The Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) Approves Almost $6 Million in Grants to Restore the Orick Mill Site for Fish and People

Press release from CDFW:

At its May 26, 2022 quarterly meeting, the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) approved approximately $52.93 million in grants to help restore and protect fish and wildlife habitat throughout California. Some of the 33 approved projects will benefit fish and wildlife — including some endangered species — while others will provide public access to important natural resources. Several projects will also demonstrate the importance of protecting working landscapes that integrate economic, social and environmental stewardship practices beneficial to the environment, landowners and the local community.

Funding for these projects comes from a combination of sources including the Habitat Conservation Fund and bond measures approved by voters to help preserve and protect California’s natural resources.

Funded projects include:

• A $5.95 million grant to State Coastal Conservancy (SCC) for a cooperative project with Save the Redwoods League, National Park Service, Ocean Protection Council, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Cal Trout to restore floodplain connectivity and riparian habitat and construct accessible public access amenities on privately-owned land known as the former Orick Mill, located one mile northeast of Orick in Humboldt County.
• A $1.03 million grant to Ducks Unlimited, Inc., for a cooperative project with California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to restore 2,157 acres of wetlands and 189 acres of upland nesting habitat for the benefit of migratory birds at the Honey Lake Wildlife Area in Lassen County.
• A $1.11 million grant to California Waterfowl Association for a cooperative project with CDFW and the USFWS to restore 458 acres of wetlands and 20 acres of upland nesting habitat for the benefit of migratory birds at the Grizzly Island Wildlife Area in Solano County.
• A $4.83 million grant to the City of Rancho Palos Verdes for a cooperative project with USFWS, the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy and the County of Los Angeles, and the acceptance of a USFWS Section 6 grant with approval to subgrant these federal funds to the city to acquire approximately 96 acres of land for the protection of wildlife and endangered species habitat and wildlife corridors, and to provide potential future wildlife-oriented, public-use opportunities in the city of Rancho Palos Verdes in Los Angeles County.
• A grant of up to $15.5 million to the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority for a cooperative project with CDFW, Natural Resources Agency, USFWS and SCC to acquire approximately 385 acres of land for the protection of upland and lowland habitat consisting of wetlands, vernal pools, marsh lands, arroyos and coastal sage scrub that support both state and federally endangered species, and to provide for potential wildlife habitat preservation, restoration and management, wildlife-oriented education and research, and compatible public uses, located in the cities of Costa Mesa and Newport Beach in Orange County.