Coastal Conservancy Awards Grants for Coastal Access, Restoration, and Climate Resilience

2/15/2024 – Today, the Board of the State Coastal Conservancy authorized a number of grants to restore, protect, and expand access to the California coast.  Grants approved included:

• • • A grant of an amount not to exceed $35,000,000 to The Nature Conservancy to complete permitting and implement the first phase of the Ormond Beach Restoration Public Access Plan, which consists of restoration and public access improvements on approximately 230 acres at the eastern side of Ormond Beach and management of the wetlands.
    • Authorization to disburse up to $30,000,000 to the Southwest Wetlands Interpretive Association to implement the Tijuana Estuary Tidal Restoration Program II, Phase I, consisting of restoring 85 acres of wetlands and associated habitats and enhancing public access at the Tijuana River estuary in San Diego County.
    • Authorization to disburse up to $16,000,000, including $10,000,000 in grant funds from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, to the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District to implement the Rancho Cañada Floodplain Restoration Project, a multi-benefit floodplain restoration project along approximately 1-mile of the lower Carmel River in Monterey County.
    • Authorization to disburse up to $8,000,000 to the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County to acquire the 247-acre Beach Ranch property at the Pajaro River Estuary in Santa Cruz County for nature-based sea level rise adaptation, natural resource protection and restoration, compatible agricultural use, California Native American tribal access, and public access. The proposed acquisition will be a model for how coastal agricultural communities can proactively adapt to climate change.

A full list of the projects approved at today’s meeting is below.

Del Norte County

• The Smith River Alliance Inc. was awarded up to $1,500,000 to implement cultural resource protections and construct 1.25 miles of the California Coastal Trail, new restrooms, interpretive signage, and other improvements to the main trailhead parking area at Point Saint Georgein Del Norte County.
• The Smith River Alliance was awarded up to $1,300,000, of which $500,000 is to conduct pre-acquisition planning activities and minor clean-up actions for beach, dune, wetland, upland, and forested parcels within and in the vicinity of thePacific Shores Subdivision, adjacent to the Lake Earl Wildlife Area in Del Norte County, and $800,000 is to acquire those same parcels.

Humboldt County

• The Mattole Restoration Council was awarded up to $800,000 to for the acquisition of the approximately 83-acre North Fork Mattole propertyon the North Fork of the Mattole River in Humboldt County, and preparation of baseline conditions and environmental assessment reports for the property. The property will be acquired for habitat conservation and restoration, California Native American tribal and public access and recreation, open space, and potentially a public-serving facility that will facilitate climate resilience, access to, and enjoyment of the natural resources of the property.
• The Humboldt County Resource Conservation District was awarded up to $1,368,606, a portion of which was granted to the Coastal Conservancy by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to implement the Wadulh Lagoon Restoration Project, consisting of restoring 62.1 acres of coastal wetland and riparian habitat by lowering and removing dikes and excavating channels in Wadulh Lagoon on the Mad River Slough on Humboldt Bay in Humboldt County.
• The City of Eureka was awarded up to $1,090,000 to prepare the City of Eureka Coastal Access and Resilience Planto protect and enhance existing and future use of the Eureka waterfront for ecological, recreational, and commercial purposes, and to prepare conceptual designs and environmental review for four sea level rise adaptation projects identified in the Plan.
• The Wildlands Conservancy was awarded up to $315,150 to prepare a public access plan, preliminary designs, and environmental review for lower cost overnight accommodations and a new section of the California Coastal Trail on the Seawood Cape Preservein Humboldt County.

Mendocino, Trinity, and Humboldt Counties

• The Conservancy authorized spending up to $2,963,050 of funds appropriated to the Conservancy for the Great Redwood Trailfor engineering and environmental services, planning and design, public outreach, organizational development, advancement of the railbanking process, technical support, interim staffing support for the Great Redwood Trail Agency, and other costs and services as may be required for the advancement of the trail in Mendocino, Trinity, and Humboldt Counties.

Mendocino County

• The Mendocino Land Trust was awarded up to $41,000 to operate and maintain public access improvements at Moat Creek Beachand along the Moat Creek segment of the California Coastal Trail in Mendocino County.
• The Noyo Center for Marine Science was awarded up to $400,000 for their Marine Ecosystem Resiliency Project, consisting of 1) conducting studies and preparing conceptual designs for sea level rise adaptation of their Marine Field Station building, dock, and associated infrastructure, 2) preparing 60% designs for retrofitting the Field Station building and replacing its dock, 3) preparing environmental review documents and permit applications for the dock replacement, and 4) implementing aquaculture programs to restore the nearshore kelp forest ecosystem at their Marine Field Station located at Noyo Harbor in Fort Bragg, Mendocino County.
• The Yurok Tribe was awarded up to $1,500,000 to construct 0.68 miles of the California Coastal Trail and replace culverts onLibby Creek, a tributary to Prairie Creek, as part of the Redwood National and State Park Visitor Center and Restoration Project, at the former 125-acre Orick Mill A site in Humboldt County.

Mendocino and Sonoma Counties

• The Redwood Coast Land Conservancy was awarded up to $1,660,000 to prepare designs, environmental compliance documents, and permit applications for establishing 2.6 miles of new public access trails and related public access amenities, including 0.75 miles of the California Coastal Trail, and restoring 4 acres of upland habitat for the Mill Bend Preserveat the mouth of the Gualala River in Mendocino and Sonoma counties.

Sonoma County

• The Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District was awarded up to $470,900 to construct upgrades to the potable water treatment facility and its water source for the Alliance Redwood Conference Grounds and the communities of Camp Meeker and Occidental and to reduce surface water diversions and increase dry season flows for salmonids in Dutch Bill Creekin Sonoma County, and the adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.
• The Sonoma Land Trust was awarded up to $1,241,200 to plan for ecological restoration of 337 acres of baylands and alluvial fan in the Tolay Creek Baylandsin Sonoma County by conducting community engagement, preparing preliminary designs and environmental compliance documents, and developing a permitting strategy.
• Sonoma County Regional Parks was awarded up to $600,000 to acquire approximately 20 acres of non-active railway corridor to complete acquisition of ownership of lands needed to enable future construction of the Sonoma Schellville Trail, Sonoma County.

Solano County

• The Solano Resource Conservation District was awarded up to $1,143,500 to restore 19 acres of upland habitat and install a half-acre demonstration garden, 670-foot long trail, outdoor education area, two kiosks, and interpretive signs at Lake Solano Parkin Solano County; and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.

Solano and Napa Counties

• The Conservancy (1) entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for cost sharing the incremental cost of placing dredged sediment from the Petaluma River at Cullinan Ranch; and (2) authorized disbursing up to $313,000 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the non-federal share of the incremental cost of placing dredged sediment from the Petaluma River at Cullinan Ranchwithin the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Solano and Napa Counties.

Alameda County

• The East Bay Regional Park District was awarded up to $120,000 to prepare designs and environmental review documents for park improvements on an approximately three-acre upland area located between Powell Street and San Francisco Bay, east of Emeryville Fire Station No. 34, within McLaughlin Eastshore State Park, in the City of Emeryville, Alameda County.

Contra Costa County

• The John Muir Land Trust was awarded up to $1,230,000 to acquire the approximately 100-acre Kenneth Gerlack Preserve Propertyin Contra Costa County for the protection, restoration, and enhancement of natural and scenic resources and wildlife corridors; and, to the extent compatible with the aforementioned purposes: public access, including a segment of the Bay Area Ridge Trail, and California Native American tribal cultural uses.

San Francisco County

• San Francisco Recreation and Park Department was awarded up to $5,500,000 to implement the India Basin Waterfront Park Phase 3: Shoreline Park Redevelopment project, consisting of the redevelopment of the India Basin Shoreline Park into a mixed-use community park with improved public access and recreation amenities, enhanced habitat, and climate resiliency in the City and County of San Francisco, and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.

San Mateo County

• The Coastside Land Trust was awarded up to $3,377,389 to construct priority components of Phase 2 of the Wavecrest Coastal Access Project, which are: at least 1 mile of Coastal Trail, a trailhead with a parking lot and restroom, and a beach stairway at the Wavecrest property in Half Moon Bay, San Mateo County, and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.

Santa Clara County

• Valley Water was awarded up to $5,000,000 dollars for the restoration of 40 acres of mudflat and shallow water habitat in Pond A4to benefit shorebirds, enhance recreation, and facilitate future tidal wetland restoration along the shoreline of San Francisco Bay in Santa Clara County.

Santa Cruz County

• Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission was awarded up to $600,000 for the North Coast Rail Trail – Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail Segment 5 project, consisting of construction of 7.5 miles of dedicated bicycle and pedestrian trail and associated amenities between Wilder Ranch State Park and Davenport on the north coast of Santa Cruz County, and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.
• The City of Santa Cruz was awarded up to $6,893,700 to construct improvements in the East Parking Lot and wave crash zone areas of the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharfin the City of Santa Cruz and to further the planning for future improvements for increased resiliency to the effects of climate change and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.
• The Land Trust of Santa Cruz County was awarded up to $8,000,000 to acquire the 247-acre Beach Ranch property at the Pajaro River Estuaryin Santa Cruz County for nature-based sea level rise adaptation, natural resource protection and restoration, compatible agricultural use, California Native American tribal access, and public access.

Monterey County

• The Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District was awarded up to $16,000,000, including $10,000,000 in grant funds from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, to implement the Rancho Cañada Floodplain Restoration Project, a multi-benefit floodplain restoration project along approximately 1-mile of the lower Carmel Riverin Monterey County.
• The City of Sand City was awarded $473,500 to prepare trail alignment and restoration plans, designs, permit applications, and environmental documentation for a 0.7-mile segment of the Coastal Trail in Sand City, County of Monterey.

San Luis Obispo County

• The Conservancy authorized disbursing up to $5,000,000 for consultant services including resource assessments, planning, public outreach, and other services as may be required related to planning for the conservation of the 12,000-acre Diablo Canyon Lands.
• The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County was awarded up to $2,500,000 to acquire a conservation easement over the 27,512-acre Camatta Ranchin eastern San Luis Obispo County to protect water quality and water supply, natural resources, wildlife habitat, scenic open space, and agriculture including cattle grazing compatible with such uses.

Ventura County

• The County of Ventura was awarded up to $4,600,000 to augment a previously authorized Conservancy grant of $358,000 for pre-construction activities associated with the Matilija Dam Ecosystem Restoration Projectby adding additional tasks to support and inform environmental compliance and programmatic design planning, and to conduct community engagement in Ventura County.
• The County of Ventura was awarded up to $3,200,000 to (1) augment a previously authorized Conservancy grant of $379,350 to conduct planning and to develop design criteria, preliminary design plans, and alternatives refinement for improvements to the Robles Diversion and Fish Passage Facility, and (2)was authorized to conduct additional studies and modeling, develop 10% design plans for two alternatives, and provide funding directly to the Casitas Municipal Water District to work on this project, in Ventura County.
• The Conservancy authorized 1) an amount not to exceed $1,270,551 to augment a contract for preliminary design, including preparation of more detailed designs, engineering, and permitting for the Ormond Beach Restoration and Public Access Project (OBRAP), and 2) a grant of an amount not to exceed $35,000,000 to The Nature Conservancy to complete permitting and implement the first phase of the OBPRAP, which consists of restoration and public access improvements on approximately 280 acres at the eastern side of Ormond Beachand management of the wetlands.

Los Angeles County

• The Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains was awarded up to $646,100 to augment a previously authorized Conservancy grant of $1,629,550 for planning for theTopanga Lagoon Restoration Project at Topanga State Park and Topanga Beach in Los Angeles County.
• The Conservancy approved a land swap involving the transfer of a five-acre parcel owned byLos Cerritos Wetlands Authority to Los Cerritos Wetlands, LLC in exchange for a 150-acre parcel for purposes of natural resource and wetland protection and restoration, open space, and public access that is compatible with those purposes, in the City of Long Beach, and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.

Orange County

• The City of Santa Ana was awarded up to $2,807,000 to enhance and restore the 2.66-acre Santiago Park Main Street entranceby constructing site amenities such as lighting, Santiago Creek viewing decks, and landscape improvements, and separating the pedestrian walkway and bike trails to allow for safe recreation.

San Bernardino County

• The County of San Bernardino was awarded up to $6,800,000 to prepare final designs, acquire rights-of-way, and construct a 3.9-mile segment of the Santa Ana River Trailin San Bernardino County, and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.

San Diego County

• The Los Peñasquitos Lagoon Foundation was awarded up to $850,000 dollars to develop feasible strategies, concepts, and preliminary engineering designs of nature-based solutions to build resiliency to sea level rise and coastal hazards for a 0.6-mile section of Torrey Pines State Beach, including the Torrey Pines South Beach Parking Lot, and the adjacent public parking along Highway 101 in San Diego County.
• The Southwest Wetlands Interpretive Association was awarded up to $30,000,000 to implement the Tijuana Estuary Tidal Restoration Program II, Phase I, consisting of restoring 85 acres of wetlands and associated habitats and enhancing public access at the Tijuana River estuary in San Diego County.

Statewide

• Public Media Group of Southern California was awarded up to $100,000 to develop multimedia content documenting the Coastal Stories Grant Program, produce and host a webpage, and conduct outreach to reach a broad audience.