The State Water Resources Control Board voted unanimously Sept. 1 to adopt the 2027 Nonpoint Source Grant Program Guidelines and authorize staff to solicit and recommend projects, according to the board’s meeting minutes. Resolution 2026-0032 also authorizes the executive director or designee to award grants and execute finance agreements.
The program is intended to fund projects addressing nonpoint-source pollution, including runoff that reaches waters of the state. The State Water Board’s grant program page lists eligible applicants as qualifying nonprofit organizations, federally recognized tribes, public agencies and public colleges. Examples of eligible work include agricultural best-management practices, livestock fencing and off-stream watering, forest-road improvements, stream restoration and controls for dairy or equestrian manure and runoff.
The California Grants Portal listing projects $3.5 million in total funding for the fiscal 2027 opportunity and says awards are expected to be announced in spring 2027. The portal lists an expected award range of $100,000 to $1 million, while the State Water Board’s solicitation materials describe separate planning and implementation award bands.
Completed proposals are due by 5 p.m. Dec. 18, 2026, through the Financial Assistance Application Submittal Tool, according to the State Water Board. Applicants are directed to coordinate with staff at the applicable Regional Water Board before submitting. The solicitation page says projects generally must address a priority watershed or pollutant area and be supported by a nine-element watershed-based plan; it also says a 25% match is required unless waived.
The opportunity is statewide, but the applicable Regional Water Board’s watershed, waterbody and pollutant priorities will determine which proposals qualify. The adopted guidelines contain regional preference tables, and applicants should review those tables and the solicitation materials before preparing an application.
