Division of Boating and Waterways Offers Grants for Floating Restrooms to Help Keep California’s Waterways Clean
Contact: Newsroom@parks.ca.gov
SACRAMENTO – California State Parks’ Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) is now accepting grant applications from government agencies for the purchase and deployment of floating restrooms on lakes and reservoirs that have limited landside access. Federal and state funding totaling $1.2 million is available for approximately four ADA-compliant floating restrooms. Eligible applicants are encouraged to submit a grant application to DBW by noon (PST) Monday, Dec. 19.
The Floating Restroom Grant Program is funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Conservation Investment and California State Parks’ Harbors and Watercraft Revolving Fund. Since 1978, this program has awarded approximately $21 million to fund 294 units with an estimated 117 restrooms still deployed throughout California. The units available for the 2025/26 grant cycle were designed by a State Parks engineering group. Each ADA-compliant unit can be towed to shore for scheduled pumpouts or pumped out onsite by pumpout boats.
“The use of floating restrooms is another way to help reduce pollution on California’s waterways,” said DBW’s Deputy Director Ramona Fernandez. “We encourage government agencies to apply for this program. The floating restrooms are solar powered and the holding tanks capture about 500 gallons of sewage. That’s over 1 million gallons of sewage kept out of our waterways each year.”
For general information on the grant requirements and to access the online application visit dbw.parks.ca.gov/FloatingRestroomGrants.
The competitive grant applications will be scored and ranked according to need, as well as the ability to operate and maintain the floating restroom(s) for at least 10 years. DBW expects to announce grant recipients in spring 2026.
DBW Floating Restroom at Lake Crowley in Mono County. Photo from Divison of Boating and Waterways.
###
Subscribe to California State Parks News via e-mail at NewsRoom@parks.ca.gov
California State Parks provides for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high quality outdoor recreation.