Press Release: Coastal Conservancy Authorized $14.6m for Coastal Access, Restoration, and Climate Resilience

3/24/2022 – Today, the Board of the State Coastal Conservancy approved $14.6 million in grants for restoration, protection, public access, and climate resilience along the California coast and San Francisco Bay.

Included in the approvals were $3,420,000 to Save the Redwoods League to acquire conservation easements on 3,862-acres of the Weger Ranch property within the Big River watershed in Mendocino County, and over $7 million to several organizations, including $5,281,709 to the Yurok Tribe, to construct initial public access improvements and visitor amenities for the Redwood National and State Park Visitor Center and Restoration Project.

The full list of projects approved can be found below:

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA

1. A grant of up to $320,000 to the Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation to enhance habitat, protect and increase endangered plant species populations, and engage the local community in the restoration and conservation of five vernal pool properties on the Santa Rosa Plain, Sonoma County.
2. A grant of up to $836,400 to Acterra for Climate Resilient Communities to implement the pilot phase of the East Palo Alto Rain Garden Project in the city of East Palo Alto, San Mateo County.
3. A grant of up to $281,087 to California Trout, Inc. to augment the Conservancy’s grant of $196,123, authorized on June 18, 2020 for studies and designs, to prepare revised designs of the Sulphur Creek Fish Passage Improvement Project, Napa County to include bridge replacement.

NORTH COAST

4. A grant of up to $3,420,000 to Save the Redwoods League to acquire conservation easements on 3,862-acres of the Weger Ranch property within the Big River watershed in Mendocino County, for the purposes of natural resource and water quality protection, sustainable forest management and open space preservation.
5. Authorization to disburse funds received by the Conservancy from the Ocean Protection Council, the Wildlife Conservation Board California Riparian Habitat Conservation Program, and Save the Redwoods League to restore approximately 11.5 acres of riparian habitat on lower Prairie Creek as part of the Redwood National and State Park Visitor Center and Restoration Projectat the former Orick Mill A site in Humboldt County, as follows: up to $5,281,709 to the Yurok Tribe and up to $1,320,427 to Caltrout, Inc.; and authorization to disburse up to $794,000 in funds received by the Conservancy from the Wildlife Conservation Board Public Access Program to Save the Redwoods League to construct initial public access improvements and visitor amenities for the Redwood National and State Park Visitor Center and Restoration Project.

CENTRAL COAST

6. A grant of up to $500,000 to Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District to acquire 644-acres of the Johnston Ranch property for natural resource protection and restoration, open space, compatible agricultural preservation, and public access, located adjacent to the City of Half Moon Bay in San Mateo County.
7. A grant of up to $530,000 to the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County to construct an all-access trail and improvements to associated visitor-serving amenities at Antonelli Pond in Santa Cruz County, and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.
8. A grant of up to $2,934,892 to San Mateo County to construct public access improvements and visitor-serving amenities at Tunitas Creek Beach in San Mateo County, of which $2,174,892 will derive from remaining unexpended funds from a Conservancy grant authorized on March 14, 2019 for the acquisition and planning of the project, and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.

SOUTH COAST

9. Authorization to (1) disburse up to $500,000 to hire contractors to develop and implement participation from tribal communities, community groups, and residents of the greater Los Angeles region to assist in planning the Ballona Wetlands Restoration project; and (2) disburse up to $53,000 to the Friends of Ballona Wetlands to restore disturbed riparian habitat at the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve in Los Angeles County.