Project Selection Criteria

The Conservancy Board adopted the Project Selection Criteria on June 4, 2009
Click here for the pdf version.

KEY CRITERIA REQUIRED BY THE CONSERVANCY

  • Promotion of the Conservancy’s statutory programs and purposes [1]
  • Consistency with purposes of the funding source [2]
  • Support from the public
  • Location (must benefit coastal, ocean resources, or the San Francisco Bay region)
  • Need (desired project or result will not occur without Conservancy participation)
  • Greater-than-local interest
  • Sea level rise vulnerability (Consistent with Executive Order S-13-08, for new projects located in areas vulnerable to future sea level rise, planning shall consider a range of sea level rise scenarios for the years 2050 and 2100 in order to assess project vulnerability and, to the extent feasible, reduce expected risks and increase resiliency to sea level rise.)

ADDITIONAL CONSERVANCY-ADOPTED CRITERIA

  • Urgency (threat to a coastal or ocean resource from development, natural or economic conditions; pressing need; or a fleeting opportunity)
  • Resolution of more than one issue
  • Leverage (contribution of funds or services by other entities)
  • Conflict resolution
  • Innovation (for example, environmental or economic demonstration)
  • Readiness (ability of the grantee and others to start and finish the project in a timely manner)
  • Realization of prior Conservancy goals (advances previous Conservancy projects)
  • Return to Conservancy (funds will be repaid to the Conservancy, consistent with the Conservancy’s long-term financial strategy)
  • Cooperation (extent to which the public, nonprofit groups, landowners, and others will contribute to the project)
  • Vulnerability from climate change impacts other than sea level rise (project objectives, design and siting consider and address vulnerabilities from climate change impacts other than sea level rise)
  • Minimization of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (project design and construction methods include measures to avoid or minimize greenhouse gas emissions to the extent feasible and consistent with the project objectives)

[1] Conservancy statutory programs that impose criteria: Division 21 of the Public Resources Code: Ch. 4, Preservation of Agricultural Land; Ch. 4.5, San Francisco Bay Area Conservancy Program; Ch. 5, Coastal Restoration Projects; Ch. 5.5, Integrated Coastal and Marine Resources Protection; Ch. 6, Coastal Resources Enhancement Projects; Ch. 7, Urban Waterfront Restoration; Ch. 8, Reservation of Significant Coastal Resource Areas; Ch. 9, System of Public Accessways.

[2] Examples of funding sources that contain criteria: Habitat Conservation Fund (wildlife habitat enhancement); Renewable Resource Investment Fund (access associated with resource enhancement projects); River Parkways Fund (projects along coastal rivers).

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