On May 1, 2017, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy (Conservancy) approved approximately $4.4 million for four projects that will restore and enhance ecosystems, improve water quality, and support water-related agricultural sustainability in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta of California.
The Delta is the largest estuary on the west coast of North and South America. The Conservancy provides funding through a competitive grant process made possible by a voter-approved bond measure, Proposition 1 – the Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014.
The approved projects will amplify the benefit of bond dollars by bringing in more than $1.9 million in private, State, and federal cost share dollars. The projects will restore upland and wetland ecosystems; enhance and connect habitats that are critical for migratory, threatened, and endangered species; create riparian habitat and improve water quality on working lands; and promote a better understanding of how to restore native vegetation. All projects must complete administrative and/or environmental compliance prerequisites before they receive funding.
“The Delta Conservancy is proud to partner with the organizations implementing these projects to create a more viable Delta ecosystem,” said Campbell Ingram, the Conservancy’s Executive Officer. “Each project is has support from members of the Delta community, and will provide benefits for natural and human communities.”
This is the second round of grants the Conservancy has awarded though Proposition 1, which provided a total $50 million for the Delta Conservancy for the competitive grants. The Conservancy will open a third grant solicitation in August of 2017 and anticipates awarding funding in the spring of 2018. The
Conservancy plans to administer at least one grant cycle each fiscal year through 2020.
Working collaboratively and in coordination with local communities, the Delta Conservancy leads efforts to protect, enhance and restore the Delta economy, agriculture and working landscapes, and environment for the benefit of the Delta region, its local communities, and the citizens of California.
Here are the 2016-2017 approved restoration projects:
- $2,900,000: The Dutch Slough Revegetation project will plant native vegetation to restore 578 acres of upland and wetland ecosystems in Contra Costa County.
- $444,795: The Petersen Ranch Working Waterway Habitat Enhancement project will install cattle fencing and native vegetation to create riparian habitat and improve water quality on private, agricultural land in Solano County.
- $107,655: The Investigations of Restoration Techniques that Limit Invasion of Tidal Wetlands project will study methods of using native plants to abate invasive plant outbreaks in restored areas in Contra Costa County.
- $943,549: The Restoration of Priority Freshwater Wetlands for Endangered Species at the Cosumnes River Preserve project will remove invasive plants to improve habitat for Giant Garter Snake and other wildlife in Sacramento County.
Featured photo of the California Red-Legged Frog courtesy of the Elkhorn Slough Foundation.