Stream Flow Enhancement Program
Stream Flow Enhancement Program supports California conservation teams with water transactions, restoration, gauging, and studies to improve stream flows for fish and wildlife and build climate resilience.
Funder: Wildlife Conservation Board
Due Dates: See WCB Grant Opportunities for application information
Funding Amounts: Program allocations include $200 million under Proposition 1 and $100 million under SB 170
Summary: Supports California water transactions, conservation, restoration, gauging, and scientific studies that enhance stream flows for fish and wildlife.
Key Information: Full applications are by invitation after WCB reviews a pre-application.
Description
The Stream Flow Enhancement Program is a competitive Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) program supporting projects throughout California that improve the amount, timing, or quality of water flowing through streams to benefit fish and wildlife. Consistent with the California Water Action Plan, it prioritizes streams supporting anadromous fish and special-status, threatened, endangered, or at-risk species, as well as projects providing climate resilience.
Supported work includes water transactions, conservation measures with long-term protections for conserved water, groundwater storage, reservoir operations, and habitat restoration that improves stream flow and aquatic or riparian conditions. The program also supports stream flow gauging and scientific studies that evaluate completed projects or inform future enhancements. Its broader goals include reliable water supplies, restoration of important species and habitats, and a more resilient, sustainably managed water resources system.
