CDFW News

WCB Approves $87.1 Million for Habitat, Salmon Recovery and Tribal Land Return Projects

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 09:54:13 GMT

Funding Includes Support for Historic Return of More Than 10,000 Acres at Loyalton Ranch to the Washoe People

The Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) approved $87,125,538 in grants for 16 projects across 14 counties to protect critical wildlife habitat, restore rivers and streams, and conserve culturally and ecologically significant lands. Among these, seven projects advance the California Salmon Strategy for a Hotter, Drier Future, restoring fish passage, reconnecting rivers to floodplains, and improving spawning and rearing habitat for endangered salmon and steelhead.

The board met at MiraCosta College’s San Elijo Campus in Cardiff, San Diego County, marking its first meeting outside Sacramento.

The WCB’s grants advance Gov. Gavin Newsom’s goal of conserving 30 percent of California’s lands and coastal waters by 2030, a globally adopted target known as 30x30. The initiative seeks to protect biodiversity, expand access to nature for all Californians and adapt to climate change.

Loyalton Ranch Acquisition Returns Ancestral Lands to Washoe People

The board approved a $5.5 million grant to the Wášiw-šiw Land Trust to support the purchase of 10,274 acres at Loyalton Ranch, a historic return of ancestral lands to the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California (Tribe) in the northern Sierra Nevada. The property, which is located northeast of Lake Tahoe and approximately 20 miles north of Reno, features sagebrush lowlands, conifer forests, mountain meadows, springs, and perennial creeks, providing habitat for pronghorn, mule deer, mountain lion, as well as culturally important plants such as pinyon pine.

“The reclamation of these Washoe homelands is of great importance,” said Tribal Chairman Serrell Smokey. “Wá·šiw people were once forcefully removed from these lands. Now the land is calling the Washoe people home and we are answering that call. We are deeply grateful to WCB for providing essential funding for this historic land purchase by the Wášiw-šiw Land Trust.”

“This project reflects what’s possible when state, tribal, and conservation partners work together to protect land that holds deep cultural and ecological importance,” said Jennifer Norris, executive director of WCB. “We are honored to support the Wášiw-šiw Land Trust in reclaiming this landscape and carrying forward the cultural knowledge and land management practices that have shaped it for thousands of years.”

The Loyalton Ranch acquisition, a culmination of a four-year collaboration between the Tribe, the Northern Sierra Partnership and the Feather River Land Trust, is part of the Tribe’s plan to reclaim and steward lands across the northern Washoe homelands, with the purchase expected to close in early 2026.

Featured Conservation Projects to Support Salmon and Steelhead Recovery in Central Valley

A $15-million grant to River Partners to acquire 1,715 acres of land and water rights along Battle Creek in Tehama County will provide instream flows to protect spawning and rearing habitat for endangered salmon and steelhead.

“The acquisition of the historic Battle Creek Ranch represents a transformative step in restoring the health of Battle Creek and reconnecting habitats essential for building back populations of endangered salmon, steelhead, and other wildlife,” said Julie Rentner, president of River Partners.

WCB also approved a $584,999 grant to retire water rights on the property, boosting stream flows and improving habitat for aquatic species.

A $15-million grant to Meridian Farms Water Company for the Meridian Farms Fish Screen Project in Sutter County will replace two unscreened water diversions on the Sacramento River with a single modern, screened diversion. The project removes one of the river’s last high-priority unscreened diversions, improving passage and survival for all four runs of Chinook salmon and supporting long-term drought resilience and water-management flexibility.

“This project helps to enhance passage and protect all four runs of Chinook salmon and will also enhance drought resilience for the region,” said Andy Duffey, general manager of Meridian Farms Water Company. “This brings to a close a more than two-decade effort by Meridian Farms to provide these protections to fish in the Sacramento River.”

A $31.9-million grant to the Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency for the Robinson’s Riffle Restoration Project in Butte County will restore 1 mile of the Feather River and reconnect it to 51 acres of floodplain, improving salmon and steelhead habitat.

“We are excited to partner with WCB to implement the project and realize the benefits to the Feather River and the fish it supports,” said Michelle Forsha, fisheries restoration and reintroduction supervisor for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). “We hope this project is the start of a long partnership toward bringing about restoration in the Central Valley.”

“Recovering salmon runs in the Central Valley will take bold, coordinated investment,” said Charlton H. Bonham, chair of WCB and director of CDFW. “WCB continues to deliver on-the-ground results, putting resources directly into the places that matter most for salmon recovery.”

Jennifer Norris, executive director of WCB, added: “These projects represent how California agencies are working together to restore functional river systems and resilient habitats that support both fish and people.”

About the Wildlife Conservation Board

Established in 1947, the Wildlife Conservation Board protects, restores and enhances California’s spectacular natural resources for wildlife and the public’s use and enjoyment. WCB works in partnership with Tribes, conservation groups, government agencies and the people of California to safeguard biodiversity and expand access to nature.

For more information about WCB, visit wcb.ca.gov. To explore the newly funded projects, visit WCB’s StoryMaps pages.

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Media Contact:
Mark Topping, WCB Communications, (916) 539-4673

CDFW Offering up to $5 Million in Grants to Enhance or Restore Habitat

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 13:03:43 GMT

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response (CDFW‐OSPR) is accepting grant applications to fund projects that enhance, restore or acquire habitat for wildlife, with available funding totaling $5 million.

These grant funds come from CDFW-OSPR’s Environmental Enhancement Fund (EEF), which acquires funds from spill violations in accordance with California’s Lempert-Keene-Seastrand Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act.

Key details of this grant opportunity are:

Grant range: Minimum $500,000 per project
Completion deadline: April 1, 2031
Eligibility: Nonprofits, cities, counties, districts, state and federal agencies
Location: Projects must be within or near California waters
Requirements: Projects must show measurable outcomes and improve habitat or ecosystem function
Multiple projects may be submitted for funding

The selection committee includes representatives from the California Coastal Conservancy, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and CDFW‐OSPR. This is the largest grant amount available since the beginning of the EEF.

Grant applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Sept. 11, 2024. Selected projects will be notified in late fall 2024. For more information, please go to www.wildlife.ca.gov/OSPR/Science/Environmental-Enhancement-Fund/About

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Media Contacts:
Cristina Perez, CDFW-OSPR Environmental Enhancement Fund, (916) 956-8175
Eric Laughlin, CDFW-OSPR Communications, (916) 214-3279

Grant Awarded to Convert Former Landfill into Los Angeles County’s First New Regional Park in Three Decades

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 14:36:13 GMT

Wildlife Conservation Board Awards Nearly $120 Million in Grants to 43 Habitat Conservation and Restoration Projects

The Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) approved 43 habitat conservation and restoration projects spanning 23 counties and protecting nearly 28,000 acres at its May 23 quarterly meeting. The Saturday, June 22 announcement of a state budget agreement allows WCB to release funds to these inspirational projects, including a $12.5 million grant to the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation to help convert a 142-acre site, formerly a portion of the Puente Hills Landfill – which at one point during its nearly 60 years of operations was considered the second-largest landfill in the country – into Puente Hills Regional Park, Los Angeles County’s first new regional park in 30 years.

Prior to the landfill’s operation, the project site once supported a thriving ecological system of oak-woodland, coastal sage scrub and chaparral habitats. Restoration of the site will include the establishment of native plant communities which will address the critical issues of habitat degradation, loss of biodiversity, disrupted habitat connectivity, and the unmet needs for accessible open space. The park will serve the residents of Los Angeles County as well as Orange County and the Inland Empire.

“The Puente Hills Regional Park is the culmination of a decades-long vision to transform the former landfill and its 150 million tons of trash into a public space, a place for nature and wildlife, a place for healing, restoration, and regeneration,” said Norma E. Garcia-Gonzalez, director of Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation. “The park will be the outcome of the most robust community engagement process we’ve ever done. The resulting native landscapes and spectacular views will serve millions in the greater Los Angeles region for generations to come.”

The grants will support Gov. Gavin Newsom’s goal of conserving 30 percent of California’s lands and coastal waters by 2030, an initiative known as 30x30. The initiative seeks to protect biodiversity, expand access to nature for all Californians and address climate change.

Other funded projects include:

A $1 million grant to Kounkuey Design Initiative, Inc. to plan two open space areas that connect the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indian tribe and local community to desert habitats and celebrate their cultural heritage. The property provides an important opportunity to increase outdoor access, build traditional ecological knowledge, offer indigenous and environmental education, and restore habitat through native planting design.
“Desert Lake Shore is a commemorative, interactive landscape that weaves together several forms of indigenous artifacts found on a 38-acre site owned by Friends of the Desert Mountains,” said Oscar Ortiz, director of education for Friends of the Desert Mountains. “These artifacts include petroglyphs, fish traps, and ceramic remains. In a collaborative project with the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, this project would help to bring the Torres Martinez tribe’s history into full view and help share present histories of its people and culture.”
“The unincorporated region of the Eastern Coachella Valley—despite its varied and rich ecological context from natural palm oases to beautiful deserts to the shoreline of Salton Sea—has few spaces for residents to be outside, recreate, and interact with nature,” said Lauren Elechi, senior design principal for Kounkuey Design Initiative, Inc. “The two projects will not only begin a much-needed process to plan and build ecologically sensitive public spaces through a participatory co-design process with community members but will crucially center partnership with the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indian tribe to honor their past traditions, build strong relationships in the present, and preserve space for cultural practice for future generations.”
A $5.55 million grant to The Trust for Public Land and Marin County Open Space District to conserve 110 acres in the town of Tiburon in Marin County. The conservation of the Tiburon Ridge/Martha Co. property will create 256 acres of contiguous, protected open space, and protect critical biodiversity. The property supports rare and special status species, including red-legged frog, the Tiburon jewel flower, and the Marin dwarf flax, a federally threatened plant. The project also provides public access via four main trails, offering panoramic views of San Francisco Bay.
"Trust for Public Land is honored to join forces with the California Wildlife Conservation Board as they announce their generous and critical support for the Tiburon Ridge project,” said Guillermo Rodriguez, California state director and vice president for the Pacific region of the Trust for Public Land. “With time running out to acquire this property for the public, WCB’s timely support marks a pivotal moment in the 30-year effort to preserve this cherished landscape. This project isn’t just about preserving breathtaking views; its about safeguarding vital habitats and ensuring access to green spaces for generations to come.”
A $1.6 million grant to the University of California, Davis for a cooperative project with the Mojave National Preserve to study the ability of head-started desert tortoises to survive in the wild.
“This project provides crucial support to ensure that desert tortoises have a place in California’s future,” said Dr. Brian Todd, professor of conservation biology at UC Davis.
“Research to date by Dr. Todd, his colleagues, and their students has produced multiple publications that lay important groundwork for recovery of the Mojave Desert Tortoise which the proposed project is poised to capitalize on,” said Roy C. Averill-Murray, desert tortoise recovery coordinator (retired) for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
“The program has produced nearly 700 juvenile desert tortoises. Importantly, the head-starting process has been optimized by including an initial one-year period of indoor rearing during which juveniles experience more rapid growth, effectively reducing the time required in captivity to produce a juvenile of releasable size from 5 to 7 years to 1 to 2 years.”
A $2.75 million grant to The Nature Conservancy to protect 389 acres of land and enhance streamflow in French Creek, part of the Klamath River watershed for the protection of species including coho and Chinook salmon.
“The property lies along the portion of French Creek that hosts amongst the highest density of coho redds in the entire Scott River watershed,” said Sandi Matsumoto, water program director for The Nature Conservancy California. “By improving late summer streamflow and creating the opportunity to restore habitat, we hope to contribute to coho recovery in the Klamath River – an exciting prospect as dams are being removed.”

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

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