Both agencies fund wetland, riparian and aquatic habitat restoration, and both work through a pre-application conversation rather than a fixed solicitation.
Removing arundo, Mexican fan palm and other invasives from waterways is a fuels project and a habitat project at the same time. The Wildlife Conservation Board funded a 42-acre arundo treatment with 21 acres of native restoration on the Salinas River in May 2026 on exactly this reasoning, working with a mix of federal, state, county and local partners.
Pre-applications are reviewed for consistency with program priorities, geographic location, regional need, project readiness, cost and cost share. Partner breadth and secured cost share are both scored, which suits a project that also carries CAL FIRE or Coastal Conservancy money.
Worth pairing with card 21 rather than treating as an alternative to it.