Twelve million awarded for environmental enhancement and mitigation projects

The California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) in coordination with the California Transportation Commission (CTC) has awarded $12 million in funding for 18 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.

“Local leaders and groups are implementing nature-based solutions across California to offset environmental impacts from transportation projects,” said Secretary for Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot. “These projects help green our communities, provide residents new open spaces to enjoy, preserve our world-renowned biodiversity and build our state’s resilience to climate change. I’m eager to see these important projects get completed and deliver these community and environmental benefits.”

For the 2020-21 grant cycle, CNRA evaluated 29 applications and recommended funding for 18 projects. Specifically, CNRA recommended funding six projects in the northern part of the state for more than $4.3 million and 12 projects in the southern portion of the state for more than $7.7 million. The CTC approved and allocated funding for all 18 projects. Money for the grants comes from fuel taxes distributed to CNRA by the California Department of Transportation.

Grant Awardees By County:

Alameda County:

• City of Berkeley, $500,000, Trees Make Life Better.

El Dorado County:

• American River Conservancy, $1,000,000, Lewis Ranch Greenwood Creek Conservation Project.

Los Angeles County:

• City of Los Angeles – Bureau of Sanitation, $500,000, Slauson Corridor: Making Connections.
• Claremont Wildlands Conservancy, $1,000,000, Clara Oaks Acquisition Project.
• Koreatown Youth and Community Center, $500,000, Purple Line Trees for Equitable Canopy.
• Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, $1,000,000, Temescal Ranch Acquisition Project-Phase 3.
• National Wildlife Federation, $500,000, Wildlife Crossing at Liberty Canyon Road.
• The Trust for Public Land, $1,000,000, Escondido Falls Trail Extension Project.

 Madera County:

• Sierra Foothill Conservancy, $339,584, Wandern Ranch Conservation Easement Acquisition Phase.

Mendocino County:

• Save the Redwoods League, $550,000, Montgomery Woods Expansion Project.

Placer County:

• Truckee Donner Land Trust, $1,000,000, Martis Valley Headwaters Project.

Riverside County:

• Oswit Land Trust, $700,673, Mesquite Ridge Acquisition Project.

San Bernardino County:

• City of Chino Hills, $317,415, Eucalyptus Nature Park Project.

San Diego County:

• Lakeside’s River Park Conservancy, $499,921, Urban Forestry: Shading the San Diego River Trail in Lakeside.
• The Chaparral Lands Conservancy, $499,984, Otay Mesa Habitat Restoration Project II.

San Luis Obispo County:

• Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County, $775,500, Miossi Trust Ranch Conservation Easement.

Santa Barbara County:

• Regents of the University of California- Santa Barbara, $491,130, UCSB Campus Point: Coastal Terrace Restoration.

Sonoma County:

• Sonoma Land Trust, $1,000,000, Felder Ranch Conservation Easement.