November 19, 2020 - At its Nov. 18, 2020 quarterly meeting, the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) approved approximately $19 million in grants to help restore and protect fish and wildlife habitat throughout California. Some of the 26 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 $760,000 grant to The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County for a cooperative project with the Department of Conservation and the State Coastal Conservancy to acquire a conservation easement over approximately 717 acres of land to protect and preserve native oak woodlands, deer, mountain lions and maintain wildlife corridors near Cayucos in San Luis Obispo County.
• A $2.5 million grant to the Siskiyou Land Trust to acquire a conservation easement over approximately 8,269 acres of land for the protection of mixed conifer working forest, including riparian corridors, fish and wildlife resources, wetlands and watersheds located near the community of Callahan in Siskiyou County.
• A $3.6 million grant to the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust to acquire approximately 76 acres of land on behalf of the San Joaquin River Conservancy for the protection of riparian habitat and future wildlife-oriented, public-use opportunities within the San Joaquin River Parkway, located near the city of Fresno in Fresno County.
• A $836,000 grant to Earth Island Institute for a cooperative project with John Muir Trail Conservancy, U.S. Forest Service, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and private donors for restoration activities benefiting approximately 1,300 acres of eastern Sierra montane meadows, subalpine meadows and connected riparian zones in Ansel Adams Wilderness located in Inyo National Forest approximately nine miles northwest of Mammoth Lakes in Mono and Madera counties.

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