Golden Eagle Conservation Grant 2025-2026

Portal ID:
103977
Status:
Active
Opportunity Type:
  • Grant
Last Updated:

Details

Purpose:

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking high quality proposals to promote golden eagle conservation in the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area in Alameda and Contra Costa counties, and the Tehachapi Wind Resource Area in Kern County. A better understanding of how the local population is impacted by wind generation and how that can affect golden eagles across their range is needed to develop effective management strategies.

 

Description:

Proposals proposed for funding may include conducting golden eagle studies and surveys, assessing habitat suitability and factors affecting survival, developing models to assess spatial and temporal collision risk, evaluating the effectiveness of management practices and deterrents, collecting and analyzing telemetry data on movement and habitat use, evaluating ecosystem impacts, and/or acquiring habitat. Priority will be given to projects designed to support the needed research to better understand how the local golden eagle population is impacted by wind generation and how that affects golden eagles across their range to develop effective management and conservation measures.

Entities eligible to submit grant proposals include public agencies, state departments, colleges and universities, tribal governments, and nonprofit entities. Eligible applicants must have the specific capacity to deliver the objectives as demonstrated by past performance or expertise through a statement of qualifications and experience. Projects that require handling of (or potential impacts to) threatened or endangered species are required to have the appropriate local, state, and federal permits at the time proposal is submitted. The requested funding for each proposal should not exceed $1,500,000.00. Partial funding for a proposal may be awarded. Funded activities must be completed within the grant performance period which may not extend past March 30, 2031. Grant funds cannot be used to satisfy federal, state, or local regulatory requirements, including mitigation, avoidance, minimization, and monitoring. All Public Entities will require either a resolution, signature authority or delegation of authority. The document will need to be reviewed and approved by the Payable Grants Unit prior to execution of the grant agreement. For work proposed to be performed on lands not owned or managed by the applicant, written proof of permission to access the land from the fee title owner or land management agency must be supplied. For projects involving multiple landowners, all landowners or appointed designees must provide written permission to access properties and carry out the project. Applicants for projects proposing on-the-ground habitat improvement must submit documentation showing that they have adequate tenure to the properties to be accessed, improved, or restored for at least 25 years. Proof of adequate land tenure includes, but is not necessarily limited to Fee title ownership; an easement or license agreement; other agreement between the applicant and the fee title owner, or the owner of an easement on the property, sufficient to give the applicant adequate site control for the purposes of the project and long-term management. 

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible Applicants:

  • Nonprofit
  • Other Legal Entity
  • Public Agency
  • Tribal Government

Activities funded under this program must comply with all applicable state and federal environmental laws and regulations, including California Environmental Quality Act, National Environmental Policy Act, California Endangered Species Act, federal Endangered Species Act, Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and other environmental permitting requirements. 

Eligible Geographies:

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking high quality proposals for projects to promote golden eagle conservation primarily in the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area (APWRA) in Alameda and Contra Costa counties, as well as the Tehachapi Wind Resource Area (TWRA) in Kern County, California.

Important Dates

The date (and time, where applicable) by which all applications must be submitted to the grantmaker. Time listed as “00:00” equates to midnight.
The date on which the grantor expects to announce the recipient(s) of the grant.
July 30,2025
The length of time during which the grant money must be utilized.
Not past 03/30/2031.

Funding Details

The total projected dollar amount of the grant.
$2,439,359
A single grant opportunity may represent one or many awards. Some grantors may know in advance the exact number of awards to be given. Others may indicate a range. Some may wish to and wait until the application period closes before determining how many awards to offer; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display.
Dependent
Grant opportunities representing multiple awards may offer awards in the same amount or in varied amounts. Some may wish to wait until the application period closes before determining per-award amounts; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display.
$10,000 – $1,500,000
Certain grants require that the recipient(s) provide a letter of intent.
No
Certain grants require that the recipient(s) be able to fully or partially match the grant award amount with another funding source.
No
The funding source allocated to fund the grant. It may be either State or Federal (or a combination of both), and be tied to a specific piece of legislation, a proposition, or a bond number.
  • State

Funding Source Notes:

ESI Energy, LLC, wholly owned Subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources LLC, entered into a plea agreement with the United States District Court, District of Wyoming for violations of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act associated with the unpermitted take of bald and golden eagles. The final settlement amount for California was $2,439,359.83. These funds must be used to benefit golden eagle conservation in California. 

 

The manner in which the grant funding will be delivered to the awardee. Funding methods include reimbursements (where the recipient spends out-of-pocket and is reimbursed by the grantor) and advances (where the recipient spends received grant funds directly).
  • Reimbursement(s)

Funding Method Notes:

Full or partial funding may be awarded. Work performed prior to the start date of an agreement will not be reimbursed. Successful applicants will be responsible for carrying out the terms of the contract, and invoicing CDFW for payments.

How to Apply

State agencies/departments recommend you read the full grant guidelines before applying.

Resources

For questions about this grant, contact:
Brenda Blinn, 1-707-339-0334, brenda.blinn@wildlife.ca.gov