Job Posting: Project Support Analyst

You will find additional information about the job on the CalCareers posting and in the Duty Statement.

Monthly salary bands:

Final Filing Date: 5/29/2026

Steps to apply:

1. If you’re new to the state application process, please visit 3 Steps to a State Job to learn more about the process.
2. Create a CalCareers Account
3. Visit the job announcement at:
   • JC-517454 – Project Support Analyst
     ANALYST I
4. Review the Duty Statement.
5. On the Job Control Listing, click Apply Now to launch the CA STD 678, which is the State of California’s official State Application for job vacancies.
6. If any, answer questions/prompts on the CA STD 678 and upload all required documents before submitting the application:

1. 1. State Application STD 678 – make sure to fill out all sections (resume will not be reviewed/considered)
   2. If you’re new to the state application process, please visit 3 Steps to a State Job to learn more about the process.
   3. A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ)

7. Verify that the CA STD 678 and other required documents have been “Submitted” in your CalCareer account.

8. Individuals who are new to state service must have list eligibility in order to gain employment with any state agency.

Other resources for applying for a job with the State:

Department of General Services: How to Apply for a State Job

CalPERS: How to Apply for a State Job

CalCareers: Help

State of CA Civil Service Pay Scale

Request for Partnership Proposals/Letters of Interest for the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program FY 2027

NOTE:

This is a call-for preproposals for projects who would like to partner with the California State Coastal Conservancy to apply for US Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Coastal Wetlands Conservation (NCWC) Grant Program funding.

a) This is NOT the official NCWC call for applications.

b) Projects hoping to receive NCWC grant funding are NOT required to apply through the Coastal Conservancy. As stated below, there are six other state agencies who are also designated to apply for these funds for the projects in California. However, should a project wish to work with the Coastal Conservancy to manage and administer a potential future grant, please read the following announcement, and if you feel your project fits the NCWC grant criteria, please submit a brief (~2-4 page) letter of interest via email to morgan.wright@scc.ca.gov by 5 PM PST on Friday, May 29, 2026 (see further details below).

The California State Coastal Conservancy (Conservancy) seeks partners for joint applications to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 round of the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant (NCWC) Grant Program for coastal wetlands acquisition and/or restoration projects on the California coast or along the San Francisco Bay shoreline. Only seven designated state agencies, including the Conservancy, are eligible to apply for NCWC grants in California. However, the Conservancy can work in partnership with state and local agencies, tribes, and certain non-profits to develop and submit NCWC proposals.  The Conservancy can pass through NCWC grant funds to its partners, as subrecipients, to implement projects.  While federal agencies can’t receive NCWC grant funds, NCWC grant funded projects can be implemented on federal lands by a subrecipient. A full description of the NCWC grant program can be found here.

NCWC provides grants of up to $1,000,000 for the protection and/or restoration of coastal wetlands. Grants are for project implementation, although it is permissible to utilize no more than 30%, combined, for biological surveys or monitoring, planning and permitting if those activities are closely tied to implementation.  Projects should be ready for implementation infall 2027 or summer 2028 and end by late 2029. Projects will be more competitive if the project area is primarily made up of jurisdictional wetlands. The NCWC grant program requires a non-federal match of at least 25% of the total project cost, consisting of either cash or in-kind contributions, and additional points are awarded for match of up to 33% of the total project cost.  The Conservancy may be able to provide some or all the required match, but project partners providing their own match will increase the Conservancy’s capacity to carry out additional projects.  The NCWC grant program also prioritizes projects that involve multiple partners providing a cash or in-kind contribution. All projects must ensure long-term (at least 20 years) conservation of coastal resources.

Eligible Activities include:

1. Acquisition of a real property interest (e.g., conservation easement or fee title) in coastal lands or waters (coastal wetlands ecosystems) from willing sellers or partners for long-term conservation;
2. Restoration, enhancement, or management of coastal wetlands ecosystems; or
3. A combination of acquisition, restoration, and management.

Ineligible Activities include, but are not limited to:

1. Projects that primarily benefit navigation, irrigation, flood control, or mariculture;
2. Acquisition, restoration, enhancement or management of lands required as the result of a regulatory or decision-making process to mitigate habitat losses;
3. Creation of wetlands where wetlands did not previously exist;
4. Enforcement of fish and wildlife laws and regulations, except when necessary for the accomplishment of approved project purposes;
5. Research;
6. Planning as a primary project focus;
7. Operations and maintenance, including long-term invasive species management;
8. Acquisition and/or restoration of upper portions of watersheds where benefits to the coastal wetlands ecosystem are not significant and direct; and
9. Projects providing less than 20 years of conservation benefits.

This year’s FY 2027 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), is available here as reference, funding opportunity Number: F27AS00007

If your project is selected by the Conservancy during this initial proposal phase, the Conservancy will work with you to prepare a NCWC grant proposal, which may or may not be awarded funding by the USFWS. The Conservancy will not award state funding grants directly through this solicitation. The USFWS selects proposals for award through a merit-based, national competitive review and ranking process. The deadline to submit NCWC proposals to the USFWS for FY 2027 will be July 9, 2026.  Selected projects are generally awarded 6-8 months after the application is submitted. If projects are awarded a NCWC grant, funding should be available for implementation in the summer/fall of 2027. 

USFWS will need to review and meet all project-related environmental compliance requirements before making funding available. A full description of the NCWC grant program can be found here.

Letter of Interest Submittal:

To indicate your interest in partnering with the Conservancy on a NCWC proposal, please submit a brief (~2-4 page) letter of interest via email to morgan.wright@scc.ca.gov . The letter should include the following information:

1. 1-2 sentence summary of proposed project,
2. location of the project and its relevance to NCWC grant coastal wetland restoration goals,
3. description of the need for the project,
4. description of the proposed project and how it addresses the need,
5. estimated project cost and description of potential match,
6. approximate timeline for project implementation (include information of the status of project design and environmental review for restoration projects),
7. indicate whether you have a willing seller for acquisition projects, and
8. list of potential project partners and their roles in the project. Include a map showing the project area and providing the approximate acreage of the project area and acreage of coastal wetlands within the project area.

Letters of Interest must be received by 5 PM PST on Friday, May 29, 2026.

Eligible Applicants: Non-federal public agencies, tribes, and certain nonprofit organizations are eligible for funding. To be eligible, a nonprofit organization must qualify under the provisions of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Questions? Questions about the application process and potential projects may be directed to Morgan Wright, External Grants Coordinator, morgan.wright@scc.ca.gov

Sea Otter Recovery RFP is Open!

Photo: Rich Miller

The California State Coastal Conservancy announces the availability of grants to public agencies, tribes and nonprofit organizations for projects that facilitate the recovery of the southern sea otter along California’s coasts.

The California Sea Otter Fund is one of the state’s tax check-off funds that allows taxpayers to voluntarily contribute to the recovery of California’s sea otter population. The Conservancy receives approximately 50% of the revenues for “competitive grants and contracts to public agencies and nonprofit organizations for research, science, protection, projects, or programs related to the Federal Sea Otter Recovery Plan or improving the nearshore ocean ecosystem.”

Conservancy grants funded by the California Sea Otter Fund can be used for a variety of activities related to southern sea otter recovery and improving the nearshore ecosystem. Conservancy priority for the funding is for projects that advance the evaluation of sea otter reintroduction as a potential recovery strategy for southern sea otters in California. This may include activities such as conducting biological and socioeconomic studies, stakeholder engagement, risk and impact analyses, baseline assessments, and other research and planning.

Other projects that plan, implement, or conducted research related to other critical recovery actions of the Federal Southern Sea Otter Recovery Plan will be considered as a second priority.

Each year, the Conservancy solicits proposals for the annual appropriation from the California Sea Otter Fund. This year the Conservancy anticipates approximately $165,000 available for projects that meet the fund’s objectives.

More information can be found in the RFP here. (Word Download)

Coastal Conservancy Awards $4 million for Coastal Access, Restoration, and Climate Resilience

4/24/2026, SEAL BEACH – Yesterday, the Board of the State Coastal Conservancy awarded over $44 million in grant funding to a total of 23 projects that will help protect, restore, and improve public access to the coast. The projects funded were:

NORTH COAST

1. A grant of up to $6,000,000 to the Great Redwood Trail Agencyfor: (1) Great Redwood Trail Agency operations; and (2) trail and restoration planning, design, construction, and implementation in the counties of Mendocino, Trinity, and Humboldt.
2. A grant of up to $1,000,000 to Save the Redwoods League to undertake a portion of the third phase of the Redwoods Rising Projectconsisting of thinning 100-150 acres of forest to improve forest health and fish and wildlife habitat in Del Norte County.
3. A grant of up to $997,900 to the Mid Klamath Watershed Council to undertake the Red Cap Creek Floodplain Restoration Project, consisting of construction of off-channel ponds, reconnection of historic floodplain channels, addition of large wood structures, and restoration of riparian floodplain forest to a 1.5 mile segment of Red Cap Creek, in Humboldt County.
4. A grant of up to $2,457,427 of funds from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to Northcoast Regional Land Trust to undertake the Wood Creek Restoration Phase III: Felt Ranch Habitat Restoration Implementation project,consisting of restoring tidal and habitat connectivity of Wood Creek, creating anadromous salmonid habitat, restoring wetlands, and conducting monitoring on Felt Ranch and the Freshwater Farms Preserve in Humboldt County.
5. A grant of up to $1,500,000 to Trust for Public Land to undertake theShaahnaa’ Lhook’ Acquisition, consisting of acquiring the 672-acre Shaahnaa’ Lhook’ property for the preservation of open space; protection, restoration, and enhancement of natural resources and habitat for fish and wildlife; protection of cultural resources; and California Native American tribal access consistent with such purposes; and to develop a management plan, in Branscomb, Mendocino County.
6. A grant of up to $1,447,100 to The Nature Conservancy for the Navarro River-Flume Gulch Confluence Restoration Project, consisting of enhancements to restore overwintering and spring out-migration habitat for juvenile coho salmon within the mainstem Navarro River and Flume Gulch, including installation of five engineered log structures and floodplain alcoves, excavation of floodplain alcoves and banks, and placement of large wood in the Navarro River watershed, in Mendocino County.
7. A grant of up to $459,500 to Russian Riverkeeper to augment the Conservancy grant authorized on June 1, 2023, 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.

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA

8. A grant of up to $312,200 to Grassroots Ecology to undertake the Restoring the Shoreline for People and Wildlife Project, consisting of community engagement, workforce development training, a vegetation survey and ecological report, and restoration and maintenance of 2 acres of upland transition zone habitat and 5.3 acres of grassland habitat at Shoreline Regional Park in Santa Clara County.
9. A grant of up to $1,200,000 to the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council to conduct planning necessary to facilitate opening 30 miles of Bay Area Ridge Trail,including preparing studies, designs and environmental review documents; and to conduct public engagement with underrepresented communities.
10. A grant of up to $2,000,000 to the Petaluma River Park Foundation to augment Conservancy grants totaling $3,050,200 to expand the scope of the Petaluma River Park Advanced Planning Project(formerly the Petaluma River Park Planning Project), consisting of advanced park planning and designs, environmental review, permit applications, and Coastal Stories interpretive material designs associated with development of Petaluma River Park in Petaluma, Sonoma County.

CENTRAL COAST

11. A grant of up to $1,000,000 to theHomeless Garden Project to undertake the Natural Bridges Farm Acquisition, consisting of the acquisition of approximately 4 acres of working agricultural land to be permanently dedicated to public benefit purposes, including the protection of working agricultural land and open space, in Santa Cruz County.
12. A grant of up to $4,000,000 to the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County to construct the Community Harvest at Watsonville Slough Farm Project Phase 1, which will establish a trailhead, approximately 5 miles of trails, U-pick gardens, and a variety of public access amenities at Watsonville Slough Farm in Watsonville, Santa Cruz County.
13. Consideration and possible adoption of 2026 Rulemaking Calendar for Pedro Point Headlandsin San Mateo County.
14. A grant of up to $500,000 to the San Mateo Resource Conservation District to augment the previously authorized Pedro Point Headlands Wildfire Resilience Program to expand: 1) the project scope to include implementation of additional wildfire fuels reduction activities, and 2) the project area to include the adjacent Highway 1 evacuation corridor in Pacifica, San Mateo County.
15. A grant of up to $350,000 to the County of Santa Cruz to undertake the Shark Fin Cove Coastal Access Planning Project, consisting of technical studies, preliminary design, and environmental review for a paved coastal access parking lot with accessible pedestrian pathways at Shark Fin Cove in Santa Cruz County

SOUTH COAST

16. A grant of up to $2,925,000 to the City of Santa Ana to implement the Santiago Park Trail and Habitat Improvements Project. This project will consist of constructing site improvements in a 5-acre area on the eastern end of Santiago Park, including an accessible pedestrian walkway, native landscaping, lighting and a pedestrian bridge across Santiago Creek in Orange County.
17. A grant of up to $2,000,000 to the City of San Clemente for the San Clemente North Beach Sand Retention Planning Project,consisting of preparing technical studies, an alternatives analysis, and preliminary designs, and conducting community engagement for a sand retention project to address coastal erosion along the San Clemente shoreline, in Orange County.
18. A grant of up to $6,000,000 to the City of Riverside to implement improvements at Martha McLean Anza Narrows Parkin Riverside County and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.
19. A grant of up to $1,472,000 to the City of Orange to undertake theOC River Walk – Upland Habitat Restoration Design Project, consisting of preparing design documents for a 7.3-acre habitat restoration and riverbank improvements project on the eastern bank of the Santa Ana River in Orange County.
20. A grant of up to $5,000,000 to Coastal Quest to undertake the Coastal Resilience Solutions for San Diego State Parks project, consisting of conducting community engagement, preparing feasibility studies and design documents, and obtaining permits for protecting and increasing resilience of public access improvements at San Elijo State Beach and Cardiff State Beach in San Diego County.
21. A grant of up to $1,600,000 to the Watershed Conservation Authority for the West Coyote Hills Acquisition, which consists of acquiring approximately 483 acres of West Coyote Hills for protection, restoration, and enhancement of natural and cultural resources and public access compatible with those purposes in Orange County, and to conduct tribal outreach regarding the acquisition.
22. A grant of up to $20,000 to Orange County Coastkeeper to manage the Conservancy’s public access easement at Portofino Covein Huntington Harbor in the City of Huntington Beach, Orange County.
23. A grant of up to $1,543,000 to the Maritime Museum Association of San Diego to augment an existing Conservancy grant to prepare design and engineering, environmental compliance documents, and permit applications for the Maritime Museum of San Diego entry buildingin San Diego County.

STATEWIDE

24. A grant of up to $400,000 to augment the Conservancy’s previously authorized contract for technical assistance with the environmental documentation, permit applications, and project planning to support wildfire resilience project development across the Conservancy’s Jurisdiction.

Pedro Point Headlands

1. Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Action
2. Proposed Express Terms
3. Initial Statement of Reasons

West Coyote Hills Acquisition

The State Coastal Conservancy will consider at its April 23, 2026 meeting an award of grant funding of up to $1,600,000 to the Watershed Conservation Authority to acquire approximately 483 acres of West Coyote Hills. The purpose of the acquisition is for protection, restoration and enhancement of natural and cultural resources and public access compatible with those purposes, and to conduct tribal outreach prior to the acquisition.

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.

Appraisal Review

April 2026 Staff Recommendation (Project Justification)

Remedial Investigation Report

50 Year History of the Coastal Conservancy

Timeline: California State Coastal Conservancy, 1976 – Present

1976: Coastal Conservancy Act Passes

• Established by the California State Legislature through the Coastal Conservancy Act (Public Resources Code, Division 21), the Conservancy was created as a non-regulatory state agency within the Natural Resources Agency. A core tenet from the start was to ensure public access to the coast, recognizing the public’s right to enjoy California’s shoreline. The Conservancy was designed to acquire land and develop facilities for public use. The Conservancy was established in the same year the Coastal Act, which established the Coastal Commission, was passed. Both agencies were born from a citizen-led movement to protect the California coast and public access to it.

Late 1970s – Early 1980s: Laying the Groundwork

• Early efforts included acquiring critical coastal lands for public access and open space, and initiating small-scale habitat restoration projects. This work involved acquiring key parcels of land to create new public beaches, coastal parks, and trail easements that were previously blocked by private development. The Conservancy began developing strategies for urban waterfront revitalization, recognizing the need to reconnect cities with their coastlines and the framework for a statewide coastal trail system.

1980s: Expanding Access, Influence & Major Acquisitions

• The Conservancy played a key role in numerous significant land acquisitions, securing thousands of acres of sensitive habitat and public access opportunities, often preventing large-scale development. We initiated work on major wetland restoration, recognizing the importance of these ecosystems.  During this time, the Conservancy also focused on funding and facilitating public access projects, often working with local governments and non-profits to develop stairways, boardwalks, parking areas, and visitor amenities at numerous beach access points along the California coast, opening up previously inaccessible areas.

 Early 1990s: Focus on Large-Scale Restoration & Trails

• Our focus increased on larger, more complex restoration projects as we adopted a watershed-based approach, recognizing that coastal health depends on the health of upstream systems. The concept of a continuous California Coastal Trail (CCT) gained significant momentum with the Conservancy as a lead agency. We began funding strategic land acquisitions and projects specifically for CCT segments.

Mid-1990s: Focusing on Urban Waterfronts & Community Connection

• The Conservancy increased efforts in urban waterfront revitalization, transforming former industrial or derelict areas into public promenades, parks, and trails. This brought coastal access directly to city residents, often those in underserved communities.
• In 1997, SB104 established the San Francisco Bay Conservancy Program within the Coastal Conservancy, authorizing the Conservancy to work in the 9 county Bay Area on projects that protect, restore, and improve access to natural resources. The Conservancy became a leading partner in the Hamilton Wetland Restoration Project in Marin County, transforming a former U.S. Army Airfield into tidal wetlands and managed ponds – a critical project for Bay ecosystem health and flood control.

Early 2000s: Prioritizing Climate Change, Equitable Public Access & Major CCT Progress

• Anticipating the impacts of sea-level rise and increased coastal erosion, climate change adaptation strategies were formally incorporated into our project planning and funding. The Conservancy also began explicitly prioritizing equitable access to the coast, recognizing that not all communities have had equal opportunity to enjoy coastal resources. Projects increasingly focused on underserved communities, developing access close to transit, and ensuring accessibility for people of all abilities. The CCT became a central programmatic focus, with significant funding allocated to close gaps, build new segments, and improve existing ones.

2002: South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project Begins

• The Conservancy became a key partner in initiating the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project, the largest tidal wetland restoration on the West Coast. This ambitious project aims to restore 15,100 acres of former industrial salt ponds in the South San Francisco Bay into a mix of tidal marsh and managed ponds, with profound benefits for habitat, flood protection, and recreation.

2010s: Innovations in Climate Resilience

• In 2012, SB1066 added language to the Conservancy’s enabling legislation to authorize us to address the impacts and potential impacts of climate change on the coast.  The Conservancy became a leader in piloting and funding nature-based solutions for coastal protection and habitat enhancement. We also spearheaded efforts to beneficially reuse dredge material to create or enhance wetlands and other habitats.  We began integrating climate change considerations into project planning, aiming to fund projects that will be resilient to sea-level rise and other climate stressors.

Mid-2010s – Present: Deepening Equity Commitments & A Broadening Scope

• We further intensified our commitment to equitable and inclusive access, actively seeking out and supporting projects in systemically exclude communities. This includes the creation of our Explore the Coast program, which funds coastal experiences for communities that face barriers to access. Through the development of our Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI) guidelines, we identified ways to prioritize equity across our work and in the administration of our agency.  New Conservancy programs that are helping to advance equitable outcomes include Explore the Coast Overnight that aims to increase the supply of lower cost overnight accommodation at the coast, and Coastal Stories, which funds storytelling installations that represent communities and voices that have been historically excluded in the narratives of California’s coast and publicly accessible lands.
• The Conservancy’s scope expanded to encompass wildfire. The new Wildfire Resilience program supports local partners to develop and implement projects that improve forest health and reduce the risk of catastrophic fire along the coast, coastal watersheds, and the San Francisco Bay.
• The Conservancy was also tasked with helping to establish and support the newly formed Great Redwood Trail Agency, which is responsible for delivering the Great Redwood Trail, a 307-mile, world-class, multi-use rail-to-trail project connecting California’s San Francisco and Humboldt Bays.

The Future

Looking forward, the Coastal Conservancy will play a vital role in sustaining and enhancing a resilient, accessible, and biodiverse California coast and San Francisco Bay for all generations.  Our vision is of a beautiful, restored, and accessible coast for current and future Californians. We act with others to protect and restore, and increase public access to, California’s coast, ocean, coastal watersheds and the San Francisco Bay Area.

News Release: Coastal Conservancy awards over $54 million for Coastal Resilience, Restoration, and Public Access

Today, the Board of the State Coastal Conservancy authorized a total of over $54 million in funding for 28 projects that will help to restore the California coast, expand public access, and improve climate resilience.

Nearly $21 million of the total awarded comes from the 2024 Climate Bond (the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024 codified as Public Resources Code section 90000, et seq)

The grants awarded were:

1. Consideration and authorization to disburse up to $1,075,014 of grant funds from the California Department of Conservation’s Regional Forest and Fire Capacity Program to augment the total grant amount authorized on November 20, 2025 for grants to five public agencies to improve forest health and wildfire resiliency, facilitate greenhouse gas emissions reductions, and increase carbon sequestration in forests in Alameda, Santa Clara, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara Counties. These additional funds will be granted to the Santa Barbara County Fire Safe Council and the Native Coast Action Network to carry out planning, wildfire steward training, and workforce development projects in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties.
2. A grant of up to $941,000 to Ducks Unlimited, Inc. to augment a previously authorized Conservancy grant for the restoration of tidal marsh and creation of public access at the Mountain View Ponds (Ponds A1 and A2W) and to disburse $559,000 to the California Wildlife Foundation to conduct monitoring and adaptive management, both of which are part of Phase 2 of the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project in Santa Clara, San Mateo, and Alameda Counties.
3. A grant of up to $121,000 to Sonoma Land Trust to augment the grant of $1,241,000 authorized by the Conservancy on February 15, 2024 and subsequently augmented by $170,500 to plan for ecological  restoration of 280 acres of baylands and alluvial fan in the Tolay Creek Baylands in Sonoma County by conducting community engagement, preparing preliminary designs and environmental compliance documents, and developing a permitting strategy. This augmentation is needed to allow for payment of indirect costs
4. A grant of up to $1,448,400 to the Petaluma River Park Foundation to augment the Conservancy grants of $1,395,800, authorized on December 1, 2022, and of $57,120, authorized on November 21, 2024, and augmented by $148,880 on December 3, 2024, for the Petaluma River Park Planning Project, consisting of community engagement, park plan development, specific project designs, research and design of interpretive materials under the Coastal Stories Grant Program, and environmental review associated with development of Petaluma River Park in Petaluma, Sonoma County
5. A grant of up to $2,000,000 to the Marin Audubon Society to complete the Greater Bahia Wetlands Acquisition, which consists of acquiring the approximately 323-acre Leveroni property located along the Petaluma River in Marin County for protection, restoration, and enhancement of natural resources and wildlife habitat; protection of cultural resources; and potential public access compatible with those purposes.
6. A grant of up to $2,769,000 to American Canyon Community and Parks Foundation to undertake the Napa River Ecology Center, Implementation Phase, consisting of retrofitting a defunct corporation yard into an accessible, environmental education center that includes educational and interpretive elements, climate resiliency features, and connector trails in Napa County.
7. A grant of up to $2,640,000 to the City of Alameda to conduct community engagement; to prepare plans, designs, environmental review documents, and permit applications; and to coordinate permitting for the Bay Farm Island Near-Term Sea Level Rise Adaptation Project, which consists of a levee, nature-based shoreline protection, and an updated pump station along the northern shoreline of Bay Farm Island, and interim drainage improvements including raising grades along Island Drive, in the City of Alameda.
8. Authorization to: 1) enter into a Federal Cost Share Agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the purpose of investigating the region’s flood adaptation needs, identifying priority locations and stakeholders, and supporting capacity building for San Francisco Bay shoreline multi-benefit flood risk management projects; and disburse up to $150,000 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the Conservancy’s contribution to the Federal Cost Share Agreement, and 2) disburse up to $693,000 to the Bay Area Council Foundation to conduct an economic analysis of the potential for local governments to use policy tools to direct a portion of private sector redevelopment funding to San Francisco Bay shoreline multi-benefit flood risk management projects and to conduct outreach about federal and regional funding for along the Bay shoreline in the 9-county Bay Area
9. Authorization to (1) enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; in which the Conservancy is the non-federal sponsor for the Corps’s placement of dredged sediment from federal dredging projects at the Cullinan Ranch, Montezuma, Eden Landing, and Hamilton-Bel Marin Keys wetland restoration sites on the shoreline of San Francisco Bay in Alameda, Solano, and Marin counties; 2) disburse to the Corps $13,900,000, including $12,000,000 from a grant to the Conservancy from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, pursuant to the Memorandum of Agreement; and 3) adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.
10. A grant of up to $410,000 to the Coastal Corridor Alliance to complete a wetland restoration feasibility study which will include planning tasks and biological analyses to restore and enhance approximately 130 acres of degraded wetland and riparian habitat in the Frank and Joan Randall Preserve, formerly known as Banning Ranch, in the City of Newport Beach in Orange County.
11. A grant of up to $225,000 to two nonprofit organizations and one government agency for three projects that facilitate and enhance the public’s opportunities to explore the Santa Ana River. Participants will visit locations along the Santa Ana River and various tributaries in San Bernardino, Riverside, and Orange counties.
12. A grant of an additional $1,500,000 to the City of Oceanside to augment a grant previously authorized by the Conservancy on June 6, 2024 in the amount of $1,643,344, for a total authorized amount of $3,143,344, to undertake the Loma Alta Slough Wetland Enhancement Project, consisting of the enhancement of 5.8 acres of coastal wetlands in the City of Oceanside in San Diego County.
13. A grant of up to $2,700,000 to augment the Conservancy’s previously authorized grant to the City of Imperial Beach for the Bayshore Bikeway Resiliency Project, consisting of conducting outreach and planning and preparing 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 in Imperial Beach, San Diego County.
14. A grant of $5,917,914 of funds from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to The Nature Conservancy to augment the State Coastal Conservancy grant authorized on February 15, 2024 in the amount of $35,000,000, and subsequently augmented by the Executive Officer by $125,223, for a total authorized amount of $41,043,137, to (1) undertake the first phase of the Beach Restoration and Public Access Project, consisting of final design, permitting, and implementation of restoration and public access improvements on 280 acres at Ormond Beach, and management of the Ormond Beach wetlands; and (2) to expand the scope of the first phase to include final design and permitting of an additional 108 acres, and possible implementation of restoration and public access improvements on the additional 108 acres in Ventura County
15. A grant of up to $385,442 to five non-profit organizations for five community-based dune, wetland, and stream restoration projects on approximately 41 acres in Ventura, Los Angeles, and San Diego Counties
16. A grant of up to $1,242,182 to the City of Ventura to engage the community and to undertake the Pierpont Beach Management Plan, consisting of site assessment and engineering studies, design and conceptual planning for living shoreline and sand management activities, an implementation plan for a preferred alternative suite of projects, preparation of an environmental compliance documents, and preparation of permit applications at Pierpont Beach in Ventura County
17.  Authorization for the Humboldt County Resource Conservation District (HCRCD) to disburse up to $500,000 of the Conservancy’s previously granted North Coast Wildfire Resilience Planning and Implementation Grant Program funds to Sanctuary Forest to implement the Vanauken Creek Fuel Break Project, consisting of creating shaded fuel breaks and conducting fuel reduction through forest thinning and prescribed burning on a total area of approximately 597 acres near the community of Whitethorn in Humboldt County; and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.
18. A grant of up to $1,239,300 to Save the Redwoods League for the Founders Grove Renewal and Restoration Project, consisting of restoration of a 0.75-acre old-growth coast redwood grove, building a new mile-long accessible trail and pedestrian bridge, and installation of interpretive and wayfinding signage in the Founders Grove area of Humboldt Redwoods State Park in Humboldt County, and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.
19. A grant of up to $1,500,000 to Sonoma County Regional Parks to replace the aging icehouse at Spud Point Marina, Bodega Bay, western Sonoma County.
20. A grant of up to $1,066,000 to Humboldt County Resource Conservation District to undertake the Jacoby Creek Restoration Planning Project, consisting of conducting studies, developing approximately three conceptual designs, collaborating with the community and tribes to select one design for advancement to a 30% project design, and preparing environmental compliance documents to enhance creek habitat and reduce flood risk in the Jacoby Creek watershed in the community of Bayside and the City of Arcata, Humboldt County.
21. A grant of up to $3,050,000 to the Sonoma Land Trust for the Osprey Hill Ranch Acquisition Project, consisting of acquisition of a 365-acre ranch for public access and for natural resources, habitat, open space, agriculture, and cultural resources protection, restoration, and management in Sonoma County.
22. A grant of up to $1,500,000 to the Mendocino County Resource Conservation District to implement the Ukiah West Hills Project, which consists of reducing fuels on 270-370 acres in the Ukiah Western Hills in Mendocino County.
23. A grant of up to $2,000,000 to one tribe and one nonprofit organization to carry out implementation projects that will improve forest health and wildfire resiliency in the vicinity of Gasquet, Del Norte County and in the vicinity of Somes Bar, Humboldt County.
24. A grant of up to $275,000 to the City of Capitola to undertake the Esplanade Park Coastal Access Enhancement and Adaptation Plan, consisting of planning and conceptual design for climate-resilient improvements at Esplanade Park in Santa Cruz County.
25. A grant of up to $950,000 to San Mateo County to augment the Conservancy grant previously authorized on March 24, 2022 for construction of public access improvements and visitor-serving amenities at the Don Horsley Park at Tunitas Creek Beach in San Mateo County, expansion of the project to include stabilization of two hillslopes above Tunitas Creek to protect the public access improvements, and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.
26. A grant of up to $507,500 to Commercial Fishermen of Santa Barbara to undertake the Santa Barbara Ocean Collective Shoreside Infrastructure Planning project, consisting of engaging tribes and other stakeholders; conducting technical studies; preparing permit applications; and advancing to 60% design plans to develop an unused 16,000 square foot lot on the Santa Barbara City College campus into a community boat yard.
27. A grant of up to $2,015,000 to the City of Santa Barbara to undertake the Lower Sycamore Creek Flood Mitigation and Restoration Planning Project, consisting of completing technical studies; conducting public outreach; evaluating design alternatives; and preparing 30% overall project design, 60% channel restoration design, environmental compliance documents, and permit applications for restoration of lower Sycamore Creek in Santa Barbara County.
28. A grant of up to $2,000,000 to the Peninsula Open Space Trust to acquire the 196-acre San Gregorio Ranch to protect, restore, and enhance natural resources and wildlife habitat, including wildlife connectivity, and for public access and compatible agriculture use in San Gregorio, San Mateo County.

California State Coastal Conservancy Launches Next Phase of Pedro Point Headlands Coastal Trail Design

Trail will close a 1.3-mile gap in California Coastal Trail

PACIFICA, CA, February 19, 2026. The California State Coastal Conservancy (Conservancy) has launched the next phase of project development for the Pedro Point Headlands Coastal Trail, a key step toward closing a longstanding gap in the California Coastal Trail–an envisioned 1,230-mile continuous, interconnected public trail system spanning Oregon to Mexico. Members of the public are invited to participate in the planning process taking place over the next two years.

The project will complete the design of an approximately 1.3-mile, multi-use trail connecting the City of Pacifica with the Devil’s Slide Trail and the Pedro Point Headlands open space. The design will aim to accommodate diverse users, such as hikers, cyclists, equestrians, and individuals with mobility limitations, while preserving the natural character of the headlands and providing a scenic, multi-modal alternative to Highway 1. Closing this gap will connect seven miles of uninterrupted coastal trail from Esplanade Beach to Devil’s Slide, improving public access to coastal resources and enhancing recreation and transportation connectivity across the region.

First envisioned more than three decades ago, the Pedro Point Headlands Coastal Trail has been identified as a priority in statewide and regional planning efforts. In 2020, the Conservancy funded a conceptual study with community engagement, which successfully identified a preferred alignment and conceptual design for Pedro Point Headlands Coastal Trail.

In early 2026, the Conservancy contracted BKF Engineers Inc., along with a multidisciplinary team of subconsultants, to embark on the next steps to plan the trail, which includes engineering, environmental review, permitting, and trail design, building on prior work. Planning is expected to continue through the end of 2027, positioning the project for construction in a future phase.

“The Pedro Point Headlands Coastal Trail represents a vital connection to the broader California Coastal Trail network,” said Erin Gravley, Conservancy Project Manager. “We are excited to move this next phase forward and help create a safer, more continuous coastal trail experience for local communities and visitors.”

The planning process will include community engagement, Tribal consultation, and coordination with local, regional, state and nonprofit partners to refine the preferred trail alignment and to ensure the project reflects shared community values of access and stewardship.

Community members interested in receiving project updates or learning about upcoming engagement opportunities are encouraged to sign up for the project mailing list. To learn more about the project, visit the project page here. 

Grant Writing 101 Webinar, Dec 11

Join the California State Coastal Conservancy to learn helpful approaches to writing grant proposals. Our Project Managers will walk through strategies to develop a competitive application for Coastal Conservancy funding.

There will be time for Q&A.

A recording of this webinar will be posted on the Conservancy’s website afterwards.

SCC Grant Writing 101 Webinar

December 11, 2025 12-1pm

A recording can be found here.