The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has announced the award of $7.5 million in grants for 10 projects that support public recreational boating access to state waterways. These projects are federally funded by the Sport Fish Restoration Grant Program, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), which provides funds to state fish and wildlife agencies for fishery projects, boating access and aquatic education. More information about the program and the annual solicitation can be found on the CDFW Boating Access web page.

“California is home to some of the richest aquatic environments in the world, and this grant program exists to ensure all Californians have the opportunity to experience the joy and freedom of being out on the water,” said CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham. “These projects provide the requisite care and maintenance to keep access to the water for boaters safe and reliable.”

The following 10 projects will soon enter into grant agreements and commence work.

Sly Park Boat Launching Facility Upgrades

($240,000 to El Dorado Irrigation District)

The project will update and expand two boat-launching facilities in the Sly Park Recreation Area. Updates will increase access for boaters and anglers with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility requirements by providing compliant restrooms, parking stalls and fish cleaning stations at each location. The updates will also increase safety for boaters and anglers by widening a ramp and boat-launching facility, installing lighting at the boat launches and restrooms and installing animal-resistant garbage enclosures.

Turney Street Dock Improvement Project

($170,000 to the city of Sausalito)

“The Turney Street Dock is the only public, free dock in southern Marin County and serves as an important public use access point for motorized and non-motorized recreation, and emergency access for Richardson Bay and the whole San Francisco Bay,” said Catie Thow Garcia, the city of Sausalito’s Resiliency and Sustainability Manager. “I heard from the Sausalito and southern Marin County community members that the Turney Street Dock is in a state of disrepair, and with the support of the Sausalito City Council and the Department of Public Works, chose to pursue funding to create plans for its improvement. The city of Sausalito is excited to begin this project that will provide plans to improve public access and ensure boaters enjoyment and safety in the bay. We are extremely thankful that the state, through the Department of Fish and Wildlife, prioritizes public access to the bay as it is crucial to Sausalito’s culture as a waterfront community.”

Redding Boating and Fishing Access Maintenance and Operations

($428,000 to the city of Redding)

This project will enhance and maintain public fishing and river access by operating and maintaining six city of Redding facilities along the Sacramento River.

Orange County Sailing and Events Center Reconstruction Project

($3.2 million to Orange County Parks)

This project will rehabilitate the deteriorating Orange County Sailing and Events Center floating docks and improve dock facilities to comply with ADA access requirements. “While the rest of the Dana Point Harbor received a greenlight for revitalization in 2018, the county side of our harbor continued to degrade,” said Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley. “Now, the county of Orange can completely replace our remaining public docks because of the grant award from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Boating Access Program,”. “These new docks expand access to recreational boating, public programming, sailing lessons for disabled and low-income youth and a greater connection to our gorgeous ocean for all.”

Steamer Landing Dock and Boating Program

($203,000 to Friends of the Petaluma River)

"The Friends of the Petaluma River public boating and environmental education programs are key to connecting our community to the Petaluma River,” said Friends of the Petaluma River Executive Director Stephanie Bastianon. “With support from CDFW's Boating Access Program, Friends will improve our dock facilities to support ADA access, promote boating usage and water education and support recreational fishing throughout the river. Funds will be used to develop Steamer Landing Park into a vibrant space for the community to experience the river with ease and excitement."

Harbor Park Beach and Boat Launch

($1.6 million to the Port of San Diego)

This project will complete the designs and permits needed to begin construction on the Harbor Park Beach and Boat Launch. “We did a lot of outreach for Harbor Park and community members emphasized they want more access to the water and more water recreation opportunities on the Chula Vista Bayfront,” said Ann Moore, Chula Vista appointee to the Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners. “This grant will help us take the next steps in delivering an expanded beach and a boat launch for personal watercraft like kayaks and standup paddle boards. We are grateful to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Boating Access Program for selecting our project and to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the funding.”

Adaptive Paddling Access at Lake Tahoe

($844,000 to the California Tahoe Conservancy)

“Not enough opportunities exist for people with disabilities to safely paddle at Lake Tahoe,” said Jason Vasques, Executive Director of the California Tahoe Conservancy. “The Adaptive Paddling Access at Lake Tahoe Project will greatly improve accessibility for people with disabilities at the popular Patton Landing Beach, complementing programs operated at the same site by the nonprofit Tahoe Waterman Foundation.”

Enhancing Public Access and Amenities on the Truckee River for Visitors and Paddlecraft

($106,000 to Nevada County)

This project will promote boating access for paddle craft, improve recreational access for all visitors and empower residents to become stewards of the Truckee River.

“The Truckee River has long been a key gateway for eastern Nevada County to the outdoor, wild and beautiful landscapes that make it a very special place to live,” said Nevada County Supervisor Hardy Bullock. “Many community and agency stakeholders have worked to enhance water quality, reduce impacts and promote infrastructure that allows residents and visitors to recreate responsibly near this waterway, the tail waters of Lake Tahoe and the water of the Washoe Tribe. These improvements will allow diverse communities to access the river in a sustainable way, thanks to the support of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.”

Heenan Lake Angler Access Enhancement

($133,000 to the CDFW North Central Region)

The Heenan Lake Angler Access Enhancement Project will create accessible entry roads, parking and a fishing dock. This project will improve access to a popular fishing spot and support the state of California's efforts to recruit, retain and include anglers who have historically been excluded.

Avila Pier Renovation

($556,000 to the Wildlife Conservation Board)

Additional funding for an ongoing CDFW Boating Access Grant Program grant managed by the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) to fully support renovation of the Avila Pier in San Luis Obispo County.

Background

In late 2023 CDFW announced availability of funding for the Boating Access Grant Program. The Sport Fish Restoration Act created the Sport Fish Restoration Grant Program, administered by USFWS. Funding for this grant program comes through revenue from manufacturers’ excise taxes on sport fishing equipment, import duties on fishing tackle and pleasure boats and a portion of gasoline fuel tax attributable to small engines and motorboats. The Boating Access sub-program of the Sport Fish Restoration Grant Program provides federal funds for facilities that create or add to public access for recreational boating and improvements to waterways that increase access to recreational boating opportunities.

CDFW anticipates releasing the next solicitation for proposals for the Boating Access Grant Program in as early as October 2024, with up to $2 million available for new projects — check the Boating Access Program website for details.