Individuals can submit grant applications to the Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Committee

Contra Costa County, California – Individuals and groups interested in improving Contra Costa County’s fish and wildlife resources can now apply to the Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Committee.

Grant applications must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 5, 2022.

The Fish and Wildlife Committee supports applications that focus on public education, habitat improvement, scientific research, threatened and endangered species, and resolving human/wildlife interaction issues.

Additionally, the Committee would want to support one or more projects that improve collaboration with law enforcement agencies, the court, and community cultural groups on enforcement and education problems, with a priority on communities who are unfamiliar with local fish and game regulations. Projects that provide multilingual signage and educational materials are encouraged.

The Fish and Wildlife Committee awards grants for prospective expenditures to non-profit organizations, schools and government agencies. The Committee generally does not recommend funding for operating costs and overhead, such as benefits or utilities, or ongoing staff support for an organization. Further, projects awarded monies from the Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund must meet the requirements of Section 13103 of the Fish and Game Code.

Funding for the grant program is generated from fines for violations of the Fish and Game Code and Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations. The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors receives the Committee’s recommendations and holds final decision-making authority over the awarding of grants.

During the 2021 grant cycle, a total of $60,830.71 was awarded to seven projects. The awards ranged from $4,973.00 to $16,000.00. Application materials may be obtained on the Fish and Wildlife Committee website or by contacting Maureen Parkes of the Contra Costa County Conservation and Development Department by phone at 925-655-2909 or e-mail [email protected].