Awards Include Funding for the Restoration of 67 Acres of Wetland Habitat in the City of Salinas, Providing Park Space and Recreation Access to Disadvantaged Communities in Monterey County
The Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) approved 24 habitat protection and restoration projects spanning 25 counties across more than 21,600 acres at its Nov. 21 quarterly meeting.
One of the grants restores 67 acres of wetland, riparian, and upland habitat at Carr Lake in the heart of the city of Salinas, providing much needed open space to a community area with limited access to parks and nature.
The WCB’s $4 million grant to the Big Sur Land Trust—in a cooperative project with the California Natural Resources Agency, the California Department of Water Resources, and the State Coastal Conservancy—increases biodiversity, decreases and treats stormwater flows and improves public access to nature.
More than 1.7 miles of trails will be constructed, providing access to disadvantaged and severely disadvantaged communities in the area to participate in recreation such as hiking and birdwatching.
“After 8 years and with over 6,000 residents weighing in on a community-led process to design a new multi-benefit wetland restoration and park development project in Salinas, we are grateful to WCB for considering a grant for the project that will close our funding gap, allowing us to move forward to create a place in the heart of the city for residents to enjoy and learn about the natural world while helping strengthen the city’s resiliency to climate change,” said Jeannette Tuitele-Lewis, president and chief executive officer of Big Sur Land Trust.
WCB’s grants advance 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 fight and adapt to climate change.
Other funded projects include:
• A $2.4 million grant to the Tule River Indian Tribe—in a cooperative project with the California Natural Resources Agency—for the return of 14,675 acres of ancestral lands, restoring Tribal sovereignty and conserving habitat in Tulare County. The Hershey Ranch project reconnects the Tribe with their ancestral land, increasing connectivity between the San Joaquin Valley and Sierra Nevada Mountains, conserving grassland, blue oak woodlands and riparian habitat. This area also represents a potential summer range for the Yowlumni wolf pack and provides the opportunity for future stream restoration and managed public access.
“The Tule River Tribe expresses its gratitude to the Wildlife Conservation Board for aiding the Tribe in its efforts to restore its ancestral homeland,” said Charmaine McDarment, chairwoman of the Tule River Tribal Council. “As the climate crisis brings new pressures to address the effects of environmental mismanagement and resource degradation, the Tribe’s partnership with WCB is an important example of building relationships based in collaboration and trust.
“The Tribe remains committed to supporting co-stewardship efforts and fighting to ensure that disproportionate harms to Native American lands, culture, and resources are resolved in a manner that centers and honors Native American connections to ancestral lands.”
• A $4.5 million grant to The Nature Conservancy to restore delicate habitats on two Channel Islands off the coast of Santa Barbara. These islands are a biodiversity hotspot, hosting nearly 1,000 species and subspecies of native plants, many of which are classified as endangered or threatened.
The islands were once on the brink of ecological collapse from the effects of overgrazing and browsing by introduced herbivorous animals. The project, known as Building Resilience on Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Islands, is a cooperative project with the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, State Coastal Conservancy, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the California Institute of Environmental Studies.
“The Channel Islands hold a special place in the heart of many Californians and are home to more endemic species than anywhere else in the state including 28 Californian special status species,” said Jennifer Baker, program director for The Nature Conservancy.
“The Nature Conservancy and Channel Islands National Park are invigorated by the Wildlife Conservation Board’s ongoing partnership to magnify the rich vibrancy of these islands with projects that will restore the water cycle, stabilize soils, and rebuild the abundance of plants and wildlife, ensuring this biodiversity hotspot continues to thrive.”
• A $4.9 million grant to the Sonoma Land Trust—in a cooperative project with the State Coastal Conservancy—to preserve and protect 1,459 acres of tidal wetland habitat within the Bay Area, benefiting several listed wildlife species and protecting a key stop along the Pacific Flyway. Future work will reestablish tidal flow and habitat connection between the ranch and other protected areas, providing contiguous habitat and protecting local communities from flood and sea level rise.
“The acquisition of Kiser Ranch signals a major milestone in realizing the vision of restoring the vast marshes and wetlands where Sonoma Creek flows into San Pablo Bay,” said John McCaull, land acquisition director for the Sonoma Land Trust.
“Restoration of the property will boost San Francisco Bay biodiversity by converting this hay farm to mixed tidal wetlands, providing habitat for special-status plants, fish, birds, and other wildlife. Without the support of WCB we could not have achieved this important milestone.”
• A $5 million grant to the Santa Clara Open Space Authority to preserve and protect 142 acres of wetland, oak woodland and riparian habitat between the Santa Cruz and Diablo mountain ranges, serving as a key migration corridor for wildlife. This area, known as Coyote Valley, is home to several listed species, including the western burrowing owl and the American badger. The property serves as a key area for flood mitigation for downstream urban centers, including the city of San José.
“As Coyote Valley's permanently protected lands continue to grow, the Open Space Authority is dedicated to planning the restoration of these precious areas that provide important climate resilience for both people and wildlife,” said Andrea McKenzie, general manager of the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority.
“As part of the Fisher Creek floodplain, these lands serve as a natural guardian that absorbs and regulate water flow, especially during heavy rains. Coyote Valley also serves as a vital lifeline for wildlife traveling between the Santa Cruz Mountains to the west and the Diablo Range to the east.”
For more information about the WCB, please visit wcb.ca.gov. To learn more about the newly approved habitat conservation and restoration projects, please visit our StoryMaps pages.
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Photo courtesy of Big Sur Land Trust.
Media Contact:
Mark Topping, Wildlife Conservation Board, (916) 539-4673