California's fish and wildlife are severely impacted by illicit cannabis cultivation practices including unlawful water diversions for irrigation, conversion of lands, poaching, and use of prohibited herbicides, rodenticides, and other environmental contaminants. Learn about how cannabis cultivation can impact the environment.
In 2017, Assembly Bill 243 (Wood, Medical Marijuana) provided direction to California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to restore watersheds impacted by cannabis cultivation in key areas of coastal Northern California. CDFW granted funds to four implementation projects, totaling approximately $1.3 million, for refuse and infrastructure removal, and replanting efforts.
In early 2020, through the Environmental Restoration and Protection Account and pursuant to Revenue and Taxation Code section 34019(f)(2), a planning project was approved for approximately $1.1 million in grant fund to help restore the upper Eel River, which has been impacted by cannabis cultivation. See links below for further project details.
Currently, the Cannabis Restoration Grant Program has the opportunity to grant funds in support of partnerships to clean-up, remediate, and restore watersheds affected by cannabis cultivation, and related activities. The Cannabis Restoration Grant Program: Updates and Opportunities (YouTube)(opens in new tab) video provides general CDFW Cannabis Program background and build-out followed by an overview of the Cannabis Restoration Grant Program, with details regarding available and developing funding opportunities.
New Solicitation and Pre-application - The Qualified Cultivator Funding Opportunity, Proposal Solicitation Notice (Solicitation)(PDF)(opens in new tab) is now open and Pre-applications (Word) are being accepted for submission. Applications will be accepted until spring of 2023. Please review the Solicitation for more information.
Virtual Public Workshop - CDFW will also host an online public workshop (PDF)(opens in new tab) on October 21, 2021, at 9:30 a.m. PDT, to provide an overview of the Solicitation and the multi-phased application process. Details can be found on the CRGP webpage.
Consultation Request - The Concept Consultation Request opportunity will be open until December 1, 2022 for the Qualified Cultivator Funding Opportunity. A link to the project consultation request form and more information can be found in the Concept Consultation Request Notification (Updated on 10/08/2021) (PDF)(opens in new tab).
Grant Management Associates has experience with CDFW. Contact us for a consultation about this opportunity.
CRGP will conduct an optional concept consultation phase for this funding opportunity until December 1, 2022. Prior to the pre-application phase, potential applicants are encouraged to participate in the concept consultation process to share potential project narratives and discuss the applicability to the Solicitation’s priorities.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and considered for approval until April 30, 2023. Application approval will be done on a scheduled basis. The tentative schedule is outlined in Table 1. All applicants must first submit a preapplication to canngrantprogram@wildlife.ca.gov. The pre-application process will focus on basic eligibility requirements, including applicant eligibility, license and/or permit status of any associated qualified cultivator(s), land tenure assurances, and project objectives. The applicant will be asked to complete a brief summary of the proposed project, and provide an estimate of the total project costs, including grant 2 CDFW Cannabis Restoration Grant Program Solicitation, 2021 request amount. Eligible pre-applicants will be invited back to submit a full application. Prior to submittal of the full application, applicants may receive comments from CDFW that must be addressed in the full application.
The following entity types are eligible to receive grant funding:
• Public agencies within California (state agencies or departments, public universities, special districts, joint powers authorities, counties, cities, or other political subdivisions of the state); • Nonprofit organizations qualified to do business in California, qualified under Section 501(c) of Title 26 of the United States Code, and have the capacity to meet the requirements of this Solicitation and the executed grant agreement; and
• California Native American tribes, as that term is defined in Public Resources Code Section 21073.
Proposals from private individuals, for-profit enterprises, or out-of-state public entities (except those that are nonprofit organizations registered with the California Secretary of State) are ineligible for funding under this Solicitation. However, these entities can work as subcontractors for an eligible entity.
Full Proposal Solicitation Notice can be found here: https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=195378&inline
Comentários