San Francisco Bay Restoration Grants

The San Francisco Bay Restoration Grants program, administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 9, aims to support projects that significantly improve water quality and ecosystem health in the San Francisco Bay and its surrounding watersheds. Established in 2008, this competitive grant program focuses on advancing tangible environmental benefits through a variety of interventions, including wetland restoration, stormwater management, shoreline cleanup, and efforts to mitigate nutrient pollution and urban pesticide use. Eligible applicants may propose projects located within any of the nine counties that drain to the San Francisco Bay: Marin, Napa, Sonoma, Solano, Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara, San Mateo, and San Francisco. The program is aligned with the EPA’s broader “Powering the Great American Comeback” initiative and emphasizes two of its pillars: Clean Water for Every American, and Permitting Reform, Cooperative Federalism, and Cross-Agency Partnerships. Applicants must demonstrate how their proposals align with both EPA’s priorities and the San Francisco Estuary Partnership’s Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP). A diverse range of project types is encouraged, from shoreline remediation and habitat restoration to the application of AI tools for water quality monitoring. All projects must also outline clear environmental outputs and outcomes, such as pollutant load reductions, improved flood protection, or acres of habitat restored. Applicants must meet specific eligibility and threshold criteria to be considered. Eligible entities include state and local agencies, special districts, federally recognized tribes, non-federally recognized tribes represented by nonprofits, and public or nonprofit institutions and organizations. A cost-share of at least 25% of the total project cost is mandatory and must be documented within the application. In addition, all projects must occur within the designated geographic region and be consistent with the CCMP. Applications that do not meet these threshold requirements, including those that are submitted late or contain ineligible activities, will be deemed ineligible. The application process is handled electronically via Grants.gov, with a deadline of March 3, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET. Applicants must ensure registration with SAM.gov and Grants.gov is complete well in advance. Required components include the SF-424 application form, budget forms (SF-424A), a detailed project narrative, a project area map, and other EPA-specific forms. The narrative is limited to 15 pages and must address the review criteria such as technical merit, cost-effectiveness, environmental results, and partnerships. Optional materials like letters of support may be submitted to substantiate proposed collaborations. Applications will be reviewed by a regional committee based on criteria including scope and technical merit, environmental results, budget clarity, organizational capacity, timely use of funds, and strength of partnerships. Points are allocated across these dimensions, with environmental outcomes and partnerships each accounting for 25% of the total score. Projects may also be evaluated based on geographic distribution and project diversity. Award notifications are expected in June 2026, following an anticipated selection notice in April 2026. Grant periods are expected to span three to five years depending on the nature and scale of the project. This funding opportunity is anticipated to provide up to 20 awards, each ranging from $1 million to $5 million, from a total program budget of approximately $33 million. All applications must adhere to applicable federal, state, and EPA-specific administrative and reporting requirements. Projects that include environmental data collection must also submit a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) for EPA approval before data collection can begin. Overall, the San Francisco Bay Restoration Grants program represents a critical investment in environmental restoration and public health protection in one of the nation's most ecologically and economically vital estuaries.

Emphasize well-defined environmental outputs and outcomes; demonstrate alignment with EPA’s 5 Pillars; ensure clear roles for partners with supporting letters; include QA/QC planning where relevant.