Ocean Protection Council Grants

Ocean Protection Council

The Tribal Cultural Resources Funding Solicitation is a dedicated grant opportunity under the Ocean Protection Council’s (OPC) Senate Bill 1 (SB 1) Sea Level Rise Adaptation Planning Grant Program. This program provides direct, flexible funding to California Native American tribes to assess and plan for the impacts of sea level rise (SLR) on tribal cultural resources, ancestral lands, and lifeways. The goal is to promote tribal-led planning that advances climate resilience, equity, and cultural preservation. Eligible project types fall into two stages: Pre-planning activities, such as community visioning, education and outreach, data collection (including traditional knowledge), and vulnerability assessments Planning activities, including setting adaptation priorities and developing culturally appropriate strategies to preserve and protect tribal cultural resources from current and future coastal hazards This solicitation also prioritizes cross-cutting goals, including: Protecting tribal data confidentiality Promoting regional tribal collaboration and shared vulnerability assessments Supporting engagement with local and regional planning processes to ensure tribal voices are integrated into broader land use and SLR adaptation planning Encouraging use of existing data and coordination with local agencies to avoid duplicative efforts Proposals will be received on a rolling, quarterly basis to provide consistent and timely access to funding. Awards will be made on a first-come, first-served basis through four non-competitive review cycles, ensuring eligible projects are considered when ready. This flexible approach is intended to address the urgent needs of tribes impacted by SLR. Projects are anticipated to range from $250,000 to $750,000, though amounts outside this range may be considered with justification. The broader SB 1 Grant Program offers a complementary Technical Assistance (TA) Program to support eligible applicants addressing significant and imminent SLR impacts. Administered by OPC’s grantee Coastal Quest, the TA Program provides tailored assistance based on each applicant’s needs, including grant writing support, work plan development, budgeting, and other resources to strengthen applications and project proposals. This TA Program is also available to support applicants with the development of their Tribal Cultural Resource Planning Project applications. For more information or to request assistance, visit the SB 1 Grant Program webpage or email OPCSB1TA@coastal-quest.org. Keywords: sea level rise; SLR; climate change; adaptation; planning; coastal resilience; California Native American tribes; tribes; cultural resources; ancestral lands; tribal planning

Ocean Protection Council

The SB 1 Grant Program aims to provide funding for sea level rise (SLR) adaptation planning to help prepare communities for the impacts of climate change. While many jurisdictions have advanced planning already underway or complete, many others have yet to begin comprehensive planning or assessments. The Ocean Protection Council (OPC) aims to address this need by offering funding for a range of SLR planning activities. These fall into the following categories: Track 1: SLR Adaptation Planning Phase 1: Pre-planning (explore, define, assess) Community Visioning Vulnerability Assessment Phase 2: Data Collection Data/Information Gathering Phase 3: Planning (define adaptation frameworks and strategies) SLR Adaptation Plan SF Bay Subregional Shoreline Plan Sector-Specific Adaptation Plan Track 2: SLR Implementation Projects Phase 4: Project Implementation (implement, innovate, assess, adjust) Nature-based and Green-Grey Hybrid2 Adaptation Projects/Feasibility Study/Design Plans Track One proposals (Projects in the Pre-planning, Data Collection, and Planning Phases) will be accepted through a rolling, quarterly, non-competitive process, provided the proposals satisfy the Sea Level Rise Adaptation Criteria and requirements of the SB 1 Grant Program solicitation. Track Two proposals (Projects in the Implementation Project Phase) will be accepted through a competitive process starting in mid-late 2024, subject to availability of funding. A complementary SB 1 Technical Assistance (TA) Program provides application assistance to eligible SB 1 applicants facing significant and imminent sea level rise threats along the California coast and San Francisco Bay shoreline. TA is tailored based on the applicants’ needs, including but not limited to capacity building and grant writing support. The most up-to-date information on the SB 1 TA Program, including information on how to apply for TA, can be found on the SB 1 Funding webpage. Keywords: sea level rise; SLR; climate change; adaptation; planning; coastal resilience