February 2025

Message concerning temporary pause in CWDG funding:

Dear Siskiyou Resident
We want to inform you that the Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) program has been temporarily paused due to a recent Presidential Executive Order. This situation could impact all CWDG-related activities, including home assessments and defensible space work.

In response to this executive order, our team is taking a proactive approach to adapt to these changes. Until funding is restored, we are adjusting our spending by postponing the implementation portion of the defensible space projects for residents. We will continue with our primary focus being on conducting home assessments.

Our assessment teams will continue to work diligently to identify residents who are most in need of fire mitigation work, ensuring that we are prepared to act if funding becomes available. Despite these challenges, we remain fully committed to helping create a fire-safe Siskiyou and providing essential home assessments to protect residents from the threat of wildfires.

Recently the team has been completing assessment efforts in the Cecilville, Forks of Salmon, and Scott Bar areas with a total of forty assessments conducted. These assessments wouldn’t have been possible without the help from local organizations, community resources, and outstanding residents. Thank you Scott Bar FSC, The Salmon River Restoration Council, Salmon River Fire & Rescue, and Salmon River FSC.

We would like to extend a sincere gratitude to each of you for your active participation in the Community Wildfire Defense Grant Project. Without resident participation, none of this would be possible.

We sincerely hope that this disruption of funding will be brief and that we will be able to resume defensible space implementation services as soon as possible.

In the meantime, please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns regarding this matter.

Thank you for your understanding and patience during this time.

Best Regards,

The Siskiyou Wildfire Mitigation Team

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES NEWSLETTER February and March 2025

View this newsletter on our website

Upcoming Grants

Federal grants are noted in the following list. Readers are advised to check federal agency websites for up-to-date information on the grant program’s status.
The National Forest Foundation Matching Awards Program (due February 7) funds projects that directly benefit America’s National Forests and Grasslands, focusing on in-person community engagement and completion of appropriate stewardship activities. Federal grant: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) Restoring Fish Passage Through Barrier Removal Grants (due February 10) provide financial and technical assistance to locally led fish passage through the removal of dams and other in-stream barriers for native migratory or sea-run fish, focusing on projects that rebuild productive and sustainable fisheries; contribute to the recovery and conservation of threatened and endangered species; enhance watershed health; promote resilient ecosystems and communities; and improve economic vitality, including local employment. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) Western Big Game Seasonal Habitat and Migration Corridors Fund Grants (due February 13) conserve critical winter range and migration corridors to maintain healthy populations of pronghorn, elk, mule deer, and the phenomenon of big-game migration. The Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment: California Wildlands Grassroots Fund (due February 17) supports conservationists advocating for the protection, restoration, and stewardship of intact wildlands on both public and private lands to help preserve California’s wilderness and native biological diversity. The Conservation Alliance: Member Collective Grants (due February 19) allows Conservation Alliance member companies to direct funding to grassroots nonprofit organizations working on critical projects, including projects addressing a local conservation issue or projects for campaigns of national importance. Federal grant: The US Department of the Interior (DOI) Office of Wildland Fire Slip-on Tanker Units Grant Program (due February 26) provides local governments with funding to acquire slip-on tanker units to establish fleets of vehicles that can be quickly converted to be operated as fire engines. Federal grant: The National Park Service (NPS) Historic Preservation Fund: Tribal Heritage Grants Program (due February 27) provides funding for federally recognized tribes to protect and promote their unique cultural heritage and traditions, including traditional skills, oral history, plant and animal species important in tradition, sacred and historic places, and the establishment of tribal historic preservation offices. Federal grant: The US Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas Program (concept papers due February 27) provides support for rural and remote communities of 10,000 population or less to build clean-energy projects that benefit their communities. Federal grant: The US Forest Service (USFS) Community Wildfire Defense Grant (due February 28) helps communities plan for and reduce wildfire risks through development and revising of community wildfire protection plans (CWPPs) and the implementation of projects described in a CWPP that is less than 10 years old. This program provides large funding amounts, though some match is required. Federal grant: The USFS Community Wildfire Defense Grant for Indian Tribes (due February 28) helps tribes plan for and reduce wildfire risks through development and revising of community wildfire protection plans (CWPPs) and the implementation of projects described in a CWPP that is less than 10 years old. This program provides large funding amounts, though some match is required. Federal grant: The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Business Development Grant Program (due February 28) promotes economic development and job-creation projects that benefit small and emerging businesses in rural areas or towns. Federal grant: The National Park Service (NPS) Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program (due March 1) supports community-led natural resource conservation and outdoor recreation projects through the assistance of recreation planning professionals who have a broad range of services and skills. National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) and Toyota Motor North America’s Biodiversity Conservation Grant: Enhancing Pollinator Habitat Program (Letters of Intent due March 1) supports shovel-ready pollinator habitat enhancement projects on America’s public lands. The Access Fund Climbing Conservation Grant Program (due March 1) supports projects that preserve or enhance climbing access and opportunities and conserve the climbing environment. The Polaris Trails Grant Program (due March 1) provides funding to nonprofit organizations and governmental entities that manage public motorized trails for trail development and maintenance, education and safety programs, and to help protect the environment. The Climate Smart Communities Initiative (due March 3) provides grants to climate adaptation and resilience professionals to create or advance a climate resilience plan or project in collaboration with a community that is on the front lines of the climate crisis. The Whole Kids Foundation Garden Grants Program (due March 5) supports hands-on learning gardens that connect kids with food, spark their curiosity, and support classroom curriculum. The CA State Libraries: Sustainable California Libraries Program (due March 12) supports climate and sustainability programming and encourages libraries to serve as community hubs that respond to local concerns and interests, such as community disaster preparedness and biodiversity protection. Federal grant: The US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund: Conservation Planning Assistance Grants (due March 14) support the development of new, or the renewal or amendment of existing, habitat conservation plans (HCPs) and conservation benefit agreements (CBAs). Federal grant: The USDA Inflation Reduction Act Forest Legacy Program (due March 14) protects environmentally important forest areas that are threatened by conversion to non-forest uses, with a focus on large landscape projects, state-tribal partnership projects, and strategic small-tract projects. The CA Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Tribal Wildfire Resilience Grants (due March 28) support California Native American tribes in managing ancestral lands, implementing and promoting Traditional Environmental Knowledges in wildfire resilience, and establishing wildfire safety for tribal communities. Federal grant: The AmeriCorps State and Native Nation Grants (due April 9) fund planning and implementation projects from federally recognized tribes or tribal organizations to engage members in community-service projects and activities. Federal grant: The US Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) Water SMART Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Program (due April 15) supports the study, design, and construction of aquatic ecosystem restoration projects that are collaboratively developed; have widespread regional benefits; and are for the purpose of improving the health of fisheries, wildlife, and aquatic habitat through restoration and improved fish passage. Federal grant: The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Challenge America Program (due April 24) provides modest grants to small arts organizations that extend the reach of the arts to underserved groups/communities. Federal grant: The US DOI Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program (rolling) provides funding for private landowners to restore and conserve fish and wildlife habitat for the benefit of federal trust resources. Federal grant: The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Targeted Brownfields Assessment Program (rolling) conducts free brownfields assessments, such as phase I and phase II environmental site assessments, to units of government, tribes, and nonprofit organizations to provide a better understanding of potential contamination issues and to assist in redevelopment planning. The CA Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Beaver Conflict Resolution Grant Opportunities: Nature Based Solutions: Beaver Restoration (rolling) support the implementation and promotion of human-beaver coexistence strategies, such as non-lethal beaver damage deterrence, in support of ecosystem restoration and protection. Federal grant: The USDA Rural Development Emergency Community Water Assistance Grant Program (rolling) helps rural communities prepare for or recover from an emergency that threatens the availability of safe, reliable drinking water. Federal grant: The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Emergency Watershed Protection Program (rolling) supports economically and environmentally defensible projects that provide protection from flooding or soil erosion, reduce threats to life and property, and restore the hydraulic capacity to the natural environment in situations of imminent threats to life and property caused by floods, fires, windstorms, and other natural occurrences that impair a watershed. Federal grant: The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Operations Program (rolling) provides technical and financial assistance to support the planning and implementation of authorized watershed projects for the purpose of watershed protection, flood prevention, public recreation, etc. Federal grant: The AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) Program (rolling) provides a crew of eight to 12 NCCC members and one team leader to serve with sponsoring organizations for three- to 13-week projects in a variety of areas, including environmental stewardship and conservation. The Rural Community Assistance Corporation Community Facilities Loan Program (rolling) offers short-term loans for community-facility development in rural communities, including early property acquisition and predevelopment, interim construction costs, and long-term permanent financing.

Additional Information

Community Navigator Initiative The Watershed Research and Training Center and Coalitions and Collaboratives, along with several other national and regional nonprofit organizations, are partnering with the U.S. Forest Service on a Community Navigator Initiative, which supports communities in accessing federal funding opportunities, creating partnerships, and building capacity for wildfire-risk mitigation and climate resilience. Partners provide information and support for tribes/Indigenous communities, rural communities at high risk of wildfire and/or climate extremes, small acreage landowners, and new partners that have not previously worked with the Forest Service. Subscribe to the Community Navigator Initiative’s newsletter to receive monthly updates.
Community Wildfire Defense Grants Resources The Fire Networks blog post is designed to help communities navigate the third round of applications for the Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) Program. It provides helpful links, tools, tips, and suggested strategies for creating a competitive application.
California Community Wildfire Protection Plans Toolkit The CA Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) in collaboration with the Community Wildfire Planning Center, Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network, and California Fire Safe Council, will host an introductory webinar on the new California Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP Toolkit) on February 18, from 3 – 4 p.m. The webinar will cover CWPP Toolkit contents, California requirements for future CWPPs, and the submittal process for CWPPs. Following the webinar there will be a live question and answer session.
SCIENCEx Fire Panel Discussions USDA Forest Service Research and Development is hosting a series of SCIENCEx Fire panel discussions this spring intended for fire, fuels, and land managers on topics associated with the Wildfire Crisis Strategy and beyond. The discussions will provide big picture and synthetic looks at the current state of knowledge and management considerations for topics, including treating fuels in riparian areas, fuel break effectiveness, fuels management in mature and old growth forests, etc. Each panel is comprised of expert practitioners and researchers from the Forest Service, universities, other land-management organizations, industry and non-governmental organizations.
Forest Business Alliance Peer Networking Meetings The Forest Business Alliance (FBA) Peer Learning Network connects forest businesses throughout California. With emphasis on peer-based expertise, the network’s goals are to: 1) Promote community learning and knowledge exchange in the forest-business realm; 2) Share tools, best practices, and lessons from successfully running forest businesses; and 3) Strengthen the organizational, community, and regional business capacity. Peer networking meetings are held on the third Tuesday of every month at noon.
More Information and Assistance Consult with the SNC Funding Team to get advice about specific funding opportunities or general funding development strategies. Contact your SNC Area Representative to set up a meeting with the Funding Team.

Contact your SNC Area Representative

The Sierra Nevada Conservancy provides the Funding Opportunities Newsletter as a free resource under our Sierra Nevada Watershed Improvement Program.

sierranevada.ca.gov