The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has awarded $2.5 million in grants to fund five projects designed to improve boating access across the state and help prevent the spread of invasive golden mussels. The grants, announced this week, will support a range of projects that strengthen public access to waterways, enhance recreational opportunities, and protect aquatic resources through stewardship and infrastructure improvements. CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham emphasized the importance of investing in both facilities and prevention efforts, noting that the funding will play a key role in California’s response to the golden mussel, an invasive species first discovered in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta in October 2024.
Approximately $1.3 million of the grant funding has been dedicated directly to the state’s golden mussel program, covering decontamination units, high-pressure wash stations, improvements to boat ramps and wash stations, and hands-on training for facility staff. These steps are part of a coordinated effort to limit the spread of the species in California waters.
Beyond invasive species response, several projects received targeted support to expand and maintain recreational boating opportunities. The County of Santa Clara received $226,000 for the Alviso Marina County Park Boat Ramp Replacement, which will repair the ramp, upgrade boardwalk planks, and improve the parking lot.
According to Todd Lofgren, Director of the Santa Clara County Parks Department, the project is a “community need” that supports boaters using one of the few clear routes through the salt marshes into San Francisco Bay. In Northern California, the Klamath River Renewal Corporation was awarded $582,915 for the construction of the Copco Valley Public Access and Recreational Boating Facility, which will serve as a new access point on the Klamath River following dam removal in 2024. The project is expected to support recreation while also offering the public a chance to see the ecological and community benefits of river restoration.
Further south, the City of Point Arena received $224,000 for the Arena Cove Boating Access Project, which will replace aging infrastructure such as the boat hoist, boarding float, and gangway to ensure safe and sustainable boating access for Mendocino and Sonoma county residents. In Ventura County, $223,000 was awarded to the Casitas Municipal Water District to support maintenance of the Lake Casitas Santa Ana Boat Launch Facility. Improvements to the parking lot will make the facility more usable after years of deferred maintenance and encourage greater public use of the lake.
CDFW also announced that an additional $2 million will be made available through the Boating Access Grant Program for Fiscal Year 2026/2027. Proposals are now being accepted through the CDFW WebGrants Portal and are due by 4:00 p.m. on Nov. 7, 2025. To help applicants prepare, CDFW will host an online public workshop on Oct. 2, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., providing an overview of program requirements and the granting process. Participation in the workshop is not required to submit a proposal.
The Boating Access projects are supported with federal funding from the Sport Fish Restoration Grant Program, created under the Sport Fish Restoration Act and administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This program directs funds collected from excise taxes on fishing equipment, import duties on tackle and boats, and a portion of fuel taxes on small engines and motorboats back to state agencies for fishery projects, boating access, and aquatic education. Through these combined investments, California aims not only to improve opportunities for public recreation on its waterways but also to safeguard those waters from the growing threat of invasive species like the golden mussel.
