Prop 4 Will Shape California’s Future — Is Your Project Ready?

With the passage of Proposition 4 in November 2024, California voters made it clear that climate action is a top priority for our state and its communities. At WRA, we see this priority in action when we work with communities across the state to collaboratively determine the best ways to adapt to sea level rise, mitigate wildfire risk in the built environment, and restore our open spaces to align with California’s 30×30 goals. We celebrate the news that the $10 billion Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024 has been appropriated for the next fiscal year.

Now is the Time to Start Updating Projects

While Prop 4’s application process is designed, goes under review, and eventually launches (all at the moment with an unclear timeline), it is time to get projects ready. What does that mean? WRA’s grants team believes that getting projects ready starts with these six questions: 

Understanding the Details of Prop 4 Appropriations

Prop 4 bond funds have been either designated for specific or restricted projects within state departments and agencies. Or, they have been allocated to open grant programs that support additional projects by other organizations or agencies. For example, approximately $5 million was appropriated to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for Central Valley Chinook Salmon hatchery upgrades and expansions that increase fish production. This is an example of a project-specific appropriation, in a specific region, and with objectives already defined and scoped.

In contrast to project-specific appropriations, over $46 million was appropriated to the California Natural Resources Agency’s Urban Greening Program for competitive grants for projects that integrate natural elements into urban communities to create more sustainable, livable, and resilient environments. While projects need to be consistent with public resources code and grant guidelines, this means that many different projects in different regions with different objectives are eligible for funding.

Here are some of the other competitive grant programs we are excited to follow in the year ahead that may be helpful to the communities we serve:

• Wildlife Conservation Board: $235 million was allocated to competitive grants that will protect and enhance fish and wildlife resources and habitats and achieve biodiversity, public access, and conservation goals. Check out how WRA supported a similar project here.
• State Coastal Conservancy: Approximately $62 million is available for coastal resilience projects and programs, including, but not limited to, grants to protect, restore, and increase the resilience of beaches, bays, coastal dunes, wetlands, coastal forests, watersheds, trails, and public access facilities. Check out how WRA supported a similar project here.
• State Parks: In accordance with the Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Act of 2008’s competitive grant program, approximately $188 million was appropriated for the creation, expansion, and renovation of safe neighborhood parks in park-poor neighborhoods. Check out how WRA supported a similar project here.

WRA is Here to Help!

From writing the grant application to supporting the technical aspects of an individual project to supporting implementation, WRA’s multidisciplinary team looks forward to rolling up our sleeves and working alongside grant applicants to pursue Prop 4 funding and implement projects funded by Prop 4. Please reach out to learn more about how we can work together.