Coastal Conservancy Awards $14.7 Million for Coastal Protection, Restoration and Access

Oakland, CA – This week, the Board of the California State Coastal Conservancy awarded $14.7 million to 13 projects to protect and restore the California coast and San Francisco Bay, and increase public access to these natural resources.

The projects were:

NORTH COAST

A grant of up to $200,000 to Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District to implement riparian restoration on Ebabias Creekat the Ocean Breeze Dairy property within the Estero Americano watershed in Sonoma County.

A grant of up to $3,000,000 to Save the Redwoods League to restore damaged coastal redwood forests and reduce sedimentation in the Greater Mill Creek watershed of Del Norte Coast Redwood State Park, and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.

A grant of up to $588,000 to The Smith River Alliance, Inc. to undertake a third phase of feasibility analysis and pre-acquisition planning activities, and minor clean-up actions, for properties within the Pacific Shores Subdivision adjacent to the Lake Earl Wildlife Area in Del Norte County.

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA

A grant of up to $1,455,000 to the County of Marin Flood Control and Water Conservation District to increase flood protection and enhance up to 136 acres of seasonal wetlands in the Novato Baylands in Marin County.

CENTRAL COAST

A grant of up to $185,000 to the Coastal San Luis Resource Conservation District to prepare plans, permit applications, and environmental review documents for restoration of their Los Osos Creek propertyin the lower Morro Bay watershed in San Luis Obispo County.

A grant of up to $2,500,000 to Save the Redwoods League to acquire the 554-acre Cascade Creek (Holmes)Property in northern Santa Cruz County.

A grant of up to $1,480,000, of which $980,000 was awarded to the Conservancy by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under its National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program, to the Elkhorn Slough Foundation for Phase 2 of the Elkhorn Slough Tidal Marsh Restoration Projectin Elkhorn Slough, Monterey County, and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.

A grant of up to $1,800,000 to the City of Pacific Grove to construct a segment of the California Coastal Trailand related parking facilities, and restore coastal dunes, in Monterey County; and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.

A grant of up to $301,000 to the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District to prepare preliminary planning documents for a seven-mile extension of the Purisima-to-the-Sea Trailon the San Mateo County coast.

SOUTH COAST

A grant of up to $1,000,000 to the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority to acquire the 23.71-acre Ramirez Canyon, Lauber Smith propertyfor habitat conservation, open space, and public access and recreation in the Santa Monica Mountains, Los Angeles County.

A grant of up to $460,000 to the Laguna Ocean Foundation to prepare a 30% restoration design plan, complete the CEQA environmental review process, and conduct necessary studies for future permitting for the Aliso Creek Estuaryin Laguna Beach, Orange County, California.

STATEWIDE

A grant of up to $1,595,470 to two nonprofit organizations and two public agencies for Climate Ready projectsthat address the effects of climate change on coastal resources and communities and facilitate reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

A grant of up to $165,000 to Aquarium of the Pacific and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to implement two separate projects to aid in recovery of the southern sea otter and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.

A full list of the projects approved can be found here: https://scc.ca.gov/2019/12/02/coastal-conservancy-public-meeting-in-santa-cruz-december-19/

Notes to Editors:

The Coastal Conservancy is a state agency, established in 1976, to protect and improve natural lands and waterways, to help people get to and enjoy the outdoors, and to sustain local economies along California’s coast. The Conservancy is a non-regulatory agency that supports projects to protect coastal resources and increase opportunities for the public to enjoy the coast.

Since its founding, the Conservancy has:

Funded 2,400 projects along the California coastline and in the San Francisco Bay.

Protected 390,000 acres of coastal lands through acquisition of fee title and conservation easements.

Restored 33,000 acres of habitat.

Built 200 new coastal accessway and 210 miles of new trails.

Put $1.3 billion to work for conservation projects, and leveraged far more from federal, local government, and private sources.