Natural Community Conservation Planning (NCCP)

The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) sponsors two grant programs for NCCP/HCPs. The Local Assistance Grants program provides State funded grants to plans for urgent implementation tasks. DFG is the state sponsor of a federal grant program for HCPs (ESA Section 6) that provides funds for planning and land acquisition.

Local Assistance Grants

• The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) offers grants to public and non-profit entities for urgent tasks associated with implementation of approved NCCPs, or NCCPs anticipated to be approved within 12 months of grant application.
• DFG works with plan participants to identify the most urgent implementation tasks each year. Eligible applicants are encouraged to work with local DFG staff to plan and develop proposals that meet these needs well in advance of proposal deadlines.
• A procedural guide is available to assist interested entities with application and administration of these grants. The guide contains eligibility criteria, application and submission procedures, project administration guidance, and DFG contact information.

2008 Local Assistance Grants

DFG will be accepting concept proposal submissions for 2008 funding. Please refer to the procedural guide and follow the instructions in the concept proposal application. Concept proposals are due July 16, 2008. For questions about these grants, please call (916) 653-4875

• LAG Procedural Guidelines (PDF)
• LAG Concept Application (MS Word)
• LAG Full Application (MS Word)
• LAG Sample Resolution (MS Word)
• Nondiscrimination Compliance Statement (STD. 19) (PDF)
• Drug-free Workplace Certification (STD. 21) (PDF)
• Payee Data Record (STD.204) (PDF)

For questions about these grants, email:
 

Prior Years Local Assistance Grants

Click on the links below to see Local Assistance Grants list from each year: 

2007,  2006,  2005,  2004,  2003,  2002,  2001, and 2000.

ESA Section 6 Grants

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offers annual grants to states to support conservation planning and purchases of vital habitat for threatened and endangered fish, wildlife, and plant species. The grants are authorized by Section 6 of the Endangered Species Act.

2009 Federal HCP Grant Cycle Started. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the availability of the 2009 cycle of grant funds for HCP Planning Assistance and HCP Land Acquisition. For information on eligibility and approved uses of these grants click here to be transferred to the FWS grants site. Contact your local DFG office if you are interested in applying for these grants. The deadline for applying to DFG is August 15, 2008.
Download the Announcement and Request for Proposal (PDF).

The grant program was established to help reduce potential conflicts between the conservation of threatened and endangered species, and land development and use. The grants support the creation and implementation of Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs). A Habitat Conservation Plan is an agreement between a landowner and the Service that allows the landowner to incidentally take a threatened or endangered species in the course of otherwise lawful activities when the landowner agrees to conservation measures to minimize and mitigate the impact of the taking. A Habitat Conservation Plan may also be developed by a county or state to cover certain activities of all landowners within their jurisdiction and may address multiple species.

California's Natural Community Conservation Planning (NCCP) program complements the Service's HCP program for conserving endangered species on private lands. The grants enable the Department of Fish and Game – working in partnership with private landowners, conservation groups and other agencies and organizations – to support conservation planning efforts and buy and protect habitat to conserve threatened and endangered species above and beyond the requirements for mitigation.

Grants are offered for HCPs under two programs:

1. The Habitat Conservation Planning Assistance Program provides grants for creating HCPs, through funding of tasks necessary in the planning process: for example, baseline surveys and inventories, document preparation, outreach, environmental documents, and similar planning activities.
    
2. The Habitat Conservation Plan Land Acquisition Program provides grants for land acquisitions associated with approved HCPs. Grants do not fund any mitigation required of an HCP permittee, but are instead intended to support land purchases that complement actions associated with the HCP.

California Competes Successfully - The Department of Fish and Game and local HCP sponsors have been very successful in the national competition for grant funds. A combination of partners, large geographic areas, multiple species, high match amounts, and high conservation importance has led to significant grant awards each year.

Grant Process - The Section 6 grants are specifically grants to states, and thus the Department applies for these funds. The Department works closely with our local partners and local Service staff to prepare grant applications and to administer awarded funds. These Section 6 grants require a contribution of a minimum of 25 percent of the projects' total costs by non-federal project partners. The Service typically announces the annual grant cycle sometime in June. To pursue such a grant, contact your local Department of Fish and Game office.