Division of Boating and Waterways Local Assistance Statewide Non-Motorized Boat Launching Facility Grant Program

The Division of Boating and Waterways, within the California Department of Parks and Recreation, administers local assistance programs that support public recreational boating access throughout California. The division traces its boating mission to legislation enacted in 1957 and is supported through the Harbors and Watercraft Revolving Fund, which receives revenue from sources including vessel registration fees, repayments of certain boating loans, and vessel fuel tax. Its mission includes providing safe and convenient public access to California waterways and promoting safe, enjoyable, and environmentally sound recreational boating. The Non-Motorized Boat Launching Facilities Grant is one of the grant types administered through the Boat Launching Facilities Program and focuses specifically on recreational vessels without motors, including kayaks and stand up paddle boards. The Non-Motorized Boat Launching Facilities Grant provides funding for the construction or improvement of public non-motorized boating access facilities. Typical funded improvements include small hand-launch boat ramps, low freeboard boarding floats, small parking lots, and restrooms. Eligible construction activities may also include paths of travel needed for accessibility, gangways, breakwater protection, security lighting, slope protection, dredging needed to develop or improve a ramp, accessibility improvements, required landscaping, fish cleaning stations, pay kiosks, message boards and signage, boating safety improvements, staging areas, security gates, renewable energy equipment used to power facility components, vehicle charging stations, and ADA-compliant kayak assists. Technical services may include engineering plans, specifications and cost estimates, professional construction inspection, project permitting, and required mitigation when allowable. Grant funds may not be used for major landscaping and picnicking amenities intended for non-boating day users, environmental impact reports or CEQA or NEPA compliance, maintenance dredging, project management, construction management exceeding the inspection budget, improvements benefiting private businesses or clubs, restricted-use improvements, or improvements to adjacent properties that are not directly related to the boat launching facility. Recreation shade structures are generally ineligible except under the stated temperature condition. Projects must remain open and accessible to public boaters. Upon project completion, the combined entrance, parking, launching, and day-use facility fees are limited to no more than 13 dollars, subject to annual increases based on the consumer price index. The property must be owned or leased by a qualifying public agency for at least 20 years from project construction completion, and the applicant must have resources to operate and maintain the facility and improvements for 20 years at no cost to the state. Eligible applicants for the Non-Motorized Boat Launching Facilities Grant are public agencies, including cities, counties, federal government entities, and special districts. Applicants must be capable of completing the project or requested project phase within three years, have appropriate staff and construction or environmental expertise, and have sufficient resources for project administration and management. Applicants must also have sufficient cash flow to accommodate the reimbursement process, which may take approximately 90 to 120 days. Upon grant approval, all other funds needed to fully fund the project must be in place. CEQA compliance is required for construction projects using state funds and is completed at the applicant's expense. Federal projects also require applicable NEPA compliance at the applicant's expense. No explicit applicant matching percentage or cost-share requirement is stated in the provided materials. Applications are submitted through the Division of Boating and Waterways Online Grant Application System, known as OLGA. The division accepts applications year-round, but February 1 is the annual cutoff for consideration in the following state budget cycle. For the current opportunity, applications are due no later than 12 p.m. on February 1, 2027. Before applying, applicants are directed to review the applicant workshop and presentation materials covering the program, OLGA, the application process, scoring criteria, and recommendations for competitive applications. Required application materials include the application, an authorizing resolution, applicable environmental compliance documentation, information on key officers and oversight bodies, documentation concerning public support or opposition, permit information, and a feasibility report. The feasibility report addresses the proposed project, location and access, existing site conditions, previous DBW funding, engineering feasibility, cost estimates, usage, restrictions, legal description, economic justification, site drawings and photographs, and operation and maintenance. DBW evaluates whether a proposed project demonstrates a recreational boating need, is feasible from engineering and financial perspectives, and provides sufficient public boating benefits relative to project costs. Applicants should establish that the location is suitable and safe for non-motorized recreational boating, that anticipated usage and demand justify the proposed improvements, and that costs are credible and defensible. DBW staff complete a benefit and cost analysis using application information to establish whether benefits to recreational boaters exceed the cost of constructing or renovating the facility. Project readiness is also important, including the status of feasibility work, CEQA or NEPA compliance when applicable, regulatory permits, engineering development, cost estimates, and the applicant's ability to complete the project. Applicants that are not ready for construction may apply first for planning funds to complete designs, permits, and an engineer's cost estimate and may subsequently seek construction funding. Grant amounts vary according to project scope and available funding. The program establishes no formal minimum or maximum award, although Non-Motorized Boat Launching Facilities Grant awards typically range from 100,000 dollars to 1,000,000 dollars. Actual construction may occur three or four years after application because of state budgeting cycles, permitting, preparation of plans and specifications, seasonal considerations, and other factors, while the requested project or phase must meet the applicable three-year completion requirement associated with state funding availability. Grant funding is provided on a reimbursement basis, and funding advances are not approved. Grant staff contacts identified for the program are Joe Dux at Joe.Dux@parks.ca.gov or 916-902-8822, John Mathias at John.Mathias@parks.ca.gov or 916-902-8827, and Casey Caldwell at Casey.Caldwell@parks.ca.gov or 916-902-8824.

Demonstrate a clear recreational boating need and public benefit; show that the location is suitable and safe for boating access; provide credible and defensible project costs; establish engineering and financial feasibility; document expected usage and demand; demonstrate environmental and permitting readiness; ensure improvements remain open and accessible to public boaters; demonstrate sufficient staffing cash flow and long-term operation and maintenance resources; if the project is not construction ready consider requesting planning funds first to complete designs permits and an engineer's cost estimate.