California State Duck Stamp Project

The California State Duck Stamp (Stamp Project) was created by legislation in 1971 (Fish and Game Code §3702). The stamp is required when hunting waterfowl and purchased by stamp collectors. All funds generated by the sale of stamps are deposited in the State Duck Stamp Account, administered by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (Department). The funds can only be used for projects approved by the Fish and Game Commission (Commission) for the purpose of protecting, preserving, restoring, enhancing, and developing migratory waterfowl breeding and wintering habitat, evaluating habitat projects, and conducting waterfowl resource assessments and other waterfowl related research. These funds also may be used to reimburse nonprofit organizations for completed habitat projects. During winter, wetlands and agricultural habitats in California, especially the Central Valley, support the largest single concentration of waterfowl (currently three to four million) in North America. This concentration represents more than 60 percent of all waterfowl wintering in the Pacific Flyway and more than 20 percent of all waterfowl wintering in North America. These birds are almost entirely dependent on water and habitat provided through human activities due to the significant loss of wetlands in California. The goals of the Stamp Project, as described in legislation, are to protect, preserve, restore, enhance, and develop migratory waterfowl breeding and wintering habitat, evaluate habitat projects, and conduct waterfowl resource assessments and other waterfowl related research. To achieve these goals the Department has adopted the following four objectives: 1. Identify activities which are needed for the conservation and maintenance of California's waterfowl habitat on public land. 2. Develop and fund project-specific strategies to protect, enhance, maintain or restore significant waterfowl habitat on public land. 3. Develop and fund project-specific strategies to conserve waterfowl populations. 4. Develop, administer, and fund a grants program for waterfowl conservation. To accomplish the objectives, the Department is authorized to award grants (and contracts where necessary) for waterfowl conservation purposes (acquisition, restoration, enhancement, creation and research) to nonprofit organizations, local government agencies, state departments and federal agencies (Fish and Game Code § 3702). The organizations must have the specific capacity (waterfowl habitat enhancement, restoration, creation and or research experience to deliver the objectives). Examples of eligible projects include, but are not limited to: · Enhance/restore/maintain wintering or nesting habitat for CA waterfowl species · Restoring or creating brood ponds/summer water for CA waterfowl species · Enhancing or restoring fall and spring use areas for CA waterfowl species · Establishing islands and loafing bars · Levee repair, replacement of water control structures, pump repair and installation · Fence installation to control and/or manage livestock or wildlife and/or to enhance upland habitat for waterfowl nesting and goose forage · Removal of nonnative invasive plant species and restoration (active or passive) of native and other desirable wetland or upland vegetation · Research to obtain population parameters of species/subspecies/population Investigations of limited resources for specific species or subspecies such as eelgrass for Black brant

Eligibility

• Funded by FWS
• Programs related to agricultural
• Programs related to conservation

Award details

Applications close on January 22, 2021.

Categories

Arts Culture · Sustainability