Environmental Enhancement Fund
The Environmental Enhancement Fund supports projects that restore, acquire, or improve habitats and ecosystems in or near California waters to benefit fish and wildlife.
Funder: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Due Dates (Anticipated): January 2027 (Application deadline, projected)
Funding Amounts: Award size and number of awards vary annually; typically 2–4 grants per year, based on available funds.
Summary: Supports projects that acquire, restore, or improve habitat and ecosystem function in or near California waters to benefit fish and wildlife.
Key Information: Grant cycle and funding depend on available civil oil spill penalty funds; eligibility is broad but projects must show measurable outcomes.
Description
The Environmental Enhancement Fund (EEF) grant program, administered by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR), supports projects that acquire, restore, or enhance habitat and ecosystem function above baseline conditions in or immediately adjacent to California’s surface waters. The program is designed to benefit fish and wildlife through measurable environmental improvements, with funding sourced from civil penalties related to oil spill cases. Typical projects include habitat acquisition for preservation or efforts that measurably improve habitat quality and ecosystem function.
