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The steep canyon hillsides of Rancho Cañada Larga, home to abundant coastal sage scrub and coast live oak woodland habitas in Ventura County. Photo credit: The Trust for Public Land.
Wildlife Conservation Board Awards $59.5 Million in Grants to 25 Habitat Conservation and Restoration Projects
Grants Will Protect Nearly 23,000 Acres Across California, Including Key Wildlife Corridor in Ventura County
The Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) has approved $59.5 million in grants to support 25 habitat protection and restoration projects in 21 counties across California. Awarded at WCB’s May 22 meeting, the projects will safeguard nearly 23,000 acres of the state’s most ecologically important landscapes.
Among the awards is a $14.75 million grant to the Trust for Public Land (TPL) to acquire approximately 6,475 acres near the city of Ventura. Known as Rancho Cañada Larga, the land features coastal sage scrub, native grasslands, oak woodlands, chaparral and riparian habitats that support at least 20 special-status wildlife species and eight rare plant species. The site provides critical habitat for the California red-legged frog and Southern California steelhead, and lies within the year-round range of the California condor.
The acquisition includes 4.25 miles of Cañada Larga Creek — one of five major tributaries to the Ventura River — and protects a vital section of the Sierra Madre-–Castaic Linkage, a wildlife corridor that connects two major watersheds and national forests.
The property also holds cultural significance, and active consultation is underway with the Barbareño-Ventureño Band of Mission Indians to ensure access rights for ceremonial gatherings, native plant collection and other cultural uses.
“This support is a critical milestone in our effort to conserve one of Ventura County’s most iconic open spaces,” said Guillermo Rodriguez, TPL Pacific Region vice president and California state director. “Rancho Cañada Larga is a landscape of extraordinary ecological and cultural value, and this funding will help to ensure it will be protected for generations to come."
The 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 adapt to climate change.
Other funded projects include:
- A $6.55 million grant to support the return of 1,720 acres of ancestral land to the Esselen Tribe of Monterey County. The land, located along Tularcitos Creek, is part of the historic 12,452-acre Rana Creek Ranch. The acquisition ensures the Esselen people will own and steward the property using nature-based practices informed by tribal ecological knowledge.
“When TWC acquired the Tularcitos parcels with private financing, our vision was always to see this land returned to its original stewards,” said Frazier Haney, executive director of TWC.
Purchased from The Wildlands Conservancy (TWC) with additional funding from the California State Coastal Conservancy, the land includes oak woodlands, vernal pools and riparian habitats, supporting endangered species like the California red-legged frog and California condor. The property also provides access to cultural sites and future wildlife-oriented public use.
This landscape forms a key wildlife corridor between the Sierra de Salinas and Santa Lucia Range, linking to the 1.75-million-acre Los Padres National Forest.
“We are honored to partner with the Esselen Tribe of Monterey County in making that vision a reality,” Haney continued. “This milestone reflects our shared commitment to caring for this remarkable landscape and builds on our ongoing collaboration in co-stewarding Rana Creek Preserve. We are deeply grateful to the WCB and other public agency partners whose support has been essential in protecting these ancestral lands and ensuring they are cared for with the cultural knowledge and reverence they deserve.”
- A $1.6 million grant to the American Canyon Community and Parks Foundation (Parks Foundation) to develop the Napa River Ecology Center, transforming a former industrial site into an inclusive, ADA-accessible hub for environmental education. Designed with input from the Suscol Intertribal Council and local communities, the project will include indoor/outdoor classrooms, nature play areas and bilingual signage, serving up to 20,000 visitors annually.
“The Napa River Ecology Center will be a dynamic center for education and stewardship that is designed to inspire connection with the Napa River watershed and protection of the diverse wildlife it supports,” said Janelle Sellick, executive director of the Parks Foundation. “Through a unique adaptive reuse of the site, and a strong public-private partnership between the Parks Foundation and the city of American Canyon, the project sets a new standard for collaborative conservation."
- A $4 million grant to Sonoma County Regional Parks (SCRP), in partnership with Save the Redwoods League (STRL), to permanently protect 1,517 acres of redwood forestland in west Sonoma County, expanding the Monte Rio Redwoods Regional Park and Open Space Preserve. The acquisition connects more than 22,000 contiguous acres of protected land and will provide new multi-use trail access for residents of Monte Rio — Sonoma County’s most disadvantaged unincorporated community.
“(WCB’s) support of this landmark project enables us to significantly expand public access and connect thousands of acres of protected public lands from Monte Rio to the Sonoma Coast,” said Bert Whitaker, director of SCRP. “This effort safeguards vital redwood forests, wildlife habitat and clean water resources for future generations, while also creating new opportunities for outdoor recreation in one of Sonoma County’s most scenic and ecologically important regions.”
“Their support of this landmark project enables us to significantly expand public access and connect thousands of acres of protected public lands from Monte Rio to the Sonoma Coast,” Whitaker explained. “This effort safeguards vital redwood forests, wildlife habitat and clean water resources for future generations, while also creating new opportunities for outdoor recreation in one of Sonoma County’s most scenic and ecologically important regions.”
STRL Chief Program Officer Paul Ringgold noted the grant will help conserve a vital stretch of redwood forest, adding to a growing network of protected lands in Sonoma County. “By helping to knit together a larger, more resilient landscape, this project reflects the power of partnership in advancing conservation that will benefit both ecosystems and communities," Ringgold said.
- A $5.2 million grant to the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) in partnership with the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to implement the Bombay Beach Wetland Enhancement Project at the Salton Sea. The project will restore just over 560 acres of wetland habitat for migratory birds and endangered species such as the desert pupfish, while also controlling dust near the disadvantaged community of Bombay Beach. Long-term management will be led by the Salton Sea Conservancy, with support from state agencies and conservation groups.
“The project will enhance and stabilize wetlands and remove non-native species on a 564-acre site and is planned to enhance public access with a new hiking trail and interpretive signage,” said Melinda Dorin, lead program manager of the Salton Sea Restoration Office for the DWR. “The Salton Sea Management Program (SSMP) has been working with Audubon California and the landowners to design and implement the project. The WCB money is an important funding piece that provides the bridge from design to construction.”
IID Chairwoman Gina Dockstader added, “The IID is excited to see another Salton Sea project moving closer to implementation. This is a great example of people working together toward a common goal, and we thank the WCB, Audubon and our agency partners for their roles in reaching this milestone.”
For more information about the WCB, visit wcb.ca.gov. To explore the newly funded projects, visit WCB’s StoryMaps pages.
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