California's Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) is accepting grant proposals for projects that enhance wildlife habitat and environmental restoration.
 
The funds come from OSPR's Environmental Enhancement Fund (EEF), which originates from oil spill violations, in accordance with California's Lempert-Keene-Seastrand Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act.
 
Multiple projects may be selected, with available funding up to $200,000; typically past grant recipients have been awarded between $50,000 to $100,000. Multi-year projects are also considered.
 
To qualify, an environmental enhancement project must acquire habitat for preservation or improve habitat quality and ecosystem function. In addition, it must meet all of the following requirements:
 
– Be located within or immediately adjacent to waters of the state.
– Have measurable outcomes within a predetermined timeframe.
– Be designed to acquire, restore, or improve habitat or restore ecosystem function, or both, to benefit fish and wildlife.

"It's great to be part of an environmental restoration program that makes a difference," said OSPR Environmental Scientist Bruce Joab. "We're proud that our Environmental Enhancement Fund projects have helped improve California's habitats."
 
The California Coastal Conservancy and National Fish and Wildlife Federation will join OSPR in selecting the winning recipients.
 
Disbursement of the grants is contingent on the availability of funds in the EEF.
 
Grant applications must be received by 5 p.m. on Aug. 31, 2016.

To contact the grant coordinator, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . For more information, visit https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/OSPR/Science/Environmental-Enhancement-Fund/About .