Annual Project Reports

Since the Bay Area Conservancy Program was established by legislation in 1997 received its first appropriation from the Legislature in 1999, the Conservancy has contributed over $300 million to help fund over 425 fish and wildlife habitat, public access and open space, and environmental education projects. For each dollar spent, these monies have leveraged an average of three dollars from local, federal, private, or other State sources. The reports below summarize how Bay Area Conservancy funds have been allocated annually from FY 99/00 through FY 10/11. Grant recipients have included public agencies and nonprofit organizations.

Twelfth Year Report (FY 10-11 – 2 MB File)
Tenth and Eleventh Years Report (FYs 08-10 – 2 MB File)
Ninth Year Report ( FY 07/08 – 3 MB File)
Eighth Year Report ( FY 06/07 – 3 MB File)
Seventh Year Report ( FY 05/06 – 3 MB File)
Sixth Year Report (FY 04/05 – 1 MB File)
Fifth Year Report ( FY 03/04 – 4.5 MB)
Fourth Year Report (FY 02/03 – 3.7 MB)
Third Year Report (FY 01/02 – 1 MB)
Second Year Report (FY 00/01 – 1.5 MB)
First Year Report (FY 99/00 – 2.5 MB)

What kinds of projects does the Bay Area Conservancy fund?

The Bay Area Conservancy funds the following types of activities in both urban and rural areas, anywhere in the nine Bay Area counties:

• Acquisition of property interests for fish and wildlife habitat, open space and scenic viewsheds, regional trails (trails that serve greater-the-local needs), and protection of agriculture;
• Planning and design for habitat restoration projects and regional trails and related visitor-serving facilities;
• Construction of regional trails and related visitor-serving facilities and habitat restoration measures;
• Certain hands-on, community-based habitat restoration projects that also provide environmental education

Bay Area Conservancy funds generally are not available for long-term monitoring; operation and management; mitigation; or scientific research.

We welcome multi-purpose projects, such those that entail habitat restoration and compatible public access or that combine stream restoration and flood management. When multi-purpose projects include purposes outside of the Bay Area Conservancy’s mandate (e.g., flood management), matching funds must be provided from another source.

What types of organizations are eligible for Bay Area Conservancy funding?

Organizations typically eligible for Bay Area Conservancy funding include local, State, and federal public agencies, special districts, ports, colleges and universities, and private non-profit organizations with 501(c)3 tax status whose purposes are consistent with those of the Coastal Conservancy. Eligibility various slightly depending upon the source from the Bay Conservancy are drawn.

What is the size of Bay Area Conservancy grants?

Grants typically range from $100,000 to $1,000,000. Larger grants may be available for certain property acquisitions and habitat restoration projects. Small grants involving hands-on, community-based habitat restoration and environmental education usually range from $50,000 to $150,000.

Are matching funds required?

A strong preference is given to projects with matching funds. On average, Bay Area Conservancy funds are matched 3:1 by contributions from the grantee and other sources.

When are funding proposals due?

For most types of projects, the Bay Area Conservancy welcomes funding requests continuously. Grants are approved by the Coastal Conservancy at public meetings held approximately six times per year. For small grants involving hands-on, community-based habitat restoration and environmental education, the Bay Area Conservancy conducted a grant round during the summer of 2007, but does not expect to run another grant round in the foreseeable future.

What is the procedure for applying for funding?

Contact the Bay Area Conservancy staff person with responsibility for the county in which your project is located. Click Here for staff responsibilities and contact information. The Bay Area Conservancy staff person contacted will ask for information to confirm the appropriateness of the project and the eligibility of the project sponsor for Bay Area Conservancy funding. If the project meets those basic criteria, then a project sponsor would typically be asked to fill out an application. Under some circumstances, staff may be able to assist with readying projects for funding.