Published Date:
SACRAMENTO – The California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) in coordination with the California Transportation Commission today announced $6.3 million in funding for 11 projects under CNRA's Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation (EEM) grant program. EEM provides grants to local, state and federal governmental agencies as well as nonprofit organizations for projects that mitigate environmental impacts produced by new or modified state transportation facilities.
The funded projects include a grant of $500,000 to California Trout for its Cochran Creek and Quail Slough Enhancement Project. This project will restore 3.2 acres of habitat on Cochran Creek and widen the Quail Slough channel to recover threatened salmonid habitat, provide flood control and improve water quality. The City of Palmdale will also receive $500,000 to enhance a 2,150-foot stretch of Avenue S by planting drought-tolerant native trees and plants and replacing turf with a permeable hardscape.
"Local governments and nonprofit organizations are implementing nature-based solutions across California to offset environmental impacts from transportation projects,” said Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot. “These projects also protect environmental habitat and biodiversity, provide communities new open space to enjoy, and build our state’s resilience to climate change. I’m glad to see these projects funded and eager to see them get implemented.”
For the 2019 grant cycle, the Natural Resources Agency evaluated 21 applications and recommended funding for 11 projects. Specifically, the Agency recommended funding five projects in the northern part of the state for a total of over $2.5 million and six projects in the southern portion of the state for a total of over $3.8 million. The California Transportation Commission approved and allocated funding for all 11 projects. Money for the grants comes from fuel taxes distributed to the Natural Resources Agency by the California Department of Transportation.
GRANT AWARDEES BY COUNTY:
Humboldt County:
- California Trout, Inc., $500,000, The Cochran Creek and Quail Slough Enhancement Project.
- City of Arcata, $350,000, Arcata Community Forest Jacoby Creek Tract Expansion (Swaner -114 acres).
- Trinidad Coastal Land Trust, $300,000, Strawberry Rock Redwood Forest Conservation Easement Acquisition.
Kern County:
- Trust for Public Land, $1,000,000, Caliente Creek Acquisition Project.
Los Angeles County:
- Laurel Canyon Land Trust, $1,000,000, Let's Buy A Mountain Phase 3 (LBAM #3).
- City of Norwalk, $276,350, City of Norwalk Median Revitalization Project Proposal.
- City of Palmdale, $500,000, City of Palmdale Avenue S Environmental Enhancement and Urban Greening.
Mendocino County:
- Redwood Coast Land Conservancy, $845,000, Mill Bend Conservation Project.
San Bernardino County:
- City of Chino Hills, $275,956, Strickling Nature Park Project.
San Diego County:
- Lakeside's River Park Conservancy, $813,900, 75 Acre Digenan Acquisition in the El Monte Valley.
Sonoma County:
- Sonoma Land Trust, $510,000, Sonoma Mountain Vernal Pool Preserve Acquisition.
The Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program encourages projects that yield multiple benefits connected to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other risks associated with climate change and that demonstrate collaboration to protect and conserve natural resources.
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