The California Sportfishing Protection Alliance

What The California Sportfishing Protection Alliance does

The California Sportfishing Protection Alliance (CSPA) is a 501(c)(4) non-profit environmental advocacy organization founded in 1983, headquartered in California with a Berkeley place of business and a Groveland mailing address. Its mission is the protection of California's water quality, fisheries, and aquatic ecosystems, pursued through five core programs: Watershed Enforcers (Clean Water Act enforcement actions), Flow Restoration, Save Bay-Delta, Protect Rivers from Hydropower (FERC licensing advocacy), and Improve Fisheries. CSPA has initiated over 60 clean water enforcement actions across its history and maintains an active posture in administrative proceedings before the State Water Resources Control Board, Regional Water Boards, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, as well as in state and federal courts.

Name

The California Sportfishing Protection Alliance

Legal name

California Sportfishing Protection Alliance

Website

https://calsport.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The California Sportfishing Protection Alliance is a 501(c)(4) non-profit founded in 1983 that advocates for California water quality, fisheries, and aquatic habitat through Clean Water Act enforcement, regulatory advocacy, and litigation. It serves its members, donors, and allied environmental organizations statewide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Groveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: CSPA generates revenue through membership programs where individuals join the organization to support its mission of protecting California's water quality and fisheries.
2. Donations: The organization accepts donations from individuals and potentially foundations to fund their advocacy, legal actions, and conservation work.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CSPA is a non-profit environmental advocacy organization that protects California's water quality, fisheries, and aquatic habitats through five core programs: enforcing the Clean Water Act against polluters, restoring river flows and reforming water rights, saving the Bay-Delta Estuary, protecting rivers from hydropower dams via FERC relicensing, and improving fisheries management. Its core service is legal and regulatory advocacy, including citizen enforcement actions, regulatory comments, and coalition litigation, delivered free of charge to the public.

Product overview

The California Sportfishing Protection Alliance is a non-profit environmental advocacy organization with five core program areas: the Watershed Enforcers Initiative to enforce clean water laws, the Flow Restoration Initiative to balance California's water budget, Save the Bay-Delta Estuary campaign, Protect Rivers from Hydropower Dams, and Improve Fisheries Management. These programs work together to conserve, restore, and enhance California's water quality, fisheries, and aquatic habitats through regulatory advocacy, legal action, and public education since 1983.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Watershed Enforcers Initiative (Enforce Clean Water Laws) A campaign that enforces clean water regulations by coordinating with biologists to test waters for pollutants, challenging government agencies and polluters in courts, and taking action against point and nonpoint source pollution from wastewater, stormwater, and agricultural runoff. Available to the public and partner organizations as advocacy and litigation support.
• Flow Restoration Initiative (Balance the Water Budget) A campaign to reform water rights, plan for drought, enforce the Reasonable Use Doctrine and Public Trust Doctrine, and stop new water development projects like Sites Reservoir that would divert additional flows from Sacramento River and the Delta. Delivered through legal advocacy, regulatory participation, and coalition partnerships.
• Save the Bay-Delta Estuary A campaign to protect and restore the San Francisco Bay-Delta estuary by advocating for increased Delta inflow and outflow, participating in regulatory procedures, and taking legal action against polluters and state projects that threaten the estuary.
• Protect Rivers from Hydropower Dams A campaign using Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) hydroelectric relicensing processes to improve conditions for California's rivers and streams affected by hydropower dams.
• Improve Fisheries Management A campaign to protect and restore California's fisheries through advocacy, legal action, and participation in regulatory processes to ensure adequate water flows and habitat protection for native fish species.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 60 clean water enforcement actions taken, with most resolved successfully
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AquAlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSPA works closely with AquAlliance on water rights protests and legal challenges, including filing joint lawsuits on groundwater management issues in various subbasins.
• California Water Impact NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongtime allied organization in water advocacy. CSPA and C-WIN regularly co-file protests, lawsuits, and advocacy documents on water rights and quality issues.
• San Francisco BaykeepercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSPA partnered with Baykeeper on comments regarding ballast water discharges into the Bay-Delta Estuary, and co-petitioned for endangered species protections for white sturgeon.
• Friends of the RivercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive coalition partner in opposing Sites Reservoir and advocating for flow restoration. FOR and CSPA co-filed lawsuits challenging the Sites Project EIR.
• Center for Biological DiversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in litigation and advocacy on water quality and species protection issues, including joint comments on water rights applications.
• The Bay InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-petitioner for endangered species protections for California white sturgeon under state and federal Endangered Species Acts.
• Restore the DeltacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner in opposing the Delta Conveyance Project and protecting Bay-Delta ecosystems.
• Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's AssociationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition member in lawsuit challenging State Water Board decision on agricultural nitrate pollution, representing commercial fishing interests.
• Sierra Club Tahoe Area GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-plaintiff in successful lawsuit against herbicide discharges into Tahoe Keys lagoons connected to Lake Tahoe.
• Defenders of WildlifeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Water Renaissance Plan coalition for sustainable water future in California.
• Golden State Salmon AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner in Water Renaissance Plan for sustainable California water policy.
• LA WaterkeeperminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner in Water Renaissance Plan.
• Resource Renewal InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner in Water Renaissance Plan.
• Winnemem Wintu TribecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner in opposing Sites Reservoir and other water projects affecting tribal water rights and resources. Co-filed amicus brief on Kern River case.
• Sierra ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-plaintiff in lawsuit against herbicide discharges into Lake Tahoe and joint opposition to Sites Reservoir EIR.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sierra Club: One of the largest U.S. environmental nonprofits with a long-standing California water program and chapter network. Co-plaintiffs with CSPA on Tahoe herbicide litigation, but operates across a much broader environmental portfolio at vastly larger scale.

Direct peers

• Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations: Trade association representing commercial fishing families in California, with strong engagement on water quality and Bay-Delta policy. Coalition member with CSPA in the agricultural nitrate lawsuit against the State Water Board.
• AquAlliance: Northern California water rights nonprofit focused on groundwater and Sacramento Valley surface water. Joint filer with CSPA on groundwater sustainability plan lawsuits in Butte, Colusa, and Vina subbasins.
• The Bay Institute: Bay-Delta restoration nonprofit focused on ecosystem health and species protection. Co-petitioner with CSPA for endangered species listing of California white sturgeon under state and federal ESAs.
• San Francisco Baykeeper: A Bay Area waterkeeper that enforces the Clean Water Act and advocates for San Francisco Bay and the Bay-Delta. Co-petitioner with CSPA on white sturgeon listings and ballast water discharges; virtually identical litigation-driven advocacy model.
• Restore the Delta: Bay-Delta focused grassroots advocacy nonprofit opposing the Delta Conveyance Project and promoting ecosystem-based water management. Coalition partner with CSPA on Bay-Delta campaigns.
• California Water Impact Network (C-WIN): California water policy and rights advocacy nonprofit. Longtime CSPA ally that regularly co-files protests, lawsuits, and advocacy documents on water rights and quality matters.
• Center for Biological Diversity: Litigation-driven environmental nonprofit using ESA petitions and Clean Water Act actions, including in California water contexts. Joint litigator with CSPA on water rights and species protection matters.
• LA Waterkeeper: Southern California member of the Waterkeeper Alliance focused on swimmable, drinkable, fishable waters. Coalition partner in CSPA's Water Renaissance Plan; comparable community-led advocacy model.
• Friends of the River: California nonprofit focused on protecting rivers from dams and diversions, especially in the Sacramento-San Joaquin system. Co-plaintiffs with CSPA against the Sites Reservoir EIR, sharing hydropower relicensing and flow restoration priorities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/CalSportPA
• Facebookfacebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fcalsport.org%2F
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/california-sportfishing-protection-alliance
• Instagraminstagram.com/cali_sportfishing_protection

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The California Sportfishing Protection Alliance