California Winter Rice Habitat Incentive Program
This grant supports California rice growers who flood harvested fields in winter, creating vital habitats for migratory waterfowl and shorebirds through science-based, collaborative management plans.
Funder: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Due Dates (Anticipated): October 2026 (application/enrollment deadline, projected)
Funding Amounts: Economic incentives for qualifying landowners/lessees; specific per-acre rates and total funding not published—contact program for current details.
Summary: Incentivizes California rice growers to flood harvested fields in winter, supporting critical habitat for migratory waterfowl and shorebirds through collaborative management plans.
Description
The California Winter Rice Habitat Incentive Program (CWRHIP) is a private lands initiative operated by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to encourage and maintain winter flooding of harvested rice fields in California's Central Valley. The program addresses the decline in winter-flooded rice acreage, which is vital for migratory waterfowl and shorebirds, by supporting landowners and lessees who manage their fields to provide essential habitat. Participants work with biologists to develop a management plan requiring at least 70 continuous days of winter flooding, directly enhancing habitat quality and availability for key migratory species.
