San Francisco Bay Joint Venture Newsletter: July 2012

If you log into the San Francisco Bay Joint Venture’s Project Online System for Tracking, you may notice that it has been through a lot lately. The result? The look of the system is improved, and you can find more information about the projects that interest you.

Thanks to the site creation and management staff at Ducks Unlimited, the site offers a new mapping system, a full facelift and many new tools.Thanks to our spring intern Ariana Rickard, missing content has been filled in, which will allow more of us to answer pressing questions such as what is happening at each project location, where is it geographically, how many acres have been restored, and at what cost. Thanks to partners who provided valuable feedback to a database survey we distributed in March, we are making additional improvements.

If you haven’t visited lately (or ever), contact Sandra at sscoggin@sfbayjv.org and get your very own username and password. Log in, have a cup of tea, and take a look around.

The SFBJV says Bon Voyage

It’s that time again. Another enthusiastic, bright and talented intern is on her way. Ariana Rickard has cheerfully helped the JV take strides forward with our project tracking. We are sad to see her go, but wish her all the best with her very bright future. The good news is – she’s on the job hunt and is quite a catch. If any of you have or know of positions or connections for Ariana, don’t hesitate to be in touch. She studied Resource Ecology and Management in graduate school and has worked for the federal government, nonprofits, the Peace Corps in Ecuador, and the American Museum of Natural History, among others. She is interested in wildlife biology and conservation opportunities, particularly field work in ornithology and botany. Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Reach her at rickard@post.harvard.edu.

GRANTS

Deadline: July 27, 2012 NAWCA Standard Grants: The U.S. Standard grant information is available on the NAWCA website at www.fws.gov/birdhabitat/Grants/NAWCA/Standard/US/index.shtm. For general program information, contact the U.S. Standard Grants Program Proposal Coordinators: David Buie (david_buie@fws.gov), (301) 497-5870, or Cheryl Leonard, (cheryl_leonard@fws.gov), 703-358-1725. Important note: Anyone considering applying should coordinate their application with SFBJV Coordinator Beth Huning at bhuning@sfbayjv.org or 415-259-0334. The SFBJV will need to be involved not only to provide guidance but also because we will need to rank all applications that are submitted.

Deadline: August 28, 2012 – Department of Fish and Game Environmental Enhancement Fund Grant Program (flyer)

The State’s oil spill agency, the California Department of Fish and Game Office of Spill Prevention and Response, is seeking grant proposals for projects to enhance California’s marine habitat. This grant, administered through the Environmental Enhancement Fund (EEF), is available to coastal communities including cities, nonprofit organizations, counties, districts, state agencies, and departments, and (to the extent permitted by federal law) federal agencies.

Details and RFP.

Deadline October 25, 2012 – NAWCA Small Grants: The Small Grants Program is a competitive, matching grants program that supports public-private partnerships carrying out projects in the United States that further the goals of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (Act). These projects must involve long-term protection, restoration, and/or enhancement of wetlands and associated uplands habitats for the benefit of all wetlands-associated migratory birds. This program supports the same type of projects and adheres to the same selection criteria and administrative guidelines as the U.S. Standard Grants Program. However, project activities are usually smaller in scope and involve fewer project dollars. Grant requests may not exceed $75,000, and funding priority is given to grantees or partners new to the Act’s Grants Program. Note: Small grants are an underutilized part of the Act; they are much easier than standard grants and they’ve raised the cap to $75,000. All potential applicants should contact SFBJV Coordinator Beth Huning at bhuning@sfbayjv.org or 415-259-0334 well in advance for input on ways to make their application competitive on a national level. .

2013 Deadline: November 1, 2012. Webless Migratory Game Bird rogram The primary purpose of the WMGBP is to support activities that will improve management of the 16 species of migratory shore and upland game birds (MSUGBs, Table 1) in North America. The Migratory Shore and Upland Game Bird Support Task Force, organized through the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, developed a set of priority information needs by convening a series of workshops. The workshops included broad representation (i.e., federal and state agencies, conservation organizations, and university researchers) familiar with the research and management needs for these species. Priorities identified at the workshops (see Appendix A for a list of priorities) should be used to guide proposal development and will be used by the review committee to select projects that address these priority information needs.

Climate Funding Opportunities: These opportunities represent a snapshot of what is currently available (as of April 23, 2012). Future grant opportunities are contingent upon funding appropriations.

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) Cosco Busan Oil Spill Settlement – Recreational Use Grant Program

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, together with California Department of Fish and Game and the California State Lands Commission, request pre-proposals under the Cosco Busan Oil Spill Settlement – Recreational Use Grant Program (Program) for recreational projects that compensate the public for the loss of use and enjoyment of public beaches, parks, and other public or natural resources as a result of the Cosco Busan oil spill. Pre-proposal Due Date: April 26, 2012 Full Proposal Due Date: September 10, 2012. $6.8 million available. Contact Liz Epstein, Senior Manager, Impact-Directed Environmental Accounts, 415-243-3102 or liz.epstein@nfwf.org.

ONGOING:

California Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB)

WCB continues to provide funding for wetland, riparian, oak woodland, and other fish and wildlife habitat improvement projects and land acquisition (easement and fee title) from Propositions 40, 50, and 117. The WCB’s Riparian, Inland Wetlands, and Oak Woodland programs continue, and are continuously open for proposal submission.

More information can be found on our website.

Coastal Program in San Francisco Bay The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service operates a partnership program in the Bay, Delta and the estuary’s local watersheds. About $220,000 is available each year to obligate to projects that restore fish and wildlife habitat, provide essential information to decision makers advising them on habitat restoration, or performs habitat-related advocacy and outreach. The emphasis is on estuarine benefits and for “on-the-ground” projects. About 260 wide-ranging projects involving all kinds of partners have been supported since 1992. CFDA Number 15.630. Contact John Klochak, Coastal Program Manager, San Francisco Bay Area, San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, 9500 Thornton Ave. Newark, CA 94560. Phone: 510-792-0717 ext 223, FAX: 510-792-5828 Email: john_klochak@fws.gov

MEDIA NEWS

How America’s Cup study will help birds | SF Gate, June 24, 2012

Report: California to get seas rising 6 inches by 2030 | Associated Press, June 23, 2012

Habitat set aside for western snowy plover doubles | SFGate, June 19, 2012

Protected areas for tiny snowy plover designated in West Marin | Marin IJ, June 19, 2012

S.F. to study birds to keep America’s Cup afloat | San Francisco Chronicle, June 17, 2012

Marin fish plucked from certain death in Lagunitas | Marin Independent Journal, June 13, 2012 |

Few stepping up to save Candlestick Point Recreation Area site as parks shut down | SF Examiner, June 13, 2012

De-fishing Napa Creek | Napa Valley Register, June 9, 2012

Brown, Evans, Allen recognize Napa River project | Napa Valley Register, June 7, 2012

Burrowing Owls Eschew Albany Habitat at Waterfront | Albany Patch, June 6, 2012

Agency offers more transparency in land deals, but critics say not enough | Sacramento Bee, June 6, 2012