Family Water Alliance, Inc. (FWA) is pleased to announce that two grant awards have been approved through the Proposition 1 Water Quality, Supply and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014 (Prop 1). In June 2016, FWA submitted proposals to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Watershed Restoration Grant Program (WRGP), the Butte Creek Diversion 55 Planning Proposal and the Colusa Indian Community Council (CICC) Packer Ranch Fish Screen Project and Pump Station Upgrade.
Each of these project proposals addressed the priorities outlined in the 2016 Prop 1 Restoration Grant Programs solicitation and the California Action Water Plan, and mainly addressed the protection and restoration of anadromous fish habitat.
The Butte Creek Diversion 55 project is located on Butte Creek in Butte County, which is a high priority watershed for Spring-run Chinook salmon. This planning proposal will assist in the design of a site-specific fish screen system and fund the environmental permitting and compliance, which will allow FWA to submit a future Prop 1 proposal for the implementation of the fish screen project.
The CICC Packer Ranch project is in Colusa County. This priority project will protect juvenile anadromous fish, including Chinook salmon, steelhead trout, green sturgeon and other “at-risk” fish species during their migration upstream. This project will be a 50-50 cost share between the State and CICC.
FWA will continue to submit proposals on behalf of willing landowners in priority watersheds to protect California agricultural diverters from the Endangered Species Act (ESA).