The Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project’s (WRP) Community Wetland Restoration Grant Program (CWRGP) provides funding for community-based restoration projects in coastal wetlands and along coastal stream corridors in the Southern California region.

Over the past 20 years, the CWRGP has successfully completed over 170 community-based projects with over $4 million spent or currently obligated on project implementation.  Initiated by the State Coastal Conservancy, Earth Island Institute funded the CWRGP from 2002-2012. From 2012 to 2014, the State Coastal Conservancy and the Wildlife Conservation Board also funded the CWRGP.  Earth Island Institute continued funding the Program in 2015 and 2016. From 2017-2025 the program was funded and supported by the Wildlife Conservation Board, State Coastal Conservancy, and the Earth Island Institute. The CWRGP welcomes partnerships with agencies, foundations, and individuals to bring new funding and resources to this critical and highly successful program.

This program supports achieving Goals 1-3 of the WRP Regional Strategy 2018, by restoring coastal wetlands, streams, adjacent habitats, and other non-tidal wetlands. The program has a specific emphasis on Objective 1 of Goal 3: Support Community-Based Restoration Projects. The goals of the program are to build local capacity to plan and implement wetland restoration projects; promote community involvement in wetland restoration activities; and foster education about wetland ecosystems.  Projects funded through the program must include educational and community involvement elements as strong components of the project.

To apply please use to the 2025 CWRGP Application Guidelines and submit a completed 2025 CWRGP Application Template to Kellan Warner of the State Coastal Conservancy at kellan.warner@scc.ca.gov. You should receive an email acknowledging the receipt of your application within two weeks of its submittal. If you are unsure if your project meets the required selection criteria, please send in a short project description (approximately 1 paragraph) before completing and submitting a full application.

An informational webinar will be held on Tuesday, August 12th from 11-12pm. You can register for the webinar here.

Questions? Contact Kellan Warner at kellan.warner@scc.ca.gov.