At its Feb. 24, 2022 quarterly meeting, the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) approved approximately $64.39 million in grants to help restore and protect fish and wildlife habitat throughout California. Some of the 27 approved projects will benefit fish and wildlife — including some endangered species — while others will provide public access to important natural resources. Several projects will also demonstrate the importance of protecting working landscapes that integrate economic, social and environmental stewardship practices beneficial to the environment, landowners and the local community.
Funding for these projects comes from a combination of sources including the Habitat Conservation Fund and bond measures approved by voters to help preserve and protect California’s natural resources.
Funded projects include:
A $3.13 million grant to the Santa Clara Valley Habitat Agency for a project to develop the planning, designs, environmental review and permitting for a wildlife overpass across State Route 152 in the Pacheco Pass Region of Santa Clara County.
A $4 million grant to the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County for a cooperative project with the Department of Conservation to acquire approximately 2,613 acres of land for the protection of wildlife, habitat preservation, restoration and management, wildlife-oriented education and research, and habitat connectivity, and to provide future wildlife-oriented, public-use opportunities, located near San Juan Bautista in Monterey and San Benito counties.
A $978,750 grant to the Eastern Sierra Land Trust for a cooperative project with the Department of Conservation for the acquisition of a conservation easement over approximately 1,741 acres of land including pasture, riparian, wet meadow and sagebrush areas supporting mule deer, mountain lion and bi-state greater sage-grouse near Bridgeport in Mono County.
A $398,720 grant to the National Forest Foundation for a cooperative project with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to construct a new entrance road, parking area, two restrooms, a ten-panel bulletin board, day use areas, interpretive and wayfinding signage; and installation of barrier rocks, curb stops, a gate, pipe rail fence and a culvert, located on USFS lands 49 miles northwest of Escondido in San Diego County.
A $2 million grant to the Sempervirens Fund to acquire a conservation easement over approximately 915 acres of land to protect and preserve habitat for deer and mountain lions, and to maintain wildlife corridors near La Honda in San Mateo County.
A $2.2 million grant to the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority for a cooperative project with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy to acquire approximately 163 acres of land for the protection of an open space resource with wildlife and endangered species habitat and wildlife corridors, and to provide future wildlife-oriented, public-use opportunities, located near Chatsworth in Los Angeles County.
A $12.5 million grant to State Parks to complete the Rindge Dam Removal and Malibu Creek Ecosystem Restoration Planning project that builds on the completed Feasibility Study and Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement to develop engineering plans and specifications to a 90 percent level of completion, located two miles north of the city of Malibu in Los Angeles County.
For more information about the WCB, visit wcb.ca.gov.
