Summary of U.S. EPA State/Tribal
Wetland Development Grant

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Summary:

• The Resources Agency and the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) have been identified as the State leads for implementing Governor Wilson's State Wetland Conservation Plan (SWCP). As such all departments, boards, and commissions submit their grant application to their appropriate Agency. Both Cal/EPA and the Resources Agency coordinate an initial review of all applications and submit a prioritized list of projects for funding consideration to the U.S. EPA, Region IX. This process enables the State of California to put forward a programmatic set of wetlands development proposals that best implement the SWCP in a coordinated fashion and reduces possible overlaps in project proposals. After a regional review of the applications, they are forwarded to the U.S. EPA national headquarters for a final review.
  
  
• Note that only State agencies, Tribes, and local government entities are eligible to apply.
  
  
• At the State level, the grant selection process is designed to determine which proposals best implement the SWCP and work with existing agencies to implement the over wetland policies called for in the SWCP. The criteria used for selection include:

1. Area: Geographic area the project proposes to address (i.e. Bay Area, Southern California, Central Valley, etc.)
2. SWCP: Types of initiatives the project proposes to implement (i.e. planning, regulatory, watershed, etc.)
3. Cost: The total amount of the project cost
4. Building State Capacity: Does the project build on the long-term ability of the State to manage wetland resources
5. Project Coordination: Is the project compatible with past and current programs and activities
6. U.S. EPA Criteria: Does the project meet the written grant guidelines, as well as goals expressed by U.S. EPA, Regions IX
7. Capacity to perform Tasks (e.g. staff, expertise, equipment)
8. Goals
9. Local support from local government or NGO's or the stakeholder community
10. Management support
11. Past Grant record: Has the project applicant completed all the tasks called of for in U.S. EPA wetland grant projects? Did they complete them in a timely manner?
12. Timing: can the grant be effectively implemented in the proposed timeframe?)

• The State Wetlands Protection Grant Program was initiated in FY90 with $1 million appropriated. In FY95 Congress appropriated $15 million to support the grant program. State interest in the grant program continues to grow.

• States usually request more than double the amount of grant funds available each year.

• Each State has received at least one grant to develop or enhance wetlands protection programs.

• In FY94, at the national level, 101 grants were awarded from the 166 applications received.

• Grant funds can only be used to enhance existing and develop new wetlands protection programs. Grants cannot be used for operational support of State wetlands protection programs. Lack of funds for operational support will likely continue to be a serious impediment to State involvement in wetlands protection.

Examples:

The grants program is currently supporting:

• development of wetland water quality standards for States and Tribes

• Watershed Protection, Restoration, or Enhancement Demonstration Projects on State/Tribal lands

• incorporation of wetlands into Section 401 Water Quality Certification programs in States and Tribes.

For more information about the Grant Program please contact:

a) Cheryl McGovern, U.S. EPA - Region IX, (415) 744-2013 email: cgovern.cheryl@epa.gov

b) Christopher Potter, Resources Agency, (916) 653-5656 email: chrisp@ceres.ca.gov