CDFW Awards $2.7 Million in Grants to Improve Boating Access, Support Golden Mussel Response
Additional $3 Million Available for Fiscal Year 2027-28 Boating Access Projects
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has announced the award of $2.7 million in grants for six projects to support recreational boating in state waters and combat invasive golden mussels.
CDFW's Boating Access Grant Program provides funding for projects that increase access to recreational boating opportunities across California's waterways. Supported with federal funds through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Sport Fish Restoration Grant Program, money for the program comes from tax revenue on sport fishing equipment, fishing tackle and pleasure boats, and the portion of the gasoline fuel tax attributable to small engines and motorboats.
“From culturally significant riverfronts to popular recreation areas, these six projects will expand access to California’s waterways for more people of all backgrounds and with varying outdoor interests,” said CDFW Director, Meghan Hertel. “We are proud to support investments that improve public access, honor our local communities and help protect our waters from emerging threats.”
CDFW has also announced the availability of another approximately $3 million in grant funding for boating access projects in fiscal year 2027-28. CDFW is now accepting proposals, which are due by 4 p.m. on Nov. 5, 2026, and can be submitted through CDFW’s WebGrants online portal. For more information, please see the Fiscal Year 2027-28 Boating Access Proposal Solicitation Notice. Questions should be directed to BoatingAccess@wildlife.ca.gov.
CDFW will hold an online public workshop on Oct. 21, 2026, at 10 a.m. to provide an overview of the Boating Access Grant Program, including eligible activities, program requirements and granting process. Workshop attendance is not required to submit a proposal.
Below is the list of recently awarded projects:
Xaa-wan'-k'wvt Village and Resort Boat Ramp Revitalization
($315,000 awarded to the Tolowa Dee-ni Nation)
For countless generations, the Smith River has provided food, spiritual connection and cultural teachings to the people of the Tolowa Dee-ni Nation. Today, the river continues to serve as a shared gathering place for both Tribal and non-Tribal community members in Del Norte County.
The existing boat ramp and facilities have fallen into disrepair and are inaccessible to the elderly, families with children and those with limited mobility.
“Improvements of Xaa-wan'-k'wvt are an important part of the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation’s broader vision to restore and revitalize our riverfront. This project will help improve safe and reliable access to the Smith River while strengthening a place that holds deep cultural and community importance to our people,” said Debbie Boardman, Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation’s Chair. “We are grateful to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for supporting the design of these much-needed improvements and helping move this vision forward.
Owens River Water Trail
($540,000 awarded to Inyo County)
"Our Recreation Use Plan for the Lower Owens River Project, developed through a robust public process, asked people what they wanted to see in the rewatered river, and on-water recreation came back at the top of the list," said Larry Freilich, Lower Owens River project manager for the Inyo County Water Department. "The Owens River Water Trail fulfills that. What I did not expect when we presented the plan was who would turn up to help. The Lone Pine Paiute Shoshone Tribe, off-roaders, anglers, conservation groups, veterans organizations, disadvantaged youth programs all working closely together to establish the trail. I have worked in the Owens Valley a long time and I have never seen that range of interests lined up behind one project. Rivers bring people together."
Funding will support California’s first designated water trail on a river, creating safe and sustainable public access to the Lower Owens River near Lone Pine. Project activities include construction of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant facilities that allow visitors to launch and land non-motorized watercraft such as kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards.
Sly Park Boat Launching Facility Upgrades Project – Construction Phase I
($456,000 awarded to the El Dorado Irrigation District)
"We're honored to be selected by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for its Boating Access Program," said El Dorado Irrigation District General Manager Pravani Vandeyar. "This recognition supports our commitment to improving boating access at Jenkinson Lake while being responsible stewards of our ratepayers' dollars."
Upgrades to the aging boat launching facilities at the Sly Park Recreation Area will improve ADA-accessibility, improve safety for boaters and increase access during drought years when water levels at the lake are low.
Woodson Boat Ramp Preservation and Access Planning Project
($536,000 awarded to the Tehama County Transportation Commission)
“The Woodson Boat Ramp is an important public access point to the Sacramento River, serving boaters, anglers and emergency responders throughout Tehama County,” said Jessica Riske-Gomez, Deputy Director, Tehama County Public Works – Transportation. “Repeated high-water events and ongoing bank erosion have damaged the ramp, access area, and adjacent embankment and put the long-term reliability of this public facility at risk. This project will allow us to complete the hydraulic, geotechnical, engineering, and environmental work needed to evaluate the right long-term solution and advance a resilient design that preserves safe, equitable river access for years to come. We appreciate CDFW’s partnership in helping us protect this important public resource.”
Alviso Marina County Park Boat Ramp Replacement
($225,000 awarded to Santa Clara County, Parks and Recreation Department)
This is an augmentation to a grant first awarded during the 2025-26 fiscal year. The project will repair the boat launch ramp, fund the replacement of existing wooden planks on three public access boardwalks as well as improvements to the facility parking lot. The Alviso Marina County Park is the southern starting point for the San Francisco Bay Water Trail and improvements will enhance recreational boating access through the salt marshes and out into San Francisco Bay.
Invasive Golden Mussel Program
($704,000 to CDFW)
The negative economic and recreational impacts of golden mussel continue to be felt throughout California. Last year, CDFW responded with approximately $1.3 million in Sport Fish Restoration/Boating Access funding to support the purchase of decontamination units, high-pressure wash stations, improvements to boat ramps and wash stations, and hands-on training for facility staff in boat inspection and decontamination procedures. Funding awarded this year will strengthen CDFW’s existing Invasive Mussel Program with increased staffing to conduct additional monitoring, prevention and containment activities. More information can be found on CDFW’s golden mussel web page.
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