Press Release: SCC and City of Pacific Grove Celebrate Opening of Point Pinos Coastal Trail

Newest segment of the California Coastal Trail open to the public

PACIFIC GROVE, May 20, 2022 – Today, the City of Pacific Grove celebrated the formal opening of the Point Pinos Coastal Tail with a ribbon-cutting event attended by state and local officials and community leaders.  This newest segment of the state’s California Coastal Trail completes the 4 mile stretch of trail along Pacific Grove’s coastline and links to Coastal Trail segments to the north and south of the city.

“We are thrilled to have partnered with the Coastal Conservancy and other state and regional funding partners to move this trail project from vision to reality,” said Pacific Grove Mayor Bill Peake, “It is a culmination of efforts over 24 years by City Councils, Committees, Staff and Funding Agencies.  Without their continued support and efforts, it would not have been possible. Pacific Grove is already a world-class visitor destination, as positioned on the spectacular rocky coast of the Monterey Peninsula. This trail provides unimpeded access and views to the Pacific Ocean and Monterey Bay and links to coastal trails in Asilomar State Beach. This new coastal trail is easily accessible by car with nearby parking, hotel, and dining venues and downtown a few minutes away.  Visitors will not be disappointed.”

“Congratulations to the City of Pacific Grove for completing their spectacular Coastal Trail.” Said Amy Hutzel, Executive Officer of the State Coastal Conservancy, “Now residents and visitors can enjoy walking and biking not only the 4 miles within the City but also the 30-plus additional miles that connect to the cities of Monterey, Sand City, and Marina to the north and Carmel to the south. Pacific Grove has demonstrated to other coastal communities how to design and build trails to be resilient to climate change – by locating their trail and parking lots away the most vulnerable coastal areas and having a long-term plan to move the trail inland over time.”

The new trail improves the visitor experience and enhances safety and accessibility by locating the trail seaward of the parking areas to provide unobstructed ocean views. Beach access pathways direct visitors to designated access points and away from sensitive dune habitat. Buses and recreational vehicles can park in designated lots at either end of the trail, and accessible parking spaces are available at several locations.

Recognizing the threat sea level rise poses, the trail and parking are located outside of the projected 30-year erosion zone.  The impacts of storm surge and coastal erosion will be buffered by the 2.5 acres of restored dune habitat that was part of this project. In anticipation of future climate impacts beyond 2050, the City has developed a plan to relocate the trail inland and convert Ocean View Boulevard to a public two-way bike path when rising seas make it unsuitable as a roadway.

The project was funded by the City of Pacific Grove, the California State Coastal Conservancy, Air Resources Bord, California Natural Resources Agency, and Transportation Agency for Monterey County.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

More about the project can be found here: https://www.cityofpacificgrove.org/pointpinostrail

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

Since its founding, the Conservancy has:

• Funded 4,000 projects along the California coastline and in the San Francisco Bay.
• Protected 390,000 acres of coastal lands through acquisition of fee title and conservation easements.
• Restored 33,000 acres of habitat.
• Built 200 new coastal accessway and 210 miles of new trails.
• Put $1.8 billion to work for conservation projects, and leveraged far more from federal, local government, and private sources.

Press Release: Coastal Conservancy Awards $14 million for Coastal Access, Protection, and Restoration

Yesterday, the Board of the State Coastal Conservancy authorized over $14 million in funding for restoration, preservation, and public access to California’s coast and coastal watersheds.

The projects approved included $495,000 to design and permit access amenities and a new ADA-compliant bathroom at Lechuza Beach in Malibu, $755,820 to remove fish barriers and restore habitat on Davy Brown Creek in the Santa Maria River watershed, and $1,721,088 to nonprofit organizations and public agencies for 45 projects that create coastal experiences for communities facing barriers to coastal access. These 45 grants are part of the Conservancy’s Explore the Coast grant program, which aims to help more Californians, particularly those that have been historically excluded, access and enjoy the coast.

The grants awarded this week will not only enhance the health and accessibility of the California coast, but will help to make it more resilient to the challenges of rising seas and a changing climate.

NORTH COAST

1. Authorization to transfer fee title to nine Conservancy-owned parcels in the Bodega Bay area to the County of Sonoma; approval of the implementation/disposition plans for the property transfer; and authorization to disburse up to $34,000 to Sonoma County Regional Parks to prepare surveys and Phase 1 environmental site assessments of the parcels.

CENTRAL COAST

2. A grant of up to $165,000 to Trout Unlimited to augment an existing Conservancy grant authorized on May 24, 2018, to replace a concrete creek crossing with a fish-friendly box culvert on Cachagua Creek, a tributary to the Carmel River in Monterey County.
3. A grant of up to $216,636 to the Regents of the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) to conduct invasive plant removal to enhance native riparian habitat on the Santa Clara Riverin Ventura County.
4. A grant of up to $980,000 awarded to the Conservancy by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under its National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program to the Elkhorn Slough Foundation to augment a Conservancy grant authorized on December 19, 2019 to complete Phase 2 of the Elkhorn Slough Tidal Marsh Restoration Projectin Elkhorn Slough, Monterey County.
5. A grant of up to $212,812 to San Mateo County Harbor District to construct new public restrooms, realign a small segment of the California Coastal Trail, reconfigure the parking lot, and install other visitor-serving amenities at Pillar Point Harboradjacent to Surfer’s Beach in San Mateo County.
6. A grant of up to $100,000 to the County of Santa Cruz to develop a facilities and management plan for public access and natural resource protection for the north coast region of Santa Cruz County.
7. A grant of up to $755,820 to Earth Island Institute to remove two fish barriers, replace them with bridges, and restore habitat on Davy Brown Creek, located in the Santa Maria River watershed, and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.
8. A grant of up to $825,000 to the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County for the acquisition of three conservation easements on the 7,681-acre Attiyeh Ranchin northern San Luis Obispo County.

SOUTH COAST

13. A grant of up to $200,000 to San Diego Botanic Garden (SDBG) to enhance and restore 4.6 acres of riparian upland habitatat Ocean Knoll Canyon in the City of Encinitas, San Diego County.
14. A grant of up to $35,780 to Orange County Coastkeeper to conduct monitoring and outreach to protect endangered bird species and associated habitat located near the Santa Ana River Mouthin the cities of Newport Beach and Huntington Beach.
15. A grant of up to $180,680 to the Environmental Center of San Diego to prepare environmental assessments, permit applications, and draft engineering designs to provide additional public access at Princess Streetin La Jolla, San Diego.
16. A grant of up to $3,500,000 to augment the Conservancy grant of $4,900,000, previously authorized to the Crystal Cove Conservancy to restore 17 historic cottages on North Beach of the Crystal Cove Historic District at Crystal Cove State Park in Orange County.
17. A grant of up to $200,000 to the Sierra Health Foundation to work with tribal entities to conduct planning to further tribal access, tribal participation in land management, and land acquisition by tribal entities at multiple sites in Orange County.
18. A grant of up to $330,040 to Amigos de los Rios to implement the Monrovia High School Watershed Discovery Projectin Monrovia, Los Angeles County.
19. Authorization to terminate the Coastal Conservancy’s Calleguas Creek Watershed In-lieu Fee Programby disbursing $2,453,773 million for the purchase of 58.11 jurisdictional wetland and riparian buffer credits from the Santa Paula Creek Mitigation Bank.
20. A grant of up to $495,000 to the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority to prepare final engineering designs and construction specifications, and prepare and submit permit applications needed to: 1) update and repair existing public beach access amenities, including two beach stairways, and to 2) install new Americans with Disabilities Act compliant public access amenities, including a restroom, at Lechuza Beachin the City of Malibu.
21. A grant of up to $1,342,500 to the Riverside County Regional Park and Open Space District for construction of a segment of the Santa Ana River Trailas part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Prado Dam Alcoa Dike construction project, and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.
22. A grant of up to $310,000 to Coastal Quest to conduct stakeholder outreach and engagement for coastal resiliency planning for state parkson the San Diego County coast.

STATEWIDE

19. $1,721,088 to nonprofit organizations and public agencies for 45 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.

Press Release: Coastal Conservancy Awards $38 million for Coastal Preservation, Restoration, and Public Access

Today, the Board of the California State Coastal Conservancy approved nearly $38 million in grants for coastal restoration, preservation, and public access including $13.4 million for construction, monitoring and modeling of Phase 2 South Bay Salt Pond (SBSP) Restoration Project actions at Eden Landing Ecological Reserve in Alameda County and $10 million to the County of San Diego to implement the Tijuana River Valley Smuggler’s Gulch Improvements Project.

The Board also allocated $505,000 to the City of Healdsburg for their Fire Department to conduct wildfire fuel management, create defensible space, and update the management plan for Fitch Mountain Park and Open Space Preserve. This project is expected to get underway at the beginning of July to improve the region’s resilience to wildfire in this fire season.  This is the first project in the Conservancy’s Forest Health and Wildfire Resilience Program to be funded by the early action funding approved by the Legislature and Governor Newsom last month.

NORTH COAST

1. A grant of up to $269,318 to the Yurok Tribe for planning and to prepare designs and permit applications for instream salmonid habitat enhancement projects in the Elk Meadows Cabin reach of lower Prairie Creek, a tributary to Redwood Creek, in Humboldt County.
2. A grant of up to $413,000 to Save the Redwoods League to construct approximately 4.5 miles of new trails extending the coastal trail on the Shady Dell property near the Usal Beach area of the southern Lost Coast in Mendocino County, and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.
3. A grant of up to $505,000 to the City of Healdsburg for their Fire Department to conduct wildfire fuel management, create defensible space, and update the management plan for Fitch Mountain Park and Open Space Preserve in Sonoma County, and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.
4. A grant of up to $2,000,000 to The Wildlands Conservancy to acquire approximately 7,480 acres of the Lone Pine Ranch property at the confluence of the Eel River mainstem and North Fork Eel River in Trinity and Mendocino Counties for the purposes of preserving and restoring fish and wildlife habitat, public access and recreation, open space, and natural resource protection.
5. A grant of up to $2,000,000 to the County of Humboldt to complete designs and permits and construct the Humboldt Bay Trail South, a new 4.25 mile stretch of the California Coastal Trail linking the Cities of Arcata and Eureka, and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.
6. A grant of up to $940,000 to the Smith River Alliance, Inc. to acquire beach, dune, wetland, upland and forested parcels in the vicinity of the Pacific Shores subdivision, adjacent to Lake Earl, Del Norte County.

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA

7. A grant of up to $500,000, including $74,000 in funds from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, to the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department to realign and improve the existing trail network at Twin Peaks in San Francisco County, part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail alignment, to control erosion, increase public safety, restore native plants, and provide interpretive and directional signs.
8. A grant of up to: 1) $7,605,000 to Ducks Unlimited, Inc. for construction, monitoring and modeling of Phase 2 South Bay Salt Pond (SBSP) Restoration Project actions at Eden Landing Ecological Reserve in Alameda County; 2) $720,000 of in-lieu fee funds awarded to the Conservancy from the California Department of Transportation for development of the public access trail as part of the Phase 2 project at Ravenswood in San Mateo County; 3) $3,500,000 to the Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District to conduct studies and prepare designs and a 408 permit application for alterations to flood control facilities at Eden Landing; 4) $460,000 to the Aquatic Science Center for a lead scientist, the SBSP Restoration Project website, and applied studies to support implementation of the SBSP Restoration Project in Alameda, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties; 5) $385,000 for executive project management of the SBSP Restoration Project; and 6) $800,000 to the California Wildlife Foundation for monitoring and applied studies that facilitate ongoing adaptive management of the SBSP Restoration Project.
9. A grant of up to $950,000, to be reimbursed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program, to the California Invasive Plant Council for the planning, management, treatment, monitoring, restoration, and permit compliance activities of the San Francisco Estuary Invasive Spartina Project.
10. Amending an existing Project Partnership Agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Santa Clara Valley Water District for construction of the Shoreline Project in the City of San José, Santa Clara County

CENTRAL COAST

11. A grant of up to $60,000 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.
12. A grant of up to $1,123,000 to the Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County for the Integrated Watershed Restoration Program to conduct planning and prepare designs and permit applications for 23 high priority watershed restoration projects in San Mateo, Santa Cruz, and Monterey Counties.

SOUTH COAST

13. A grant of up to $1,692,360 to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for design and permitting of the restoration of the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve in Los Angeles County and further authorization to disburse up to $500,000 to the Prevention Institute to support broad community engagement in planning for that restoration; and the adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.
14. A grant of up to $1,200,000 to Riverside County Regional Park and Open Space District to prepare plans, designs, and environmental documentation for the 3.4-mile segment of the Santa Ana River Trail known as the Rincon to Prado Spillway segment in the County of Riverside.
15. A grant of up to $10,000,000 to the County of San Diego to implement the Tijuana River Valley – Smuggler’s Gulch Improvements Project, and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.
16. A grant of up to $700,000 to the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains to augment a previously authorized Conservancy grant of $460,000 for planning for the Topanga Lagoon Restoration Project at Topanga State Park and Topanga Beach in Los Angeles County.
17. A grant of up to $255,000 for environmental review and community engagement to support the Malibu Coastal Access Public Works Plan for seventeen sites in the City of Malibu.
18. A grant of up to $1,300,000 through one or more contracts to prepare environmental compliance documents and related technical studies for the Ormond Beach Restoration and Public Access Plan.
19. Authorization for the City of Chula Vista to remove use restrictions on 1.86 acres of the Conservancy-funded, City-owned Faivre Street property in the lower Otay River Valley in exchange for the City’s acquisition and restriction of a property of equal size and equal or greater value in the Otay River Valley.

Press Release: First California Coastal Trail Map Will Help Complete the 1,230-Mile-Long Trail

Staff Report: https://documents.coastal.ca.gov/reports/2021/5/W6d/W6d-5-2021-report.pdf

Map: https://the-california-coastal-trail-1-coastalcomm.hub.arcgis.com/

Contact: Noaki Schwartz at Noaki.Schwartz@coastal.ca.gov and Taylor Samuelson at Taylor.Samuelson@scc.ca.gov

SAN FRANCISCO _ The Coastal Commission and Coastal Conservancy released a digital map that for the first time shows the existing sections of the California Coastal Trail, a three-year project that will be critical to completing the rest of the trail.

“What a milestone,” said Coastal Commission Executive Director Jack Ainsworth. “There are currently 875 miles of trail and now we can finally see exactly where they are, so we can eventually bridge those gaps and finish the trail.”

The California Coastal Trail, which has been in the planning since 1975, is a network of trails that will eventually allow the public to traverse the length of California’s 1,230-mile-long coast. The varied trail is not a single pathway but a collection of parallel threads and is about 70 percent complete. The trail takes participants through beaches, along blufftops and hillsides, on footpaths, sidewalks and separated bicycle paths maximizing scenic coastal views. Portions of the trail are accessible on foot, bicycle, wheelchair users and on horsebacks as well.

“The California Coastal Trail is one of the only flagship trails in the country that is accessible to almost everyone,” said Coastal Conservancy Executive Officer Sam Schuchat. “Many Californians have walked a segment or two without even realizing it!  With this map, people can find trail segments easily, as well as public access points to get to the shore.”

The map will be available for free download and has a variety of uses. Members of the public can use the public access points to plan trips and planners can see where the amenities to help determine other segments. Users can also zoom into trail alignments and see details such as pathways and stairs. The online map will allow members of the public and planners to click on and view the length of the segment, the name, which city its located in and who the trail steward of each section is.

Users can also determine which segments are complete and safe to access, which are problematic, which routes are waterfront, which are bike only segments and where there are significant connecting trails. The project was completed with support and information from Caltrans, State Parks and many other state and local agencies.

“This really going to help the public appreciate all their options for accessing the coast,” said Coastal Commission Vice-Chair Donne Brownsey. “Hopefully we will get more people out there on those beautiful trails.”

Coastal Conservancy Awards Nearly $18 Million for Coastal Restoration, Preservation and Public Access

Board approves funding for land acquisitions, accessways, wharf repairs

Oakland, CA – Today, the Board of the California State Coastal Conservancy awarded $17.9 million to 18 projects to protect and restore the California coast and San Francisco Bay, and increase public access to these natural resources.

Among these grants was $5 million to the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority to acquire the 235-acre Sobrato South property for protection of open space and wildlife habitat in the Coyote Valley of San Jose.  The Board also authorized nearly $3 million to the Riverside County Regional Parks and Open Space District for construction of a multiuse trail segment as part of the Hamner Avenue Bridge construction project in the City of Norco, and nearly $2 million to the City of Capitola to renovate and expand the Capitola wharf.  Over $250,000 was awarded to the Environmental Health Coalition to fund the Barrio Logan Climate Resiliency Community project, a planning project consisting of preparation of two plans that address climate change impacts and bolster adaptation planning efforts in Barrio Logan, a severely disadvantaged community in San Diego.

The projects approved at the June Board meeting were:

NORTH COAST

1. A grant of up to $640,000 to California Trout, Inc. to restore fish passage and enhance habitat on Cochran Creek, a tributary to Fay Slough on Humboldt Bay, and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.
2. A grant of up to $500,000 to the Sonoma County Regional Parks to acquire approximately 515 acres in the Dutch Bill Creekwatershed, a tributary to the Russian River, to protect open space, habitat, natural floodplain and water quality, and to provide an opportunity to develop a future regional parkway with recreational trails.
3. A grant of up to $196,123 to California Trout, Inc. to conduct studies and prepare engineering designs for the Sulphur Creek Fish Passage Improvement Projectto remove a fish passage barrier on Sulphur Creek, in St Helena, Napa County.
4. A grant of up to $96,000 to the County of Del Norte to assess the feasibility of expanding camping opportunities and develop a park improvement plan for Clifford Kamph Memorial Park, the northern gateway to the California Coastal Trail, in Del Norte County.
5. A grant of up to $94,371 to the Moat Creek Managing Agency to design, permit, and construct accessibility improvements at the Moat Creek Beach public accesswayand to maintain the accessway for three years, at Moat Creek in Mendocino County.
6. A grant of up to $150,000 to the City of Crescent City to construct a new section of the California Coastal Trailconnecting the Crescent City Harbor with Crescent City’s Beachfront Park in Del Norte County, and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA

7. A grant of up to $5,000,000 to the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority to acquire the approximately 235-acre Sobrato South property for protection of open space, natural floodplain, wildlife habitat, biological resources, and agriculture; natural resource restoration; and compatible public access, as part of a larger Coyote Valley open space acquisitioneffort in the City of San Jose in Santa Clara County.
8. A grant of up to $83,000 to the City of San José to prepare a plan and environmental review documents for a 1.4 mile segment of the Five Wounds Trail, which is part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail, within Santa Clara County.
9. A grant of up to $800,000 to the California Invasive Plant Council to implement the planning, management, treatment, monitoring, and restoration activities of the San Francisco Estuary Invasive Spartina Project.

CENTRAL COAST

10. A grant of up to $1,900,000 to the City of Capitola to renovate and expand the Capitola Wharfin Santa Cruz County, and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.
11. A grant of up to $1 million of funds granted to the Conservancy by the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District to prepare a habitat restoration and enhancement  plan, environmental impact analyses, and permit applications for the restoration and enhancement of floodplain habitat on the Carmel River at the Rancho Cañada unitof the Palo Corona Regional Park in Monterey County.
12. A grant of up to $100,000 to the Resource Conservation District of Monterey County to plan, design, conduct environmental analyses, and prepare grant and permit applications to remove a fish passage barrier on Cachagua Creekby replacing a concrete ford with a bridge at the Weston-Champagne Property.

SOUTH COAST

13. A grant of up to $2,965,000 to the Riverside County Regional Parks and Open Space District for construction of a segment of trail and two access ramps for the Santa Ana River Trail as part of the Hamner Avenue Bridgeconstruction project in the City of Norco in Riverside County, and adoption of findings under the California Environmental Quality Act.
14. A grant of up to $544,000 to the City of Santa Ana for final design and restoration of the Santa Ana River Parkway Triangle Parkalong the Santa Ana River Trail in the City of Santa Ana, Orange County.
15. A grant of up to $254,530 to the Environmental Health Coalition for a project that increases climate resiliency in the Barrio Logan community by developing a proposed Barrio Logan Community Plan Update and preparing a preliminary plan for the Boston Linear Park in San Diego, CA.
16. A grant of up to $500,000 to the City of Imperial Beach to prepare a Sediment Management Work Plan and Monitoring Program for the Tijuana River Valleyin San Diego County.
17. A grant of up to $250,000 to the California Department of Parks and Recreation to augment a previously authorized Conservancy grant of $250,000 to prepare a restoration plan and conduct environmental review for the Nelson Sloan Quarry Restoration Projectin the Tijuana River Valley region of San Diego County.
18. A grant of up to $2,900,000, provided by the Department of Parks and Recreation, to augment the Conservancy grant of $2,000,000 authorized on February 6, 2020, to the Crystal Cove Conservancy to restore 17 historic cottages on North Beach of the Crystal Cove Historic Districtat Crystal Cove State Park in Orange County.

Notes to Editors:

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

Since its founding, the Conservancy has:

• Funded 2,400 projects along the California coastline and in the San Francisco Bay.
• Protected 390,000 acres of coastal lands through acquisition of fee title and conservation easements.
• Restored 33,000 acres of habitat.
• Built 200 new coastal accessway and 210 miles of new trails.
• Put $1.3 billion to work for conservation projects, and leveraged far more from federal, local government, and private sources.

Working with the Conservancy during Coronavirus Precautions

A message from our Executive Officer, Sam Schuchat:

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

NOTE:

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

1. a) This is NOT the official NCWC call for applications.
2. b) Projects hoping to receive NCWC 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 criteria, please submit a brief (~2-4 page) letter of interest via email to avra.heller@scc.ca.gov by 5 PM PST on March 2^nd, 2020 (see further details below).

The California State Coastal Conservancy (Conservancy) seeks partners for joint applications to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 round of the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) National Coastal Wetlands Conservation (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 to implement projects.  While federal agencies can’t receive NCWC grant funds, NCWC-funded projects can be implemented on federal lands.

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 process. The deadline to submit NCWC proposals to the USFWS for FY 2021 has not been set, but is expected to be in late June 2020.  If projects are awarded a NCWC grant, funding will be available for implementation as early as Spring 2021.  USFWS will need to meet its project-related environmental compliance requirements before making funding available. A full description of the NCWC program can be found here:  https://www.fws.gov/coastal/CoastalGrants/

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 a small amount (~15%) of the grant for biological surveys or monitoring, planning and permitting if those activities are closely tied to implementation. Projects should be ready for implementation in Summer 2021 or 2022.  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 of the required match, but project partners providing their own match will increase the Conservancy’s capacity to carry out more projects.  The NCWC 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.

More information about NCWC grants, including last year’s FY 2020 Notice of Funding Opportunity, is available here: https://www.fws.gov/coastal/CoastalGrants/. Please again note that the FY 2021 Notice of Funding Opportunity for the NCWC program has not yet been released, but it is anticipated to be very similar to last year’s document.

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 avra.heller@scc.ca.gov, by 5 PM PST on March 2^nd, 2020.

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’s 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.

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 Avra Heller, External Grants Manager, 510-286-1212, avra.heller@scc.ca.gov

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

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

The projects were:

NORTH COAST

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

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

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

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA

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

CENTRAL COAST

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

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

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

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

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

SOUTH COAST

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

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

STATEWIDE

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

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

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

Notes to Editors:

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

Since its founding, the Conservancy has:

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

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

Restored 33,000 acres of habitat.

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

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

Coastal Conservancy Awards Over $10 Million for Coastal Protection, Restoration and Access

Board approves funding to support coastal projects and programming

Arcata, CA – Today, the Board of the California State Coastal Conservancy awarded $10.8 million to 17 projects to protect and restore the California coast and San Francisco Bay, and increase public access to these natural resources.

The projects funded include $1,500,000 to Monterey County to construct a segment of the California Coastal Trail in Moss Landing, $1,000,000 to the City of Santa Ana for improvements to Santiago Park, and $900,000 to the Redwood Community Action Agency for planning, design, and environmental review to develop the Little River Trail, a section of the California Coastal Trail from Little River State Beach to Scenic Drive, in Humboldt County.

The Board also authorized $3,067,000 of grant funds from the California Natural Resources Agency’s Regional Forest and Fire Capacity Program to four public agencies and non-profit organizations in the Central Coast region for projects that will improve forest health and wildfire resiliency, $900,000 in funds provided by the Marin Community Foundation for five projects that address the impacts of climate change and sea level rise in Marin County, and a block grant of  $1,400,000 to Association of Bay Area Governments to fund projects to complete the San Francisco Bay Trail.

“This series of Board authorizations underscore the value of partnerships in conservation.” said Sam Schuchat, Executive Officer of the Coastal Conservancy. “The state, non-profit organizations and regional agencies all collaborate to take advantage of each other’s expertise and make sure funding flows to the projects that will do the most good.”

A full list of the projects approved can be found by clicking here.

Notes to Editors:

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

Since its founding, the Conservancy has:

• Funded 2,400 projects along the California coastline and in the San Francisco Bay.
• Protected 390,000 acres of coastal lands through acquisition of fee title and conservation easements.
• Restored 33,000 acres of habitat.
• Built 200 new coastal accessway and 210 miles of new trails.
• Put $1.3 billion to work for conservation projects, and leveraged far more from federal, local government, and private sources.

Coastal Conservancy Awards Over $17 Million for Coastal Protection

Coastal Conservancy Grants to fund land acquisition, restoration and coastal access

Riverside – This week, the Board of the California State Coastal Conservancy awarded over $17 million in grants for the acquisition of parkland, restoration of coastal resources and construction of amenities to help Californians explore and enjoy the coast.

The bulk of the awards was split between a grant of $6,200,000 to San Mateo County for the acquisition of the 58-acre Tunitas Creek Beach and $6,895,100 to nine nonprofit organizations and public agencies to improve coastal water quality, preserve and enhance coastal resources, and enhance coastal access within Santa Monica Bay and its watershed.

Tunitas Creek Beach

Tunitas Creek Beach, located between Pescadero and Half Moon Bay, has long been considered a local gem due to its long stretch of beautiful, wild, and secluded beach, and its dramatic rugged cliffs. Conservancy funding will support the acquisition of a 58-acre property that includes panoramic ocean views, nearly a mile of sandy beach and dune habitat, and a third of a mile of the Tunitas Creek riparian corridor. For decades, this private property was accessed primarily by locals and surfers. With no facilities and no park agency management, there has been a dramatic increase in adverse impacts on the property’s natural resources and public health and safety. Ownership of the property will enable San Mateo County Parks to develop safe and sustainable public access and recreation opportunities, reduce unregulated use and illegal dumping, and restore the property’s natural resources. Conservancy funds will also enable County Parks to prepare design, environmental review and permitting documents, with the intention of eventually opening the property as a new county park.

The Board of the Conservancy also authorized $6,895,100 to nine nonprofit organizations and public agencies for 10 projects that implement the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Plan (the Bay Plan).  The Bay Plan was approved in its current form in 2013 and includes specific goals and objectives related to water quality, natural resources and benefits to humans including, public access and education in the Santa Monica Bay.

The Safe Neighborhood Parks, Clean Water, Clean Air, and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2000 (Proposition 12, Public Resources Code Sections 5096.300, et seq.) allocated $25,000,000 to the Coastal Conservancy for the restoration of Santa Monica Bay in accordance with the goals and priorities of the Bay Plan. Prior to this week’s funding, the Conservancy had awarded over $17 million of Proposition 12 Santa Monica Bay funds for 49 projects in the Santa Monica Bay Watershed. The nine projects selected to receive the final tranche of Proposition 12 funding range from land acquisition to green streets construction to innovative water purification projects.

Other projects funded by the Conservancy at this week’s meeting include $1.9 million to construct a new campground in the Tijuana River Valley and $750,000 to plan new segments of the Bay Area Ridge Trail.

The full lists of projects considered and funded at the December Board meeting can be found here:

https://scc.ca.gov/2019/03/01/coastal-conservancy-public-meeting-in-riverside-march-14/

Notes to Editors:

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

Since its founding, the Conservancy has:

• Funded 2,400 projects along the California coastline and in the San Francisco Bay.
• Protected 390,000 acres of coastal lands through acquisition of fee title and conservation easements.
• Restored 33,000 acres of habitat.
• Built 200 new coastal accessway and 210 miles of new trails.
• Put $1.3 billion to work for conservation projects, and leveraged far more from federal, local government, and private sources.