Desert Conservation Program

The Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) of California administers the Desert Conservation Program and other grant opportunities under updated General Grant Guidelines (March 2025), incorporating funding from Proposition 4, among other sources. The guidelines establish the process for applying to WCB's suite of funding programs, including habitat acquisition, restoration, public access enhancement, scientific studies, and technical assistance, with a strong emphasis on supporting disadvantaged communities, climate resilience, and tribal engagement. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, state and local public agencies, federal agencies, and California Native American tribes. Proposition 4 funding expands this eligibility to include joint power authorities, special districts, and local publicly owned utilities, but excludes private landowners. All grant opportunities under these guidelines require a pre-application submission. If selected, applicants are invited to submit a full application. Pre-applications are reviewed for alignment with WCB strategic goals, project readiness, geographic distribution, tribal consultation, and potential benefits. WCB funds multiple project types including: Land acquisitions (fee title or conservation easement) from willing sellers Habitat restoration or enhancement Public access infrastructure Scientific studies supporting resource protection Capacity-building and technical assistance projects Proposition 4, also known as the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024, allocated over $1 billion to WCB. A significant portion of these funds is directed toward existing WCB programs and specifically earmarked to benefit disadvantaged communities. Projects must show long-term durability, include monitoring plans, and align with state priorities such as 30x30 conservation goals, climate change adaptation, and biodiversity preservation. Costs that are eligible include construction, permitting, design, and some indirect costs. Under Proposition 4, indirect cost reimbursement is allowed, with the rate governed by Public Resources Code section 90133. Cost share is not required, but applications with secured cost share receive higher evaluation scores. Funding decisions are made during public WCB board meetings after due diligence and scoring by technical review panels. All interested applicants should begin by contacting WCB staff for consultation. Pre-applications must be submitted in Word format and may include maps or photos (either embedded in the document or attached as PDFs). For Desert Conservation Program-specific projects, Amy Henderson serves as the main point of contact and can be reached at Amy.Henderson@wildlife.ca.gov or (916) 926-9585. The WCB encourages early consultation with staff to align projects with strategic funding priorities.