funds only one project per organization in a cycle. In the 2025 cycle, $80,910.50 was awarded to 12 projects, with amounts ranging from $582 to $19,449.66. Awards vary each year, and multi-year funding is not available. Funds are generally disbursed after approval of a final project report with receipts and invoices, although partial advance funding may be possible for qualifying nonprofits. Final award notifications are expected by January 2026, with reimbursement eligibility for expenditures made after Board of Supervisors approval. All funded projects must submit a final report within one year of funding or one month after project completion, whichever comes sooner. Applicants with questions can contact Maureen Parkes at maureen.parkes@dcd.cccounty.us or call 925-655-2909 for more information.

Avoid including more materials than required, follow page limits, seek FWC approval before publishing funded materials, confirm eligibility early if applying under certain subsections, ensure all required signatures are included.