What this permitting pathway covers

The Restoration Management Permit (RMP) is able to provide up to five separate CDFW authorizations in a single permit designed for beneficial management and restoration activities:

1) take of CESA threatened, endangered, or candidate species;

2) take of Fully Protected Species;

3) take of plant species designated as “rare” pursuant to the Native Plant Protection Act;

4) take of other species including mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, or reptiles; and

5) authorization of impacts to rivers, lakes, and streams that would otherwise be  subject to a Lake or Streambed Alteration Agreement (LSAA).

RMPs are available to qualifying restoration projects on a limited/pilot basis beginning in January 2025. The RMP currently has no application fee.

See Restoration Management Permit – Frequently Asked Questions for more information.

Benefits of using the RMP compared to standard CESA and FPS authorizations

  • The RMP consolidates “take” authorizations and Lake and Streambed alteration that qualifying habitat restoration projects may need to obtain into a single streamlined permit.
  • In most cases, RMPs are not expected to include compensatory mitigation measures commonly seen in CDFW permits for development projects. Rather, most RMPs are expected to include avoidance and minimization measures to reduce short-term impacts.
  • The RMP currently does not require the submittal of an application fee.
  • The RMP can be used for larger projects than permitting pathways for small restoration projects, such as the Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Act (HREA). There is no pre-determined limit size limited for projects using the RMP. Designing and implementing larger restoration projects is encouraged to help increase the pace and scale of restoration in California, recover species, preserve biodiversity, and increase climate resiliency.
  • General and species protection measures for avoidance and minimization are aligned with other efficient permitting authorizations and may be incorporated by reference into a Restoration Management Permit. RMP applicants are encouraged to propose protective measures contained within existing local, state, or federal agency authorizations. See these coordinated authorizations for species protection measures and work windows that may be applicable to your project: USFWS Statewide Restoration Programmatic Biological Opinion (PBO), NMFS PBOs, and Water Board Statewide Restoration General Order (SRGO) and accompanying PEIR (see Attachment A for general measures and Appendix F for species measures).
  • You can use the Protection Measures Selection Tool to filter measures from the authorizations listed above for applicability to your project.

Applicable locations

Statewide

Expires on

January 1, 2035

How to apply

If you are interested in discussing a potential RMP for your restoration project, please contact the regional CGT staff person or restorationpermitting@wildlife.ca.gov.

 

May be used with:

Example projects

Note: Before 2025, the RMP could not authorize impacts to rivers, lakes, and streams that would otherwise be subject to a Lake or Streambed Alteration Agreement.

See more example projects on the CDFW Cutting the Green Tape StoryMap.

Species covered

Species listed as endangered, threatened, or candidate species under the California Endangered Species Act, Fully Protected Species , plant species designated as “rare” pursuant to the Native Plant Protection Act, and other species including mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, or reptiles can be covered under an RMP. Up-to-date lists of State listed animal and plant species are kept on CDFW’s website

Activities covered

The RMP can cover activities associated with qualifying restoration projects, including implementation, ongoing management, maintenance, repair, and effectiveness monitoring. This may also include post-project resource assessment work typically included in grant agreements.

To qualify for the RMP, a restoration project must meet eligibility criteria set forth in Fish and Game Code section 1671. A “Qualifying restoration project” means a management or propagation project with the primary purpose of restoration. A qualifying restoration project must also result in a substantial net benefit to native fish, wildlife, plants, and/or their habitats, as determined by the Department. A qualifying restoration project may also have secondary or incidental benefits, such as flood risk reduction, recreation, or groundwater recharge (see also Fish & G. Code1671(d)).

A substantial net biological benefit over baseline conditions can be achieved in multiple ways, most commonly via projects that result a net increase in target species populations or by a net increase in the quantity or quality of habitat, as determined by CDFW.

Exclusions

The RMP cannot authorize activities for non-qualifying projects, including projects with a primary purpose of development, resource extraction, science, research, or educational activities. These activities will continue to be covered by other CDFW authorizations. Projects that do not result in a substantial net benefit above baseline conditions will not qualify for the RMP. CDFW may not issue an RMP for the design, construction, operation, mitigation, or maintenance of isolated Delta conveyance facilities.

Application Tips and Resources

See Fish and Game Code section 1673(b) for a complete list of RMP application requirements.

Please contact Cutting the Green Tape staff to discuss your project and the application process.

Each RMP will require appropriate species protection, management, monitoring, and reporting measures in line with the context of the qualifying restoration project.

Timeline: While there is no statutory timeline for issuance of RMPs, CDFW strives to issue RMPs within 120 days of receiving a complete application. This timeline may be adjusted during the initial RMP pilot period. CDFW constantly looks for new ways to reduce permit processing times and create efficiencies benefitting both CDFW staff and the habitat restoration community.

CEQA: The RMP is a discretionary action pursuant to CEQA and CDFW must comply with CEQA when issuing an RMP. For example, CDFW may rely upon the Statutory Exemption for Restoration Projects, a Categorical Exemption (e,g. CatEx15333 – Small Habitat Restoration Projects), or a programmatic CEQA environmental document (e.g. CEQA Program EIR for the State Water Resources Control Board Statewide Restoration General Order), or a project-level CEQA environmental document.