Two California Coastal Areas Selected for Habitat Restoration Grants
OutdoorHub 02.05.12
The Department of Fish and Game’s (DFG) Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) awarded $280,000 in grants for environmental enhancement projects. Recipients for 2012 are the City of Arcata’s McDaniel Slough Tidal Restoration project for $187,706 and the Central Coast’s Elkhorn Slough for $95,480.
“We received numerous project proposals to restore habitat and benefit multiple special status species,” said Scott Schaefer, OSPR Administrator (Acting) and Environmental Enhancement Committee chair. “We selected two outstanding projects and look forward to awarding more restoration grants in the future.”
OSPR administers the Environmental Enhancement Fund (EEF) and participates in the selection committee with the California Coastal Conservancy and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The purpose of the fund is to enhance marine habitats and environment along California’s coastal areas.
In addition to Schaefer, the committee includes Coastal Conservancy Executive Officer Sam Schuchat and public member Stephanie Tom Coupe. The committee selected the McDaniel Slough project for its salt marsh restoration, benefits to federal and state endangered species and more than 250 acres of coastal landscape restoration on Humboldt Bay. The Elkhorn Slough was selected for its pioneering and innovative approach in restoring native oyster habitat. Overall, the committee received 36 grant applications for restoration projects.
The grant is offered annually to nonprofit organizations, cities, counties, districts, state agencies and federal agencies. Each application is required to be an enhancement project that acquires habitat for preservation, or improves habitat quality and ecosystem function above baseline conditions. Projects are also required to be located within or immediately adjacent to California marine waters, have measurable outcomes within a predetermined timeframe and designed to acquire, restore or improve habitat or restore ecosystem function, or both, to benefit fish and wildlife.
