Cannabis Restoration Grant Program
Cannabis Restoration Grant Program supports agencies, nonprofits, and tribes in restoring cannabis-affected California habitats and researching cultivation impacts to improve ecological health.
Funder: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Due Dates: Rolling while funds remain (Cleanup, Remediation, and Watershed Enhancement) | Contact program staff (Research and Innovation)
Funding Amounts: No minimum or maximum award amount; cleanup and watershed enhancement grant terms are two to three years
Summary: Supports restoration of California habitats affected by cannabis cultivation and research benefiting native species and ecosystem resilience.
Key Information: Cleanup and watershed enhancement applicants must submit a pre-application and receive an invitation before submitting a full proposal.
Description
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) administers this program to advance ecosystem restoration and ecological health across California. It supports cleanup, remediation, and watershed enhancement on public, private, and tribal lands affected by cannabis cultivation. Work includes removing illicit cultivation waste and contaminants, treating roads and stream crossings to reduce sediment, conserving water, and improving wildlife habitat.
A separate Research and Innovation opportunity supports understanding cultivation’s environmental effects, developing actionable solutions, and addressing environmental factors supporting sustainable cultivation. Across both opportunities, projects directly benefiting California-listed threatened or endangered species receive higher scores. Co-benefits may include advancing species recovery plans, California’s 30X30 framework, the State Wildlife Action Plan, similar conservation plans, or local equity programs.
