- Programs
Grants
The Clean Water Program’s Community Stewardship Grant Program provides funding for projects led by community-based groups that enhance and protect the health of local creeks, wetlands, lakes, beaches and other waterways in Alameda County.
The 2025-26 Community Stewardship Grant Application Period is Closed
Congratulations to this year’s grantees:
- Earth Team
- Friends of Peralta Hacienda Historical Park
- Rivers for Change
- Rotary Nature Center Friends
- Shark Stewards, The Earth Island Institute
- Thomasin Dewhurst Creative Arts
Interested in applying in the future?
Please check back in February 2026 for updates on the FY 26-27 Grant Cycle.
Do you have a local project that can make a difference to our creeks, wetlands or the Bay? It’s not too early to think about a local project your organization is interested in. The FY 25-26 grant cycle is closed, and a new application period will open in Spring 2026.
Examples of eligible projects:
- Litter reduction projects, such as coastal and/or creek cleanups
- Outreach and education projects focused on:
- Understanding of the local watershed,
- Proper disposal of household hazardous waste,
- Litter prevention, or illegal dumping prevention, or
- Non-toxic/integrated pest management.
- Development and distribution of outreach materials, e.g. videos, newsletters, online content, etc.
- Public art projects
- Planning and production of community engagement events
- Creekside restoration and wildlife habitat enhancement projects
- Stormwater detention projects such as rainwater catchment and rain gardens
Who can apply?
- Teachers and Student Groups
- Youth Organizations
- Community Groups
- Homeowner Associations
- Non-Profit Organizations
- Environmental Groups
Examples of projects funded in the past
I Heart Oakland-Alameda Estuary is a group of watersports enthusiasts who have been using their skills and equipment to organize cleanups of the estuary’s beaches that are inaccessible on foot. More about this project.
Earth Team partnered with Friends of Sausal Creek to guide Skyline High School students in analyzing water samples and design an outreach campaign about the effects of pet waste on water quality. More about this project.
Albany Landfill Dog Owners Groups and Friends (ALDOG) organized 115 volunteers to remove 2,440 pounds of tiny plastic particles and other debris from Albany Beach during a one-day “Sift the Sand” event. More about this project.
Eden Area ROP partnered with Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center to clean up a heavily littered area and build custom waste and recycling receptacles to discourage future dumping. Learn more about this project.
Friends of Sausal Creek in Oakland helped volunteers at 15 creek and watershed sites organize workdays, student field trips, in-the-creek litter cleanups, and public trail stewardship events, drawing 1,283 participants. More about this project.
Golden Gate Audubon produced a 17-minute film with and for youth of diverse background, to inspire and motivate effective ecological stewardship of local wildlife. It was filmed at Martin Luther King, Jr. Shoreline in Oakland. More about this project.
Golden Gate Audubon engaged seven East Oakland elementary school classes in learning about watersheds, local wildlife and stewardship through classroom lessons and field trips. More about this project.
ForestR restored Sage Park near Castro Valley Creek, planting native plants that provide habitat for wildlife and do not require pesticides or fertilizers. More about this project.