Division of Boating and Waterways Public Beach Restoration Grant Program

The California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) administers the Shoreline Erosion Control Program and the Public Beach Restoration Program to support coastal protection projects. These initiatives aim to assist public agencies in mitigating shoreline erosion and restoring public beaches through local assistance grants. The programs are rooted in California's Harbors and Navigation Code, providing legal authorization and framework for funding support. The Shoreline Erosion Control Program funds planning and construction of various shoreline stabilization measures, including hard infrastructure like seawalls. It offers up to 50 percent cost-share for nonfederal project costs. The Public Beach Restoration Program supports projects involving engineered placement of sand on beaches or in nearshore environments, covering up to 85 percent of nonfederal costs for nonstate beaches. Both programs are open only to public agencies and are subject to funding availability through the annual State budget process, as there is no dedicated funding source. The application process consists of two phases: an initial Letter of Intent (LOI) followed by a full application upon invitation. For the Fiscal Year 2027/2028 cycle, the LOI is due by 5:00 pm on Monday, December 15, 2025, submitted via email to Casey Caldwell. Only applicants whose LOIs describe projects with significant and cost-effective benefits to the state will be invited to submit a full application. Those selected will receive instructions for submitting their proposals through the Online Grant Application (OLGA) system. Full applications must be submitted by 5:00 pm on Monday, February 2, 2026. Each application enters the confidential State budget review process, with notifications acknowledging receipt and additional communication if clarification is needed. Funding decisions will be reflected in the Governor's proposed budget released in January 2027, with the final state budget expected by June 2027. Grant agreements for approved projects typically follow several months after budget enactment. Contact for this opportunity is Casey Caldwell, reachable at [email protected] or (916) 902-8824. Both programs may fund studies essential to project development or regional sediment management planning. There is no preset minimum or maximum funding amount per project, but previous awards have ranged from approximately $40,000 for studies to up to $11.5 million for large-scale beach restoration efforts. Due to funding constraints, only a few projects may be selected for grants in any given year. Approved in-kind services for matching requirements include direct personnel costs and material expenses incurred by local agencies, with pre-approval from DBW.

Propose projects with cost-effective and high-impact benefits; only top LOIs advance due to limited funds.