California Coastal Conservancy
Encyclopedia
The California Coastal Conservancy is a state agency in California
established in 1976 to enhance coastal resources and access.
It works in partnership with other public agencies, nonprofit organizations and private landowners, employing 75 people and overseeing a current annual budget of 53 million dollars. Since its conception, the conservancy has spent over 1.4 billion dollars on projects it has completed. The conservancy was created by the legislature as a unique entity with flexible powers to serve as an intermediary among government, citizens, and the private sector in recognition that creative approaches would be needed to preserve California's coast line.
, and other wildlife habitat lands.
to Mexico
. However, the trail has a long history; the conservancy did not get involved until 2001 when the state legislature, by the way of SB 908, directed the conservancy to determine what needed to be done to complete the trail. The conservancy first came up with a definition of what they wanted the trail to be; "a continuous public right-of-way along the California coastline; a trail designed to foster appreciation and stewardship of the scenic and natural resources of the coast through hiking and other complementary modes of non-motorized transportation". SB 908 set a target date for the completion of the trail in 2008. To determine how much of the trail was already completed, the conservancy interviewed public officials, communities, counties, and State Parks, as well as knowledgeable individuals and members of the coast walk. During this process, segments of the trail were graded as adequate (or better) or in need of substantial improvement (or worse).
After conducting the research, the conservancy concluded that, out of the 1200 miles (1,931.2 km) length of the trail, about 40% was adequate and 40% inadequate, but ran on public land or along public highway corridors. For the remaining 20% of the trail length, acquisition of land has had to be planned. The conservancies final estimate was that it would cost $668,350,000 to finish all 1200 miles (1,931.2 km) of the California Coastal Trail. Currently, more than half of the trail is completed.
are conducting a feasibility study and preparing an Environmental Impact Report / Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS), which involves the technical Analysis of Alternatives
for the restoration of 10000 acres (40.5 km²) of wetlands and associated habitats within the former Cargill salt pond complex in the North Bay.
The goals of this project are to restore large patches of tidal marsh that support a wide variety of fish, wildlife and plants, including special status mammals and water birds - specifically the salt marsh harvest mouse
, California Clapper Rail
, and Black Rail
, endangered fish - specifically the Delta smelt
, Sacramento splittail, steelhead trout and Chinook salmon
, and aquatic animals. They will also be managing water depth to maximize wildlife habitat diversity, with shallow-water areas for migratory and resident shore birds and deep-water areas for diving ducks.
(NMFS), the Conservation League Foundation and the Californian American Water company
(CalAm). These agencies are all working together to remove the San Clemente Dam which was constructed in 1921. Since the dams construction, the Carmel River
has suffered from accelerated erosion, and the once vibrant steelhead trout run has dramatically decreased. The benefits of the dam removal include recovery of central coast steelhead trout (a threatened species) by proving unimpaired access to over 25 miles (40.2 km) of spawning
and rearing habitat, expansion of public recreation by preserving over 900 acres (3.6 km²) of coastal watershed lands, restoration of a natural sediment regime improving the habitat for steelhead trout, reducing beach erosion that now contributes to destabilization of homes, roads and infrastructure, and improvement of habitat for the threatened California Red-legged Frog
.
The total project cost for the project is currently estimated at $83 million. According to the implementation agreement, CalAm will pay an amount equivalent to the estimated cost of buttressing the dam, or approximately $49 million. The conservancy, with assistance from the NMFS, will secure the additional $34 million from state, federal, and private foundation sources. Construction of the project is expected to take three years - activities will be restricted to approximately April to November to avoid the rainy season and impact to migrating steelhead. During years two and three of construction, the Carmel River and San Clemente Creek will be diverted around the reservoir and dam site, and the reservoir will be emptied.
was formed in 2002 as a county wide effort to restore the watershed. The IWRP’s objectives are to:
Recognizing the value of the IWRP, the conservancy awarded 4.5 million to the SCCRCD in June 2003 to initiate Phase 1 of the IWRP. Phase 1 is focused on pre-implementation activities so most of the funding will go towards designs and permits for nearly 100 critical watershed restoration projects in Santa Cruz County. Some of these projects include expansion of rural roads, technical assistance programs, comparative lagoon ecological assessment projects, countywide outreach and education program development, watershed education activity and resource guides, and coordination of resources: annual watershed partner forum, IWRP reporting, IWRP website, technical assistance.
proposed to consolidate its operations and sell lands and salt production rights on 61 percent of its South Bay Operation area. Negotiations were headed by Senator Dianne Feinstein and a framework agreement was signed in May 2002 by the conservancy, the California Resources Agency
, the Wildlife Conservation Board, the California Department of Fish and Game, United States Fish and Wildlife Service
, Cargill and Senator Dianne Feinstein
. California approved purchase of the property on February 11, 2003. The land is currently managed and owned by the US Fish and Wildlife Services and the Department of Fish and Game. The goal of the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project is to restore 90% of the former salt ponds to natural wetlands. The Native Plant Nursery at Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge
is providing plants to the restoration project. The Project Manager at the conservancy for the restoration project, Brenda Buxton, said "The SBSRP, with over 15,000 acres and a 50-year plan, is the largest wetlands restoration project on the West coast." The benefits of wetland restoration are flood control, pollution reduction, habitat expansion for wildlife, and public access and recreation for people.
The South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project is integrating restoration with flood management, while also providing for public access and wildlife-oriented recreation and education opportunities. Restored tidal marsh
es will provide critical habitat for the endangered California clapper rail
and the salt marsh harvest mouse
. Large marsh areas will also provide extensive channel systems which will provide habitat for aquatic life and harbor seals. Flood management will also be integrated to protect local communities. Restoration will also offer many opportunities for public use including trails for hiking and biking, hunting, bird watching, environmental education and other recreational opportunities.
Applying this approach, the control program uses all available scientific information regarding the San Francisco Estuary, the invasive cordgrasses, and the likely economic, sociological, and ecological consequences of both the invasion and the treatment program, to develop a management strategy that is effective, economical, and protective of public and environmental health.
To implement the site-specific management strategies, the program relies heavily on partnerships developed with the landowners and managers around the Bay that have non-native Spartina growing on their lands. The conservancy provides treatment and eradication grants to these partners, who subsequently select an appropriate aquatic vegetation control contractor through a competitive bid process, or utilize their own equipment and crews in the case of flood control and mosquito abatement districts. These partners are ultimately responsible for the success of the project through the long-term commitment to monitor and maintain the eradication efforts, and ensure that Spartina is not reintroduced to the system.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
established in 1976 to enhance coastal resources and access.
Goals
The agency's official goals are to:- Protect and improve coastal wetlandWetlandA wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
s, streams and watershedsDrainage basinA drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean... - Help people get to coasts and shores by building trails and stairways and creating low cost accommodation including campgrounds and hostels
- Work with local communities to revitalize urban watersheds
- Help solve complex land-use problems
- Purchase and hold environmentally valuable coastal and bay lands
- Protect Agricultural lands and support coastal agriculture
- Accept donations and dedication of land and easementEasementAn easement is a certain right to use the real property of another without possessing it.Easements are helpful for providing pathways across two or more pieces of property or allowing an individual to fish in a privately owned pond...
s for public access, wildlife habitat, agriculture and open spaces
It works in partnership with other public agencies, nonprofit organizations and private landowners, employing 75 people and overseeing a current annual budget of 53 million dollars. Since its conception, the conservancy has spent over 1.4 billion dollars on projects it has completed. The conservancy was created by the legislature as a unique entity with flexible powers to serve as an intermediary among government, citizens, and the private sector in recognition that creative approaches would be needed to preserve California's coast line.
Progress
Since its establishment, the conservancy has completed more than 1,000 projects along the California coast line and in the San Francisco bay. These projects have included preserving almost 20000 acres (80.9 km²) of wetlands, dunes, wildlife habitat, recreation lands, farmland, and scenic open space, building hundreds of miles of access ways and trails along the coast line, and assisting in the completion of more than 100 urban waterfront projects.Public Access
Provides capital funds and technical assistance for the construction of public access stairs; trails, limited-mobility-access projects, hostels, interpretive signs and other facilities that serve state and regional coastal access needs.Resource Enhancement
Provides capital funds and technical assistance for the preservation, enhancement and restoration of wetlands, watersheds, riparian corridorsRiparian zone
A riparian zone or riparian area is the interface between land and a river or stream. Riparian is also the proper nomenclature for one of the fifteen terrestrial biomes of the earth. Plant habitats and communities along the river margins and banks are called riparian vegetation, characterized by...
, and other wildlife habitat lands.
Agricultural Preservation
Provides capital funds and technical assistance to prevent the loss of coastal agricultural lands to other uses by acquiring interests in such lands, installing agricultural improvements and protective measures.Site Reservation
Provides capital funds and technical assistance to safeguard significant coastal resource sites and responds to opportunities to acquire such sites when other agencies are unable to do so.Urban waterfronts
Provides capital funds and technical assistance to protect, restore and expand coastal-dependent recreation, commercial and industrial facilities and to expand opportunities for public access and use of urban waterfronts in conjunction with new development.Non-profit assistance
Provides capital funds and assistance to nonprofit land conservation organizations to aid them in implementing conservancy projects and in developing cost-effective local management of resource land and public access facilities.Current projects
The Conservancy is currently involved in over three hundred projects in the San Francisco Bay and up and down the California coast, including:California Coastal Trail
The California Coastal Trail, once completed, will run 1200 miles (1,931.2 km) from OregonOregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. However, the trail has a long history; the conservancy did not get involved until 2001 when the state legislature, by the way of SB 908, directed the conservancy to determine what needed to be done to complete the trail. The conservancy first came up with a definition of what they wanted the trail to be; "a continuous public right-of-way along the California coastline; a trail designed to foster appreciation and stewardship of the scenic and natural resources of the coast through hiking and other complementary modes of non-motorized transportation". SB 908 set a target date for the completion of the trail in 2008. To determine how much of the trail was already completed, the conservancy interviewed public officials, communities, counties, and State Parks, as well as knowledgeable individuals and members of the coast walk. During this process, segments of the trail were graded as adequate (or better) or in need of substantial improvement (or worse).
After conducting the research, the conservancy concluded that, out of the 1200 miles (1,931.2 km) length of the trail, about 40% was adequate and 40% inadequate, but ran on public land or along public highway corridors. For the remaining 20% of the trail length, acquisition of land has had to be planned. The conservancies final estimate was that it would cost $668,350,000 to finish all 1200 miles (1,931.2 km) of the California Coastal Trail. Currently, more than half of the trail is completed.
Napa Sonoma Marsh Restoration Project
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the conservancy, and the California Department of Fish and GameCalifornia Department of Fish and Game
The California Department of Fish and Game is a department within the government of California, falling under its parent California Natural Resources Agency. The Department of Fish and Game manages and protects the state's diverse fish, wildlife, plant resources, and native habitats...
are conducting a feasibility study and preparing an Environmental Impact Report / Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS), which involves the technical Analysis of Alternatives
Analysis of Alternatives
This article refers to the Analysis of Alternatives military process, not the general business practice. The AoA is a cornerstone of Military Acquisition, and deliberately embodies the fair and competitive character of the United States business atmosphere...
for the restoration of 10000 acres (40.5 km²) of wetlands and associated habitats within the former Cargill salt pond complex in the North Bay.
The goals of this project are to restore large patches of tidal marsh that support a wide variety of fish, wildlife and plants, including special status mammals and water birds - specifically the salt marsh harvest mouse
Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse
The Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse , also known as the Red-bellied Harvest Mouse and some times called by Saltmarsh Harvest Mouse, is an endangered rodent endemic to the San Francisco Bay Area salt marshes in California. There are two distinct subspecies, both endangered and listed together on federal...
, California Clapper Rail
California Clapper Rail
The California Clapper Rail is an endangered subspecies of the Clapper Rail . It is found principally in California's San Francisco Bay, and also in Monterey Bay and Morro Bay...
, and Black Rail
Black Rail
The Black Rail is a mouse-sized member of the Rallidae family of birds. It is found in scattered parts of North America and the Pacific region of South America, usually in coastal salt marshes but also in some freshwater marshes. It is extinct or threatened in many locations due to habitat loss...
, endangered fish - specifically the Delta smelt
Delta smelt
Delta smelt, Hypomesus transpacificus, is an endangered slender-bodied smelt, about long, of the Osmeridae family. Endemic to the upper Sacramento-San Joaquin estuary of California, it mainly inhabits the freshwater-saltwater mixing zone of the estuary, except during its spawning season, which...
, Sacramento splittail, steelhead trout and Chinook salmon
Chinook salmon
The Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, is the largest species in the pacific salmon family. Other commonly used names for the species include King salmon, Quinnat salmon, Spring salmon and Tyee salmon...
, and aquatic animals. They will also be managing water depth to maximize wildlife habitat diversity, with shallow-water areas for migratory and resident shore birds and deep-water areas for diving ducks.
Carmel River Reroute and San Clemente Dam Removal Project
The project involves the conservancy, National Marine Fisheries ServiceNational Marine Fisheries Service
The National Marine Fisheries Service is a United States federal agency. A division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Department of Commerce, NMFS is responsible for the stewardship and management of the nation's living marine resources and their habitat within the...
(NMFS), the Conservation League Foundation and the Californian American Water company
American Water (company)
thumb|right|350px|The Iowa American Water Company plant in [[Davenport, Iowa]] on the banks of the [[Mississippi River]]American Water is a public utility company operating in the United States and Canada...
(CalAm). These agencies are all working together to remove the San Clemente Dam which was constructed in 1921. Since the dams construction, the Carmel River
Carmel River
The Carmel River is a river on the Central Coast of California in Monterey County that originates in the Santa Lucia Mountains. The river flows northwest through the Carmel Valley with its mouth at the Pacific Ocean south of Carmel-by-the-Sea. It is often considered the northern boundary of Big Sur...
has suffered from accelerated erosion, and the once vibrant steelhead trout run has dramatically decreased. The benefits of the dam removal include recovery of central coast steelhead trout (a threatened species) by proving unimpaired access to over 25 miles (40.2 km) of spawning
Spawn (biology)
Spawn refers to the eggs and sperm released or deposited, usually into water, by aquatic animals. As a verb, spawn refers to the process of releasing the eggs and sperm, also called spawning...
and rearing habitat, expansion of public recreation by preserving over 900 acres (3.6 km²) of coastal watershed lands, restoration of a natural sediment regime improving the habitat for steelhead trout, reducing beach erosion that now contributes to destabilization of homes, roads and infrastructure, and improvement of habitat for the threatened California Red-legged Frog
California Red-legged Frog
The California red-legged frog, Rana draytonii, is a moderate to large species of frog. It is known under the scientific name Rana draytonii, after being long included with the northern red-legged frog The California red-legged frog, Rana draytonii, is a moderate to large (4.4–14 cm) species...
.
The total project cost for the project is currently estimated at $83 million. According to the implementation agreement, CalAm will pay an amount equivalent to the estimated cost of buttressing the dam, or approximately $49 million. The conservancy, with assistance from the NMFS, will secure the additional $34 million from state, federal, and private foundation sources. Construction of the project is expected to take three years - activities will be restricted to approximately April to November to avoid the rainy season and impact to migrating steelhead. During years two and three of construction, the Carmel River and San Clemente Creek will be diverted around the reservoir and dam site, and the reservoir will be emptied.
Integrated Watershed Restoration Program (IWPR)
The Integrated Watershed Restoration Program (IWPR) for Santa Cruz CountySanta Cruz County, California
Santa Cruz County is a county located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, on the California Central Coast. The county forms the northern coast of the Monterey Bay. . As of the 2010 U.S. Census, its population was 262,382. The county seat is Santa Cruz...
was formed in 2002 as a county wide effort to restore the watershed. The IWRP’s objectives are to:
- Coordinate agencies on the identification, funding and implementation of watershed restoration projects
- Target proposals to critical projects supported by the resource agencies
- Facilitate higher quality designs at lower costs
- Simplify the permit process for water shed restoration
- Effect institutional change to improve water shed restoration efforts
- Develop a countywide outreach and education program
- Develop a monitoring program geared toward future project identification needs
- Develop additional assessments and plans
- Serve as a water restoration information hub for Santa Cruz county.
Recognizing the value of the IWRP, the conservancy awarded 4.5 million to the SCCRCD in June 2003 to initiate Phase 1 of the IWRP. Phase 1 is focused on pre-implementation activities so most of the funding will go towards designs and permits for nearly 100 critical watershed restoration projects in Santa Cruz County. Some of these projects include expansion of rural roads, technical assistance programs, comparative lagoon ecological assessment projects, countywide outreach and education program development, watershed education activity and resource guides, and coordination of resources: annual watershed partner forum, IWRP reporting, IWRP website, technical assistance.
South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project
The project is being headed by the state of California and the federal government to restore 15100 acres (61.1 km²) of Cargill's former salt ponds in San Francisco Bay. In October 2000, CargillCargill
Cargill, Incorporated is a privately held, multinational corporation based in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Founded in 1865, it is now the largest privately held corporation in the United States in terms of revenue. If it were a public company, it would rank, as of 2011, number 13 on the Fortune 500,...
proposed to consolidate its operations and sell lands and salt production rights on 61 percent of its South Bay Operation area. Negotiations were headed by Senator Dianne Feinstein and a framework agreement was signed in May 2002 by the conservancy, the California Resources Agency
California Resources Agency
The California Natural Resources Agency is a state cabinet-level agency in the government of California. The institution and jurisdiction of the Natural Resources Agency is provided for in California Government Code sections 12800 and 12805, et seq...
, the Wildlife Conservation Board, the California Department of Fish and Game, United States Fish and Wildlife Service
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is a federal government agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats...
, Cargill and Senator Dianne Feinstein
Dianne Feinstein
Dianne Goldman Berman Feinstein is the senior U.S. Senator from California. A member of the Democratic Party, she has served in the Senate since 1992. She also served as 38th Mayor of San Francisco from 1978 to 1988....
. California approved purchase of the property on February 11, 2003. The land is currently managed and owned by the US Fish and Wildlife Services and the Department of Fish and Game. The goal of the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project is to restore 90% of the former salt ponds to natural wetlands. The Native Plant Nursery at Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge is a US National Wildlife Refuge located in the southern part of San Francisco Bay, California. The Refuge headquarters and visitor center is located in the Baylands district of Fremont, next to Coyote Hills Regional Park, in Alameda County. ...
is providing plants to the restoration project. The Project Manager at the conservancy for the restoration project, Brenda Buxton, said "The SBSRP, with over 15,000 acres and a 50-year plan, is the largest wetlands restoration project on the West coast." The benefits of wetland restoration are flood control, pollution reduction, habitat expansion for wildlife, and public access and recreation for people.
The South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project is integrating restoration with flood management, while also providing for public access and wildlife-oriented recreation and education opportunities. Restored tidal marsh
Tidal marsh
A tidal marsh is a type of marsh that is found along coasts and estuaries of which the flooding characteristics are determined by the tidal movement of the adjacent estuary, sea or ocean . According to the salinity of the flooding water, freshwater, brackish and saline tidal marshes are...
es will provide critical habitat for the endangered California clapper rail
California Clapper Rail
The California Clapper Rail is an endangered subspecies of the Clapper Rail . It is found principally in California's San Francisco Bay, and also in Monterey Bay and Morro Bay...
and the salt marsh harvest mouse
Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse
The Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse , also known as the Red-bellied Harvest Mouse and some times called by Saltmarsh Harvest Mouse, is an endangered rodent endemic to the San Francisco Bay Area salt marshes in California. There are two distinct subspecies, both endangered and listed together on federal...
. Large marsh areas will also provide extensive channel systems which will provide habitat for aquatic life and harbor seals. Flood management will also be integrated to protect local communities. Restoration will also offer many opportunities for public use including trails for hiking and biking, hunting, bird watching, environmental education and other recreational opportunities.
Invasive Spartina Project
The Invasive Spartina Project is a coordinated regional effort among local, state and federal organizations dedicated to preserving California's extraordinary coastal biological resources through the elimination of introduced species of Spartina. Cordgrasses are highly aggressive invaders that significantly alter both the physical structure and biological composition of our tidal marshes, mudflats and creeks. The control program is the "action arm" of the San Francisco Estuary Invasive Spartina Project, a project of the conservancy. The program uses an Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) approach to prioritize and implement control efforts.Applying this approach, the control program uses all available scientific information regarding the San Francisco Estuary, the invasive cordgrasses, and the likely economic, sociological, and ecological consequences of both the invasion and the treatment program, to develop a management strategy that is effective, economical, and protective of public and environmental health.
To implement the site-specific management strategies, the program relies heavily on partnerships developed with the landowners and managers around the Bay that have non-native Spartina growing on their lands. The conservancy provides treatment and eradication grants to these partners, who subsequently select an appropriate aquatic vegetation control contractor through a competitive bid process, or utilize their own equipment and crews in the case of flood control and mosquito abatement districts. These partners are ultimately responsible for the success of the project through the long-term commitment to monitor and maintain the eradication efforts, and ensure that Spartina is not reintroduced to the system.