Gabriel Edwards of the Department of Water Resources directed attendees to DWRs Grants and Loans webpage and the CFCC handbook as primary repositories of program information and contact points. "All the information that's relevant for... these funding opportunities, it's all on the CFCC website," he said during a webpage demonstration.

Edwards summarized general DWR eligibility: public or local agencies, tribes and certified nonprofits are typical applicants; private individuals are usually not eligible. He described the Riverine Stewardship program as the only currently active DWR funding program at the session, with about $6,000,000 available and eligibility limited to specific geographies: counties within the Association of Bay Area Governments, counties within the Delta export service area, and areas outside the Delta that receive State Water Project or Central Valley Project water via diversions from the Delta. Eligible projects include habitat restoration, fish passage improvements and conveyance improvements that support instream habitat. Edwards also noted DWR will post updates about Proposition 4 funding and is using emergency regulation processes, so timelines remain tentative.

Why this matters: DWR controls multiple water grants that address infrastructure, habitat and environmental compliance in California. Prospective applicants should monitor DWR public notices and the CFCC handbook, confirm eligibility on program pages, and contact program staff early.

Practical details: The DWR Riverine Stewardship program supports habitat restoration and fish-passage projects, has approximately $6 million available, and requires geographic eligibility consistent with specified Water Code sections ("Water Code sections 79205.2 to 79205.16" was cited). Updates on Proposition 4 distribution and emergency rulemaking will appear on DWRs public notices page.