Urban Streams Restoration Program
For more than 40 years, the Riverine Stewardship Program (RSP) and its component subprograms (Fish Passage Improvement Program, San Joaquin Fish Population Enhancement Program (SJFPEP), RSP Grants, and the Urban Streams Restoration Program (USRP)) have delivered technical expertise to manage and improve California’s natural resources. More than $96 million in 327 grants has been provided to communities throughout California, in accordance with California Water Code Section 7048.
The USRP goals include:
- Protecting, enhancing, and restoring the natural ecological value of streams.
- Preventing future property damage caused by flooding and bank erosion.
- Promoting community involvement, education, and riverine stewardship.
The USRP prioritizes projects that foster community relationships and ensure the community’s interests are incorporated into the project’s planning, design, and outcomes. The USRP requires that each project includes a public outreach and education component that encourages community participation for long-term management and creek stewardship. Additionally, the USRP focuses on projects that use innovative green infrastructure or bioengineering to reduce flooding and erosion by relying on natural infrastructure and the benefits nature provides.
Examples of eligible projects are:
- Stream cleanups paired with stream restoration
- Bank stabilization projects
- Revegetation efforts
- Recontouring of channels to improve floodplain function
- Acquisition of strategic floodplain properties or easements
- Stream daylighting
- Concrete bank removal and stream naturalization
To learn more about upcoming solicitations, visit the Urban Streams Restoration Program: Grants webpage. Subscribe to Urban Streams Restoration Program email list to stay informed on future funding opportunities.
The RSP will consider requests for technical assistance based on staff availability to provide service.
Technical assistance is defined as a range of multidisciplinary services provided by RSP staff to support development of a project that meets the RSP’s goals. Entities that have received technical assistance from the RSP will have greater priority for project implementation grants in future solicitations.
Examples of technical assistance activities include, but are not limited to:
Planning and Design: Project concept development; project design or design criteria including habitat design and plant selection; cost estimates; and project management.
Environmental and Scientific: Watershed science; environmental planning; permit preparation; coordination with local, State, and federal regulatory agencies; protected species surveys and monitoring; construction monitoring; environmental compliance; iterative performance assessment; data collection; and study development; water quality monitoring; flow monitoring; study development.
Outreach: Education and capacity building in local communities, curriculum development, meeting facilitation, and educational development.
Requests for TA are accepted on a continuous basis. To request TA:
Fill out the Online TA Request form. Email any attachments or supporting documentation to USRPinfo@water.ca.gov.
Alternatively, fill out a pdf version of the TA request form. Email the form and any attachments or supporting documentation to USRPinfo@water.ca.gov.
The Urban Stream Restoration Program and Riverine Stewardship Program invite prospective grantees and restoration practitioners to participate in the monthly Stream Stewardship Resource Hour to discuss stream restoration and how our program can help support projects through technical and financial assistance. These recorded meetings are held every first Tuesday of the month from 10-11am. Check our quarterly newsletter to preview the topics of presentations. Questions on program guidelines are welcomed and encouraged. Email USRPinfo@water.ca.gov for an invitation to the meeting.