1. (a) Each applicant determined to be eligible pursuant to Section 25040.4(b) shall be invited to submit a full application. The written narrative shall not exceed ten (10) pages. Full applications must be submitted as a Microsoft Word document to [email protected]. All maps and photographs should be included within the Word document; if separate files are necessary, they must be submitted in PDF format. Full applications shall, at a minimum, include the following information:

   1. (1) Name of applicant and preferred email or mail address or other preferred contact information.
   2. (2) Project description, location maps, and amount sought.
   3. (3) Introduction summarizing applicant's interest, goals, and project, and rationale for the project goals and approach.
   4. (4) A scope of work and narrative description illustrating how the project would advance one or more of the goals and objectives identified in section 1 of Proposition 4.
   5. (5) Approach and methods.
   6. (6) Anticipated outcomes and deliverables.
   7. (7) Anticipated community engagement and benefits, including workforce education and training, contractor, or job opportunities for Vulnerable Populations.
   8. (8) Proposed letters of support.
   9. (9) Proposed project timeline.

   10. (10) Proposed budget, including need for advance funding and description of external sources of funding (not required for project selection.)

       1. (A) Labor costs for Grantee employees directly implementing a project shall be reimbursed at rates equal to the actual compensation provided, including salary and benefits (such as fringe benefits). Costs for staff time dedicated to specific project tasks -- for example, preparing a management plan or determining trail alignments -- must be included in the budget under the corresponding tasks.
       2. (B) If the scope of work includes a task titled “Project Management,” this task shall cover labor costs not otherwise billed under project implementation. Examples include administering the Conservancy Grant, managing contracts, paying consultants, billing, maintaining accounting records, and other activities related to overall project administration.
       3. (C) All other direct costs shall be billed at actual cost, with no markups.
       4. (D) The Grantee shall include the cost of one sign acknowledging the Grant funding source (San Joaquin River Conservancy, Proposition 4 Grant Program.) as well as associated costs for social media outreach and press releases.
       5. (E) Overhead or indirect costs refer to non-project-specific expenses incurred in the general operation of a Grantee organization. Examples of such costs include rent, computers, telephones, office supplies, internet access, copy machines, and electricity.
       6. (F) Certain expenses are not allowed as overhead under Conservancy Grants, including food and beverages, fundraising activities, lobbying, and entertainment. Additionally, any costs billed as direct expenses may not be included in overhead calculations. The terms “overhead” and “indirect costs” are considered interchangeable and refer to the same category of expenses.
       7. (G) Grantees intending to charge overhead to a Conservancy Grant must provide documentation to substantiate these charges. Overhead recovery is limited to a maximum of 12% of the total Grant amount. The final 10% of the Grant will be withheld until all deliverables, including signage installation, are complete. This withheld amount will be released as a final payment upon satisfactory project completion.
   11. (11) Project team experience and qualifications of the lead staff, as demonstrated through submitted résumés. Where determined feasible by the applicant, this shall include the use of services provided by the California Conservation Corps or a certified community conservation corps, as defined in Public Resources Code section 14507.5.
   12. (12) Identification of relevant permit compliance requirements and a plan to obtain applicable permits.
   13. (13) Website accessibility compliance where relevant.
2. (b) The Grantee shall submit a plan to the Executive Officer describing how the Conservancy's support will be acknowledged, including proposed signage. At a minimum, the plan shall include press releases, social media posts during project implementation, acknowledgment of Conservancy funding in communications with the media, volunteers, and the public, and a description of the project on the Grantee's website that credits the Conservancy.
3. (c) The Grantee shall maintain, for the duration of the Grant period, and provide to the Conservancy, certificates of insurance evidencing coverage for Workers' Compensation, Commercial General Liability (with limits of not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence for bodily injury and $2,000,000 in the aggregate), and Automobile Liability (with limits of not less than $1,000,000 per accident for bodily injury and property damage), together with all required endorsements.

4. (d) Funds must be expended in accordance with the requirements of the funding source. Examples of ineligible projects include, but are not limited to, the following:

   1. (1) Projects involving the acquisition of land through eminent domain.
   2. (2) Projects that include the acquisition of property at a price exceeding fair market value.
   3. (3) Projects that combine both property acquisition and development activities.
   4. (4) Projects intended to address deficiencies resulting from inadequate routine maintenance.
   5. (5) Projects undertaken to satisfy mitigation requirements imposed by law.
   6. (6) Projects that establish or increase an endowment.
   7. (7) Projects to complete environmental mitigation requirements for other projects.
5. (e) Grants shall be awarded as funding is available and authorized.
6. (f) Allocation of funds is contingent on the enactment of the state budget. The Conservancy does not disburse funds until the budget has passed and is signed by the Governor.

Note: Authority cited: Sections 32501, 32503, 32510, 32534, 32537, 93020 and 90135, Public Resources Code. Reference: Sections 32537 and 93020, Public Resources Code.

History

1. New subchapter 4 (sections 25040.5-25040.8) and section filed 12-24-2025 as an emergency; operative 12-24-2025 (Register 2025, No. 52). Pursuant to Public Resources Code section 90135(e), this action is a deemed emergency and shall remain in effect until repealed or amended by the San Joaquin River Conservancy.