CDFW News

Wildlife Conservation Board Funds Environmental Improvement and Acquisition Projects

Wed, 31 May 2023 10:17:13 GMT

At its May 25, 2023, quarterly meeting, the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) approved approximately $83.15 million in grants to help restore and protect fish and wildlife habitat throughout California and, in some cases, provide new and improved public access, recreational and educational opportunities.

Among the 28 projects approved, the WCB provided a $24 million grant to The Wildlands Conservancy for a cooperative project with the State Coastal Conservancy to acquire approximately 11,691 acres of land in the Carmel Valley in Monterey County for the protection of upland and lowland habitats and the wildlife species they support.

The habitats consist of chaparral, oak woodlands and rolling grasslands along with seasonal creeks that provide riparian corridors supporting numerous species, including threatened and endangered California red-legged frogs and the California tiger salamanders. The property, which exceeds the total acreage of some state parks, will provide wildlife-oriented education and research along with compatible public and private uses.

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.

Other funded projects approved by the WCB on May 25 include:

A $2.42 million grant to the Mattole Restoration Council for a cooperative project with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to restore coastal prairie habitat at the Table Bluff Ecological Reserve located 4.5 miles southeast of the city of Loleta in Humboldt County.
A $3.1 million grant to the Xerces Society for a cooperative project with the California Department of Parks and Recreation, resource conservation districts and the Natural Resources Conservation Service to administer a block grant to address the decline of monarch butterflies and other imperiled pollinators by creating high quality habitat across California, targeting both monarch overwintering sites and the monarch priority restoration zones as well as improving connectivity across the landscape in various counties.
A $4 million grant to the South Yuba River Citizen's League for a cooperative project with the Yuba Water Agency to increase spawning habitat, create backwater habitat and reduce bank erosion on the Yuba River one mile north of Smartsville in Yuba County.
A $3.4 million grant to Ducks Unlimited for a cooperative project with USFWS, Sonoma Land Trust, Sonoma County Sanitation District, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and State Coastal Conservancy to develop shovel-ready plans and environmental compliance documentation for up to 6,000 acres of the Sonoma Creek Baylands portion of the San Pablo Baylands in Sonoma County.
A $4.2 million grant to The Wildlands Conservancy to acquire approximately 2,333 acres of land for wildlife habitat preservation, restoration and management, wildlife-oriented education and research, habitat connectivity and future wildlife-oriented, public-use opportunities near Bridgeport in Mono County.
A $3.34 million grant to Western Rivers Conservancy (WRC) for a cooperative project with Sierra Nevada Conservancy to acquire approximately 2,285 acres of land for the protection of threatened and endangered species, wildlife corridors, habitat linkages and watersheds, and to provide wildlife-oriented, public-use opportunities near the community of Weldon in Kern County. At close of escrow, WRC will direct the seller to convey the approximate 1,039 southwestern acres to the Kern River Valley Heritage Foundation and the approximate 1,246 northeastern acres to the Tübatulabal Tribe’s nonprofit organization for long-term stewardship.
A $3.19 million grant to the Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT) for a seed bank expansion project to collect, process and store seed, conduct research and develop protocols, create an inventory of California desert seed, and develop and implement outreach and education materials on MDLT-owned lands in Imperial, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

For more information about the WCB please visit wcb.ca.gov.

CDFW Photo: Rolling hills and oaks within the Carmel Valley courtesy of Frazier Haney. The property will be acquired to protect the upland and lowland habitats and provide wildlife-oriented education and research.

###

Media Contact:
Mark Topping, Wildlife Conservation Board, (916) 539-4673

Get Outside and Make a Difference During California Invasive Species Action Week

Fri, 03 Jun 2022 08:42:00 GMT

The ninth annual California Invasive Species Action Week (CISAW) runs from Saturday, June 4 through Sunday, June 12, 2022. Sponsored by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), this week provides an opportunity for Californians to learn about the hundreds of harmful non-native plants and animals that threaten our state’s natural resources, ecology and economy.

Historically, agencies, non-profits and volunteer organizations across the state have teamed up to host events for CISAW. As the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, the format now includes both in-person and virtual events such as webinars and videos. Volunteer opportunities can be found in all parts of the state, such as:

Attend a habitat restoration event at Trinidad State Beach near Humboldt where volunteers will pitch in to pull up ivy and other invasive non-native species.
Join Friends of Five Creeks in Berkeley in their efforts to eradicate invasive foxtails from near Codornices Creek.
Protect the American River Parkway in Sacramento by removing broom with the American River Parkway Foundation.
Help protect and restore coastal dune and bluff scrub habitats at Half Moon Bay State Beach by assisting with the removal of invasive cape ivy, mustard, thistles and hemlock from coastal scrub areas.
Be a “Weed Warrior” at Cabrillo National Monument in San Diego, by assisting with efforts to remove non-native grasses and other invasive plants from the landscape.

Get details for these events and find many more by visiting the CISAW schedule on CDFW’s website.

You can also watch webinars and learn about how you can stop the spread of invasive species by taking small, everyday actions, such as landscaping with native plants, not releasing unwanted pets into the wild, reporting invasive species findings, and cleaning, draining and drying gear when recreating in bodies of water. The CISAW website lists simple actions Californians can take all year long while visiting natural areas, boating or fishing, or at home. Join our Digital Scavenger Hunt and track invasive species in your local neighborhood or park!

On Friday, June 10, CDFW will announce the winners of the annual California Invasive Species Youth Art Contest on social media. This year’s theme was “Unite to Fight Invasive Species!”

The mission of CDFW’s Invasive Species Program is to reduce the impacts of invasive species on the wildlands and waterways of California. The program is involved in efforts to prevent the introduction of these species into the state, detect and respond to introductions when they occur and prevent the spread of those species that have established. For questions or more information about CISAW, please contact invasives@wildlife.ca.gov.

###

Media Contacts:
Elizabeth Brusati, CDFW Invasive Species Program
Kirsten Macintyre, CDFW Communications, (916) 804-1714

Photo: Two young estuary explorers plant whistlestop at Elkhorn Slough as part of an invasive species removal effort. CDFW photo.

California Fish Hatcheries Reopen to Public Visitors

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 16:55:53 GMT

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is pleased to announce that 21 of its 22 state fish hatcheries will reopen to the public on Thursday, April 7. The facilities have been closed to visitors for nearly two years during the Covid-19 pandemic, although hatchery operations and stocking efforts continued without significant interruption.

Kern River Hatchery remains temporarily closed to the public while water supply pipelines are being upgraded. However, starting Thursday, the public is welcome again at outdoor areas of all other hatcheries, including raceways and picnic spots. Hatcheries offer numerous activities including fish feeding, nature walks and educational kiosks.

“A visit to a fish hatchery is a fun-filled outing for both kids and adults – and it’s free, which is a difficult opportunity to find in today’s world,” said Ken Kundargi, CDFW’s Hatchery Program Manager. “The staff are excited to welcome the public back. The atmosphere at our hatcheries has just not been the same without visitors. Please come see us soon!”

For many California residents, it’s less than an hour drive to the nearest fish hatchery or a short detour to stop and take a break on a longer trip. Information about specific hatcheries, including locations, hours, directions and safety guidelines can be found on the CDFW website.

Please note that indoor areas at all hatchery facilities, including visitors’ centers, will remain closed at this time. Also, some outdoor areas at hatcheries may still have public safety restrictions in place due to facility improvement projects that are in progress.

Media Contact:
Tim Daly, CDFW Communications, (916) 201-2958