California Receives Federal Grants to Support Land Acquisition and Conservation Planning for Endangered Species

Media Contacts:
Monica Parisi, Habitat Conservation Planning Branch, (916) 653-9767
Dale Steele, Wildlife Branch, (916) 445-0803
Dana Michaels, DFG Communications, (916) 322-2420

California has been awarded $12.7 million in federal grants to support conservation planning and acquisition of habitat for threatened and endangered fish, wildlife and plants.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service awards annual competitive grants from the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund to states. The grants are authorized by Section 6 of the federal Endangered Species Act. Nearly $33 million was granted to 21 states in 2012. These funds are administered under three grant programs: Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) Planning Assistance, HCP Land Acquisition and Recovery Land Acquisition.

California received $4.2 million in HCP Planning Assistance Grants, which support the development of HCPs and, in California, Natural Community Conservation Plans (NCCPs). HCPs and NCCPs are large-scale, ecosystem-based plans designed to protect plants, animals and their habitats while allowing compatible and appropriate economic activity. Grants fund baseline surveys and inventories, document preparation, public outreach and similar planning activities. Seven plans were awarded grants: including HCPs and NCCPs in the Bay-Delta, Northeast San Luis Obispo County, Kern Valley Floor, Butte Regional, Bakersfield Regional, Town of Apple Valley  and the city of Colton.

A total of $7 million was awarded to the state for HCP Land Acquisition Grants, which fund the purchase of land to meet the conservation objectives of approved HCPs and NCCPs. Three plans received awards: the East Contra Costa County NCCP/HCP, the Western Riverside County NCCP/HCP, and the Northwest San Diego County Multiple Habitat Conservation Plan NCCP/HCP.

California received $1.5 million in Recovery Land Acquisition Grants to acquire habitat for threatened and endangered species associated with approved recovery plans. Funded projects include:

• Kelsey Ranch Conservation Easement, Merced County, which includes habitat for vernal pool fairy shrimp, California tiger salamander and vernal pool rare plants.
• Arrastre Canyon, Los Angeles County, for unarmored three-spine stickleback, Southwestern willow flycatcher, California red-legged frog and arroyo toad habitat.
• Shay Meadows Conservation Area Expansion, San Bernardino County, for habitat for unarmored three-spine stickleback and five federally-listed plants
• Riverside County habitat for Peninsular bighorn sheep, desert tortoise, desert slender salamander and triple-ribbed milk-vetch

For more information on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grants for threatened and endangered species, including links to the complete list of awards nationwide, visit www.fws.gov/endangered/grants. More information on conservation planning in California can be found at www.dfg.ca.gov/habcon/nccp.

State Offers Grants to Benefit Coastal Habitat

Media Contacts:
Alexia Retallack, OSPR Information Officer, (916) 592-3317
Bruce Joab, OSPR Grant Coordinator, (916) 322-7561

The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) is offering grants for projects to enhance California’s marine habitat. Coastal communities, non-profit groups and environmental agencies are encouraged to apply.

DFG’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR), the California Coastal Conservancy and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation together review and select recipients for Environmental Enhancement Fund (EEF) grants.

The funds come from oil spill violation penalties in accordance with California’s Lempert-Keene-Seastr and Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act, and up to $300,000 is available per year for qualifying projects. Multi-year projects are acceptable as long as there is no more than the annual spending authority requested per year. Eligible organizations include nonprofits, cities, counties, districts, and state and federal agencies.

To qualify, an environmental enhancement project must acquire habitat for preservation or improve habitat quality and ecosystem function. In addition, it must meet all of the following requirements:

• Be located within or immediately adjacent to California marine waters.
• Have measurable outcomes within a predetermined timeframe.
• Be designed to acquire, restore or improve habitat or restore ecosystem function, or both, to benefit fish and wildlife.

 The Environmental Enhancement Committee, which consists of the OSPR Administrator, Executive Director of the California Coastal Conservancy and an officer from National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, will determine the projects to be funded.

Disbursement of the grants is contingent on the availability of funds in the EEF.

Grant applications must be received by 5 p.m.on Aug. 28, 2012. To contact the grant coordinator, e-mail eefgrant@ospr.dfg.ca.gov. For more information, visit www.dfg.ca.gov/ospr/Science/eep.aspx.

Nominations Now Being Accepted for Fisheries Restoration Grant Program Peer Review Committee

Media Contacts: 
Kevin Shaffer, DFG Fisheries Branch, (916) 327-8841
Kirsten Macintyre, DFG Communications, (916) 322-8911

The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) Fisheries Restoration Grant Program (FRGP) is seeking nominations to fill a new vacancy on the FRGP Peer Review Committee (PRC).

Pursuant to the Public Resources Code, section 6217, members of the PRC are appointed by the Director of DFG to provide advice, oversight and recommendations regarding grant funding priorities for the FRGP. Seven of the PRC’s 14 representatives are recommended by the California Advisory Committee on Salmon and Steelhead Trout. The remaining seven represent the following interests: one representative from the agriculture industry, one representative from the timber industry, one representative of public water agency interests, one academic or research scientist with expertise in anadromous fisheries restoration and three county supervisors from coastal counties (the county supervisors are recommended by the California State Association of Counties).

The timber industry representative seat has been vacated mid-term. An interim representative will serve the remainder of the term. DFG will accept nominations for this position from the general public through June 30.

Because the FRGP only awards grants to applicants within coastal counties of California, all representatives must reside in or represent interests in coastal counties in which salmon and steelhead exist. To nominate a representative for the timber seat, please send a nomination letter to Patty Forbes, FRGP Coordinator, 830 S St., Sacramento, CA 95811. Nomination letters should include the candidate’s resume and verification that they represent coastal counties in which salmon and steelhead exist.