California State Parks’ Division of Boating and Waterways Now Accepting Grant Letters of Intent to Address Coastal Erosion
Left: A completed shoreline protection structure, designed to mimic nearby natural features, behind St. Andrews Beach in the City of Pismo Beach. Right: This 2024 beach restoration project in the City of San Clemente was the initial construction phase of a long-term project led and primarily funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Photos from California State Parks.
SACRAMENTO – California State Parks’ Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) is now accepting letters of intent from public agencies interested in grant funding for projects that address the impacts of coastal erosion on California’s ocean and bay shorelines. DBW invites applications for local assistance grants through its Shoreline Erosion Control Program and Public Beach Restoration Program.
The deadline for agencies to submit letters of intent to apply for fiscal year 2028/29 grant funding is 5 p.m. Dec. 15, 2026. DBW will provide instructions for submitting full applications to agencies whose letters describe projects that are the most strongly aligned with state priorities for coastal erosion control, particularly public safety and public infrastructure protection.
Agencies use Shoreline Erosion Control Program grants to protect developed shoreline areas against coastal erosion and Public Beach Restoration Program grants to strategically place sand on eroded coastal beaches. Grants can fund all project phases, including studies, engineering, permitting, construction and post-construction monitoring.
Projects are considered for funding individually through the state’s budget process, with the amount available still to be determined. Only agencies proposing projects that DBW staff determines are strongly aligned with state objectives will be invited to participate in the next phase of the application process. Such projects will generally involve significant federal cost-sharing and long-term benefits to the state. Successful applicants will be notified of available funding by July 2028.
Additional information about the programs is available on DBW’s coastal erosion website. For questions about the grant application process, please contact DBW Project Manager Casey Caldwell at (916) 902-8824 or by email at casey.caldwell@parks.ca.gov.
Looking for information about this year’s El Niño conditions? Check out the latest California State Parks blog to learn how the department is taking early action to prepare coastal parks and state beaches for potential storm impacts.
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