Notice of Intention to amend the Conflict of Interest Code of the State Coastal Conservancy

The Coastal Conservancy proposes to amend its conflict of interest code to include employee positions that involve the making or participation in the making of decisions that may foreseeably have a material effect on any financial interest, as set forth in subdivision (a) of section 87302 of the Government Code. The amendment carries out the purposes of the law and no other alternative would do so and be less burdensome to affected persons.

Changes to the conflict of interest code include: identifying new staff positions responsible for reporting, which are: Staff Services Analysts that work as project managers, Fellows, and Interns. Other changes include updating our Procurement and Accounting positions to reflect the current organizational chart. The code revisions also include explicitly identifying alternates or designees to Board members as subject to reporting to avoid any confusion on the obligations of alternates.

Any interested person may submit written comments relating to the proposed amendment by submitting them no later than November 13, 2023, or at the conclusion of the public hearing, if requested, whichever comes later. At this time, no public hearing is scheduled. A person may request a hearing no later than October 29, 2023.

Public Comments can be submitted in a number of ways:

Through the online form here.
Email them to info@scc.ca.gov
Mail them to:
COIC Public Comments
State Coastal Conservancy
1515 Clay St, Suite 1000
Oakland, CA 94612

Press Release: State Coastal Conservancy Awards $84 Million for Climate Resilience, Public Access, Habitat Restoration, and Wildfire Resilience

Last week, the Board of the State Coastal Conservancy authorized funding totaling $84 million for projects to protect and restore coastal lands, increase coastal resilience to climate change, improve public access to the coast, and reduce the impact of wildfire on coastal lands.

Grants awarded include:

$5,552,800 to the Redwood Community Action Agency to restore 350 acres of coastal dune habitat along 4.5 miles of shorelineto increase sea level rise resiliency on the north spit of Humboldt Bay.
$5,100,000 to the City and County of San Francisco, Recreation and Park Department, to construct the India Basin Waterfront Park Phase 2: 900 Innes Redevelopment project in San Francisco.
A grant of up to $31,852,000 to the Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority for the Southern Los Cerritos Wetlands Restoration Project, which consists of planning and permitting for restoration and for providing public access to 103.5 acres of wetlands in Seal Beach, construction of an initial phase of the restoration and public access improvements on a portion of the Project site, and management of the wetlands.
Funding of up to $968,900 to 16 nonprofit organizations and public agencies through our Explore the Coast program for 16 projects to provide coastal experiences for people and communities who face challenges or barriers to accessing or enjoying the coast.

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Notes to Editors:

The projects approved at the meeting were:

A grant of up to $82,700 to Mendocino Land Trust to conduct environmental studies and prepare designs and permit applications for establishing 0.4 miles of new Coastal Trail across Saunders Landing, south of the City of Point Arena in Mendocino County.
A grant of up to $180,000 to Kai Poma to conduct cultural and archeological resource studies and environmental surveys and to prepare a resource management plan for the Blues Beach propertylocated in the community of Westport in Mendocino County.
A grant of up to $168,256 to the Redwood Parks Conservancy to construct the Sue-Meg State Park Rim Trail Project, consisting of a 262-foot trail realignment and the replacement of a temporary bridge with a 33-foot footbridge to reestablish California Coastal Trail continuity and increase accessibility in Sue-Meg State Park in Humboldt County.
A grant of up to $400,000 to Sonoma County on behalf of its Public Infrastructure Department to prepare designs, an environmental review document, and permit applications for the Geyserville Community Plaza Project, which consists of enhancing the 1.17-acre Park and Ride property in Geyserville, in Sonoma County.
A grant of up to $469,100 to Sonoma Land Trust to reduce wildfire risk and improve forest healththrough thinning, pile burning, and removing vegetation to prepare for prescribed burns at three preserves in Sonoma County, and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.
A grant of up to $3,950,000 to The Wildlands Conservancy to acquire approximately 8,085 acres of the Lone Pine Ranch propertyat the confluence of the Eel River mainstem and Kekawaka Creek in Trinity County for the purposes of preserving and restoring fish and wildlife habitat, providing public access and recreation, and protecting open space and natural resources.
A grant of up to $5,552,800 to Redwood Community Action Agency to restore 350 acres of coastal dune habitat along 4.5 miles of shorelineto increase sea level rise resiliency on the north spit of Humboldt Bay in Humboldt County, and adoption findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.
A grant of up to $1,100,000 to TOGETHER Bay Area to support conservation planning in the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area and Santa Cruz by updating the Conservation Lands Network planning tool, including expanded partner engagement and data updates to support regional biodiversity and habitat resilience.
A grant of up to $5,100,000 to the City and County of San Francisco, Recreation and Park Department, to construct the India Basin Waterfront Park Phase 2: 900 Innes Redevelopment project, consisting of the redevelopment of the 900 Innes property to be included in the India Basin Waterfront Park located in the City and County of San Francisco; and adoption of findings under CEQA.
A grant of up to $1,781,600 to Literacy for Environmental Justice to implement the Heron’s Head Park Climate Resilience Projectconsisting of enhancing 9 acres of wetland adjacent upland habitat, providing job training to 40-60 local young adults, and hosting 15-20 stewardship days annually at Heron’s Head Park in the City and County of San Francisco.
A grant of up to $8,990,000 to the City of Berkeley to implement Berkeley Marina improvementsconsisting of 1) maintenance dredging of the Berkeley Marina harbor and entrances; and 2) replacement of two failing dock systems (Docks D and E) in the City of Berkeley, Alameda County.
A grant of up to $4,351,500 to San Francisco State University to plan and design two, and implement one, sea level rise adaptation project, develop a workforce training program in nature-based climate resiliency, and develop a consortium of experts to advance nature-based adaptation projects in various Bay Area counties, including Marin, San Francisco, Solano, Alameda, San Mateo, and Santa Clara.
A grant of up to $1,188,000 to Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority to prepare a draft master plan, and conduct community engagement to inform the draft master plan, for approximately 1,550 acres of conserved lands in Coyote Valley, Santa Clara County.
A grant of up to $3,428,460 to Ducks Unlimited to conduct outreach and planning and to prepare engineering designs and environmental compliance documentation for landscape-scale ecological restoration, flood protection, and public access on 6,000 acres in the Sonoma Creek Baylandsin Sonoma County.
A grant of up to $1,233,315 to the City of Oakland to complete planning and design for the approximately 0.6-mile off-street multi-use trail known as the 66th Ave BART to Bay Trail Projectin Oakland, Alameda County.
A grant of up to $500,000 to augment the Conservancy funding previously authorized on May 5, 2022, for the purpose of contracting for services to prepare environmental review documents, a cultural and tribal resource survey, and a property appraisal for the Hollister Ranch Coastal Access Program, in Santa Barbara County.
A grant of up to $200,000 to the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden to protect Chumash cultural resources and restore 2.25 acres of native habitat at Hammond’s Meadow County Open Spacein southern Santa Barbara County, and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.
A grant of up to $500,000 to the City of Santa Cruz to assess the feasibility of using living shorelines, sand management techniques, and other nature-based solutions to address coastal hazards and advance climate adaptation planning along 3.2 miles of the Santa Cruz coastline, and to develop conceptual designs for one to three projects identified in the feasibility study.
A grant of up to $308,200 to three nonprofit organizations and the University of California, Santa Barbara for four community-based natural resource restoration and enhancement projects on approximately 24 acres in coastal wetlands and along stream corridors in the Southern and Central California region as part of the 2023 Community Wetland Restoration Grant Program; and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.
A grant of up to $400,000 to augment the Conservancy grant previously authorized on May 27, 2021, up to a total of $460,000, to the California Department of Parks and Recreation to prepare plans, environmental review documents, and permit applications for two new restrooms in Garrapata State Parkin Big Sur, Monterey County.
A grant of up to $400,000 to the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy to acquire a 44.38-acre property that includes the Riverview trailhead and parking area to permanently protect and restore habitat and natural resources, preserve open space, and provide public access to the Ventura River Preserve, in unincorporated Ventura County.
A grant of up to $1,773,250 to the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) for tribal and community engagement and outreach, planning and design of coastal access improvements, removal of legacy oil infrastructure, and restoration of coastal habitats at the Ellwood Marine Terminal siteon the UCSB campus in Santa Barbara County, and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.
A grant of up to $1,110,000 to the Coastal San Luis Resource Conservation District to prepare plans, permit applications, and environmental review documents for increased flooding resilience along lower Chorro Creekin the Morro Bay watershed in San Luis Obispo County.
A grant of up to $2,000,000 to the California Department of Parks and Recreation to restore 5 acres of habitat in and around the Villa Creek Estuary, San Luis Obispo County.
A grant of up to $1,570,000 to the California Rangeland Trust to acquire a conservation easement over the 1,014-acre Wong AsuncionRanch in unincorporated Atascadero for natural resource conservation, habitat connectivity, protection of the Toro Creek watershed, and, to the extent compatible with resource conservation, sustainable grazing.
A grant of up to $889,225 to the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation to establish the Monterey Bay Living Shorelines Program, which consists of developing a project prioritization framework, preparing three priority conceptual level plans, completing three ongoing living shoreline projects, developing a tool to monitor and assess effectiveness of living shoreline projects, conducting robust community engagement, and coordinating with State Parks to produce effective pathways for State Parks to integrate living shorelines into its resource management approaches in the Monterey Bay region.
A grant of up to $354,000 to augment the Conservancy grant of $2,087,500 previously authorized to the City of Riverside for (1) the acquisition of four acres at 5200 Tequesquite Avenue in the City of Riverside in Riverside County, and (2) the preparation of designs, engineering, and environmental documentation for nine projects along 4.7 miles of the Santa Ana River Parkwayin the City of Riverside in Riverside County.
A grant of up to $2,141,205 to the City of Imperial Beach to conduct outreach and planning and to prepare designs, environmental compliance documents, and permit applications needed to retrofit a 1.2-mile segment of the Bayshore Bikeway into a multi-benefit community flood protection and ecosystem resilience corridor as part of the Bayshore Bikeway Resiliency Projectin Imperial Beach, San Diego County.
Authorization to 1) disburse up to $31,852,000 to the Los Cerritos Wetlands Authority for the Southern Los Cerritos Wetlands Restoration Project, which consists of planning and permitting for restoration and for providing public access to 103.5 acres of wetlands in Seal Beach, construction of an initial phase of the restoration and public access improvements on a portion of the Project site, and management of the wetlands, and 2) adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.
Funding of up to $968,900 to nonprofit organizations and public agencies for 16 projects that facilitate and enhance the public’s opportunities to explore the California coast. Participants are drawn from throughout the State and will visit coastal locations from Del Norte County south to San Diego County.
A grant of up to $1,057,650 to the Resource Conservation District of Monterey County and the San Luis Obispo County Fire Safe Council for two additional wildfire resilience projects under the Conservancy’s Wildfire Resilience Program 2023-2024.

The State 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:

Completed over 4,000 projects along the California coastline and in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Conserved over 390,000 acres of coastal lands.
Restored over 33,000 acres of habitat.
Installed over 200 new coastal accessways.
Built 210 miles of new trails.
Put over $1.8 billion to work for conservation projects.

San Francisco Bay Area Water Trail Implementation Meeting #41 – September 29, 2023, 10am – 12pm

AGENDA
September 29, 2023
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
HYBRID MEETING

Zoom Meeting Information:

Please join us on Zoom at this link:
https://scc-ca-gov.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYkf-GtrDgjGtwqmo305QFC6HGMco5kob-0

Physical Meeting Location:

Claremont Room, 375 Beale Street, San Francisco CA 94105

If you are planning to attend in person, please email Ben.botkin@sfestuary.org in advance so we know to expect you. We ask this as a courtesy; you are not required to email in advance to attend the meeting in person.

Desired Outcomes of Meeting:

Attendees are informed of Water Trail project management goals and reorganization
Attendees are informed of Water Trail-related activities, progress, and accomplishments
Attendees are informed about India Basin Shoreline Park Project

Time	Agenda Item
10:00	Welcome, Introductions, Agenda Review, and Meeting Ground Rules
10:10	Updates and Announcements from Water Trail Staff, Project Management Team, and Advisory Committee Members
11:00	Interim Water Trail Implementation Priorities and Advisory Committee Membership
11:20	Guest Speaker – India Basin Shoreline Park Project Update
11:50	Public Comments
12:00	Adjourn

Agenda items may be taken out of sequence at the discretion of the Project Management Team; times are approximate.

Questions regarding this meeting may be addressed to Shalini Kannan, Coastal Conservancy Project Manager, at (510) 286-4167, or shalini.kannan@scc.ca.gov.

2023 State Coastal Conservancy Request for Qualifications and Information

The State Coastal Conservancy (“Conservancy”) acts to preserve, restore, and enhance California’s coastal and marine resources, enhance their resilience to climate change, and to expand public access to the coast.

The Conservancy annually updates a list of environmental, engineering, architectural, landscape architectural, construction project management, and the other consulting service providers. This year, we also invite individuals, firms, non-profits, and community groups involved with community engagement, tribal engagement, community-based restoration, traditional ecological knowledge, and other justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion topics to submit their information.

The list is used in two ways: to identify consulting firms and individuals with appropriate qualifications for Conservancy consultant needs; and to help us make connections with local organizations and individuals engaged with coastal issues and communities in our jurisdiction.

We welcome individuals, consultants, firms, and community groups to submit their qualifications and/or organizational information through this brief online form. This submission form replaces previous years’ RFQ form.

Submittals will be accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year.

The Conservancy has developed working relationships with a number of public and private entities through its work on coastal and watershed restoration efforts over the past 45 years. Advancing environmental protection and climate adaptation work requires diverse collaborations of public and private agencies, Indigenous peoples and Tribal Nations, landowners, and community members. We aim to foster collaboration between these groups to develop creative solutions to complex coastal issues. We hope this list will increase our awareness of the many groups, organizations, and individuals that should be involved in the development and implementation of our projects.

All information received will be kept on file for at least one year from the date of this request. Conservancy staff will use this information in soliciting services, as needed, for upcoming Conservancy projects. We will also use this information in efforts to increase local community connections with our projects and in providing resources to share with grantees and other partners.

State certified Small Businesses (“SB” including small business, minority and women-owned businesses) and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (“DVBE”) are encouraged to submit. The Conservancy encourages all potential contractors to proactively engage with potential SB and DVBE subcontractors.

More information can be found in the complete RFQI here.

We are soliciting consultants with experience and expertise in:

Surveying and mapping;
Construction project management;
Civil and hydrological engineering;
Habitat restoration design, permitting, construction, and monitoring; with a focus on designing for integrated habitats and multiple benefits; including specific expertise and project experience in specific habitat types and mixes of habitat palettes- marine, estuarine, riparian, upland, and watershed areas
Natural and nature-based shoreline protection design; including experimental techniques and work in less common habitat types such as rocky intertidal areas and oyster beds;
Wildfire risk reduction and management
Landscape architecture; with a focus on native and environmentally oriented designs,
Trail planning, design, and engineering;
Water quality assessment;
Geotechnical and geomorphic assessment;
Structural analyses;
Pre-project feasibility analyses;
Economic analyses;
Hazardous or toxic substance investigations;
Wetland, creek, watershed, intertidal and subtidal assessments;
Archaeological studies;
Environmental documentation and assessment under the California Environmental Quality Act and other environmental laws and regulation;
Climate change issues such as urban heat island effect, species migrations, seasonal coastal and fluvial flooding, and sea-level rise;
Botanical studies;
Agricultural studies;
Soil analyses;
Carbon analyses;
Biological investigations;
Natural resource permitting;
Site and land use planning;
Sea-level rise, marsh migration, and coastal erosion modeling;
Environmental monitoring;
Graphic design for interpretive signs; and
Other program-related environmental services, such as appraisals for resource conservation purposes.

The Conservancy also seeks to identify individuals, firms, and community groups providing these services:

Community engagement planning and implementation
Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion (JEDI) training and resources
Community engagement evaluation
Community-focused media and storytelling
Community-based restoration
Community-inclusive design planning
Local labor development and training
Traditional Ecological Knowledge

To submit your qualifications and/or or organizational information, fill out the online form located here and linked at https://scc.ca.gov/public-meetings/ under the Public Notices header.

More information can be found in the complete RFQI here.

Please email taylor.samuelson (at) scc.ca.gov with any questions.

Grant Funding Webinar, September 28, 2023

The State of California has made an unprecedented investment in the resilience and accessibility of the coast. As a result, the Coastal Conservancy has significant funding available to non-profit organizations, public agencies, and federally-recognized tribes for projects that benefit public access, natural resources, working lands, and climate resiliency at the coast, coastal watersheds, and the San Francisco Bay.

We will host a webinar on September 28 at 3:00 on Conservancy funding and how to apply for our grants.

You are invited to a Zoom webinar.

When: Sep 28, 2023 03:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Topic: SCC Funding Webinar 2023

Register in advance for this webinar here

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

A recording of the webinar will be available on our website.

We anticipate that the majority of our funding will be allocated through our ongoing pre-proposal solicitation. To learn more about this process, please visit the Grants page of our website.

The Conservancy also holds periodic grant rounds related to specific programs or fund sources. Information on those grant rounds and their deadlines are posted on the Grants page of our website when they are open. You can also sign up to be notified of scheduled grant rounds by registering for our mailing list at this link.

The Conservancy will fund most stages of a project including pre-project feasibility studies, property acquisition, project planning including community involvement, design, environmental review, permitting, construction, and project-related monitoring. We do not fund operation and maintenance activities.

We look forward to working with many partner organizations to make a difference for the health and accessibility of the coast.

Jeremiah Hallisey Appointed to the State Coastal Conservancy Governing Board

Jeremiah Hallisey, of Alamo, has been appointed to the State Coastal Conservancy. Hallisey has been President at Hallisey and Johnson since 1971. He is a member of the San Francisco Bar Association, the Energy Bar Association and the California Construction Industry Labor Management Cooperation Trust Board of Trustees. Hallisey earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, a Master of Arts degree in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from Boston College. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Hallisey is a Democrat

News Release: State Coastal Conservancy Awards $78 Million for Climate Resilience, Public Access, Habitat Restoration and Wildfire Resilience

(Sacramento, CA) – Today (6/1/2023), the Board of the State Coastal Conservancy authorized funding totaling nearly $78 million for 34 projects to protect and restore coastal lands, increase coastal resilience to climate change, improve public access to the coast, and reduce the impact of wildfire on coastal lands.

“Our California coast is under growing threat from climate change and we must respond accordingly,” said California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot. “This historic amount of grant funding will empower partners to protect communities and restore natural systems along our coast. I’m particularly excited about funding that enables tribal governments to lead these stewardship efforts. I’m focused on helping these important projects get done as quickly as possible.”

“Thanks to California’s historic investment in the state’s natural resources, today we have been able to support many resilience, natural resource, and public access projects.” said Amy Hutzel, Executive Officer of the Coastal Conservancy. “These projects range from Del Norte County to the Tijuana River Estuary and represent some of the largest grants the Conservancy has made in the last decade. The urgency and importance of preparing our coast for the challenges of climate change has never been more evident. This level of funding will enable our partners to make substantial headway towards our vision of a beautiful, restored, and accessible coast for current and future Californians.”

The grants awarded today include:

$16,200,000 to the City of San Buenaventura (Ventura) to construct Phase 2 of the Surfers Point Managed Retreat Project, a sea level rise adaptation project that relocates existing infrastructure landward and restores beach dune habitat.
Over $8 million to 13 Wildfire Resilience projects that will reduce fuel loads, create fuel breaks, conduct prescribed fires, and support wildfire resilience planning.
$4,500,000 to the Hoopa Valley Tribe to acquire approximately 10,300 acres in the Klamath River watershed to protect and restore water quality, anadromous fish habitat, wildlife habitat, wildlife connectivity, and forest health, and for tribal and public access.
$10,673,555 in funding from the Conservancy and NOAA to restore approximately 15.9 acres of riparian habitat on lower Prairie Creek as part of the Redwood National and State Park Visitor Center and Restoration Project in Humboldt County. Of this funding, up to $8,496,000 will go to the Yurok Tribe for the implementation of this project and to plan for the continuation of similar restoration activities upstream in Prairie Creek and its tributaries.

“It has been many years since we have been able to authorize such a large amount of funding. It’s a testament to the importance the Legislature and Governor have placed on protecting and restoring the state’s natural treasures, and making sure they are available to all Californians to enjoy.” said Douglas Bosco, Chair of the Conservancy’s Board.

“SCC’s funding to support the Hoopa Valley Tribe in reacquiring 10,300 acres of their ancestral lands is a positive example of addressing historical wrongs and building meaningful partnerships with the original stewards of the land to pursue our shared climate and restoration goals,” said California Natural Resources Agency Deputy Secretary for Tribal Affairs Geneva E.B. Thompson.

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Notes to Editors:

The projects approved at today’s meeting were:

A grant of up to $711,000 for preparation of final designs, obtaining permits, and conducting project management support as an augmentation and expansion of the Conservancy’s grant, previously authorized on June 18, 2020, for planning and permitting for the restoration and enhancement of floodplain habitat on theCarmel River at the Rancho Cañada unit of the Palo Corona Regional Park in Monterey County, and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.

A grant of up to $2,000,000 to the County of Monterey to augment the Conservancy’s grant, previously authorized on February 3, 2022, to construct the Carmel River Floodplain Restoration and Environmental Enhancement Project in Monterey County.

A grant of up to $426,017 to Ducks Unlimited to augment the Conservancy’s grant, previously authorized on March 25, 2021, for construction of the Ocean Ranch Restoration Projectfor project modifications including installing a new culvert and access road, conducting storm damage repair and increasing project resilience to future storms, installing new fencing and gates to manage public access, and preparing and installing interpretive signage and materials at the Ocean Ranch Unit of the Eel River Wildlife Area near Loleta in Humboldt County.

A grant of up to $60,000 to the Point Arena Lighthouse Keepers, Inc. to conduct a geologic study of the Point Arena Bluff underlying the Point Arena Lighthouseto assess the site’s resilience to future storms and the overall safety of the Point Arena Lighthouse, in Mendocino County.

A grant of up to $406,900 to the Resource Conservation District of Monterey County to replace a concrete ford with a bridge spanning Cachagua Creek to improve fish passage in the upper Carmel River watershed, and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.

A grant of $1,347,257 received by the Conservancy from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Save the Redwoods League to augment the Conservancy’s grant, authorized on March 24, 2022, of $6,602,136 to the Yurok Tribe and California Trout, Inc. to restore approximately 11.5 acres of riparian habitat on lower Prairie Creekas part of the Redwood National and State Park Visitor Center and Restoration Project at the former Orick Mill A site in Humboldt County, as follows: $1,097,257 to the Yurok Tribe and $250,000 to California Trout, Inc.

A grant of up to $2,960,900 to the City of Berkeley to conduct technical studies, prepared preliminary engineering, and prepare a draft environmental review document for the Berkeley Pier and Water Transportation Project in Alameda County.

A grant of up to $10,940,911 to Ducks Unlimited, which includes $3,940,911 in funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, to restore tidal marsh and enhance managed ponds as part of Phase 2 of the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Projectin Alameda and Santa Clara Counties.

A grant of up to $1,500,000 to Sonoma Land Trust to acquire the 654-acre McCormick Ranch Property for the protection, restoration, and enhancement of natural and scenic resources, including wildlife corridors and habitat, wetland and water resources, and landscape resilience related to climate change; and providing open space, public access, recreational use, and Tribal and indigenous cultural uses compatible with natural resource protection in the Mayacamas Mountains of Sonoma and Napa Counties.

A grant of up to $5,500,000 to California Trout, Inc. for the acquisition of the 175-acre Prior Ranch and development of restoration designs, CEQA materials and permit applications for the Elk River Habitat Restoration Project in Humboldt County.

A grant of up to $4,500,000 to the Hoopa Valley Tribe to acquire approximately 10,300 acres of real property known as the Pine Creek Tract, in the Klamath River watershed, to protect and restore water quality, anadromous fish habitat, wildlife habitat, wildlife connectivity, and forest health, and for tribal and public access compatible with natural resource protection.

A grant of up to $6,961,872 of funds from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and up to $3,711,683 of Conservancy funds as follows: up to $8,025,640 to the Yurok Tribe and up to $2,177,555 to California Trout, Inc. to restore approximately 15.9 acres of riparian habitat on lower Prairie Creekas part of the Redwood National and State Park Visitor Center and Restoration Project at the former Orick Mill A site in Humboldt County, and $470,360 to the Yurok Tribe to plan for the continuation of similar restoration activities upstream in Prairie Creek and its tributaries.

A grant of up to $1,261,472, including $696,600 in Conservancy funds and $564,872 awarded to the Conservancy by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Program, to the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County to restore approximately 45 acres of coastal wetland and dune scrub habitat at the Black Lake Ecological Area in San Luis Obispo County.

A grant of up to $2,000,000 to the Wildlands Conservancy to acquire 11,692 acres of the Rana Creek Ranch in upper Carmel Valley to protect water quality, natural resources, wildlife habitat, scenic open space, and compatible agriculture including cattle grazing, and for public and tribal access compatible with such uses.

A grant of up to $910,000 to the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County to acquire a conservation easement over the 736-acre Warren Ranch located in the upper San Simeon and Santa Rosa Creek watersheds to protect natural resources, water quality, anadromous fish habitat, wildlife habitat, scenic open space, and compatible agriculture including cattle grazing within these coastal watersheds

A grant of up to $2,680,000 to the City of Santa Barbara to prepare technical studies and feasibility reports and to conduct community outreach for adapting waterfront areas at-risk to sea level rise; and to prepare conceptual designs and environmental review documents for relocation of wastewater and water system infrastructure in the City of Santa Barbara.

A grant of up to $1,090,000, including $970,000 of grant funds from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation to conduct pre-acquisition activities, coordinate with landowners and key stakeholders, acquire a conservation easement over 24 acres of agricultural land, and prepare conceptual designs for floodplain restoration and coastal access along Tembladero Slough, between Castroville and Salinas River State Beach.

A grant of up to $864,000 to the Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County to lead the Scotts Creek Technical Advisory Committee and provide technical assistance to Caltrans on preparation of environmental review and permit applications for the Scott Creek Coastal Resiliency project, consisting of restoration of approximately 25 acres of Scott Creek Lagoon and marsh and replacement of the Highway 1 bridge at Scott Creek Lagoon in Santa Cruz County

A grant of up to $575,000 to the Huntington Beach Wetlands Conservancy to prepare designs, permit applications, and environmental review for restoring 44.8 acres of degraded wetlands at Newland Marshin Huntington Beach, Orange County.

A grant of up to $16,200,000 to the City of San Buenaventura (Ventura) to construct Phase 2 of the Surfers Point Managed Retreat Project, a sea level rise adaptation project that relocates existing infrastructure landward and restores beach dune habitat, in Ventura.

A grant of up to $3,192,500 to the Southwest Wetlands Interpretive Association to develop final design plans, to conduct pre-restoration monitoring, and to apply for permits for the first phase of the Tijuana Estuary Tidal Restoration Program II in San Diego County, and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.

Grants totaling $4,983,994 to a Tribe, four nonprofit organizations, three resource conservation districts, and the Regents of the University of California for nine wildfire resilience projects.

A grant of up to $449,900 to the Wildlands Conservancy for fuel reduction, vegetation management, and installation of grazing infrastructure on 796 acres on Jenner Headlands Preserve, Jenner, Sonoma County.
A grant of up to $989,300 to Russian Riverkeeper to implement the Healdsburg Arundo Removal Project, which consists of removing invasive Arundo donax along 5 miles of the Russian River to reduce fire risk to Fitch Mountain and Healdsburg in Sonoma County.
A grant of up to $515,200 to the Pepperwood Foundation to reconstruct fire-damaged grazing infrastructure and conduct vegetation management, including forest thinning, prescribed burns, and grazing to reduce wildfire risk at the Pepperwood Preservein Sonoma County, and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.
A grant of up to $1,150,000 to remove dead and dying trees along a ten-mile stretch of road that is also a fuel break and processing the wood into a charcoal product at the San Vicente Redwoods Preservein Santa Cruz County.

Since its founding, the Conservancy has:

Completed over 4,000 projects along the California coastline and in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Conserved over 390,000 acres of coastal lands.
Restored over 33,000 acres of habitat.
Installed over 200 new coastal accessways.
Built 210 miles of new trails.
Put over $1.8 billion to work for conservation projects.

More information is at scc.ca.gov.

Central Coast California Wildfire & Forest Resilience Task Force Regional Meeting – Register by May 1!

Join the Coastal Conservancy in person at The Cocoanut Grove on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk or remotely via Zoom for the Central Coast Regional Meeting of the California Wildfire & Forest Resilience Task Force on May 11 and 12. Registration closes May 1!

Hosted by the California State Coastal Conservancy and San Mateo Resource Conservation District, discussions will focus on the unique landscapes and land management issues of California’s Central Coast. The meeting will open with a Resource Fair to showcase local organizations at work in the Central Coast region. Field tours will be offered on May 12. We look forward to connecting, committing to action, and collaborating on real solutions to the daunting challenges facing our landscapes and communities.

Learn more and register here.

Rana Creek Ranch Acquisition

The State Coastal Conservancy will consider at its June 1, 2023 meeting an award of grant funding of up to $2,000,000 to the Wildlands Conservancy to acquire 11,692 acres of the Rana Creek Ranch. The purpose of the acquisition is to protect water quality, natural resources, wildlife habitat, scenic open space, and compatible agriculture including cattle grazing, and for public and tribal access compatible with such uses.

Section 5096.501 of Chapter 1.695 of the California Public Resources Code defines a “major acquisition” as one for which one or more state agencies will together spend more than $15 million to acquire land for specified purposes. The law requires a state agency contributing to a major acquisition to post on a public-facing Website certain documents related to the transaction, including an independent appraisal review, a “project justification”, and other environmental documents as appropriate no later than 30 days before consideration and action to award funding. The following information is intended to comply with these requirements.

June 2023 Staff Recommendation

Rana Creek Ranch Appraisal Review

San Francisco Bay Restoration Funding Forum, May 3

Two federal funders of wetland restoration projects have five to ten times their usual levels of funding. If you’re thinking about applying for federal funds but aren’t sure which programs are the best fit for your project, join us for a conversation with the staff who run them and get your questions answered. We will also discuss state and regional funding programs focused on San Francisco Bay restoration.

Join the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), State Coastal Conservancy (SCC), San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority (SFBRA), and San Francisco Bay Joint Venture on May 3rd at from 1-3pm for a virtual forum to learn about funding opportunities for restoration projects in the San Francisco Bay Area!

These funds are focused on habitat restoration but may include green-gray and multi-objective restoration projects.

Come hear brief presentations from the following agencies:

EPA – two funding programs
NOAA – four funding programs
SFBRA and SCC – three funding programs

Following the presentations and a 15-minute panel discussion, we will have breakout rooms with each staff person available for you to visit and ask questions.

RSVP and submit questions at this link(link is external). Please contact Sara Haugen, SFBRA Project Manager, at sara.haugen@scc.ca.gov if you have any questions about registering.

Hosted by EPA, NOAA, SCC, SFBRA, and the San Francisco Bay Joint Venture.

P.S. The SFBJV hosts a funding working group monthly on second Thursdays from 3-4pm. You can find their list of current grant opportunities here(link is external). Contact Nikki Roach, SFBJV Policy and Communications Coordinator, at nroach@sfbayjv.org to learn more.