San Francisco Bay Joint Venture Bulletin, May 7, 2014

  • by BPC Staff
  • on May 7, 2014
  • 0 Comments
 

SAN FRANCISCO BAY JOINT VENTURE BULLETIN

WHAT DO ALL OF THESE PROJECTS HAVE IN COMMON? …

Breuner Marsh

SF Bay Living Shorelines

Hamilton Wetlands

Yosemite Slough

South Bay Salt Ponds 

Invasive Spartina Treatment

Sears Point

Bahia

Napa Sonoma Marshes

Haire Property Acquisition

 

 

 

… THEY WERE ALL SUPPORTED IN PART
BY THE STATE COASTAL CONSERVANCY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 7 2014  

 

SPOTLIGHTS

 

Partner Project Milestones … since our last Bulletin, several SFBJV partner projects have celebrated milestones in their wetland restoration accomplishments.  Here we acknowledge each of these by project name and offer our sincere congratulations to all the partners involved for their achievements in making progress toward restoring the ecological health of San Francisco Bay.

 

BREUNER MARSH restoration and public access project, East Bay Regional Park District
On April 22, a ground-breaking ceremony was held for the restoration of Breuner Marsh.  Once restored, this 164-acre marsh will provide improved habitat for birds, including the endangered California Clapper Rail, offer several trails on elevated boardwalks and will become part of the adjoining 1500-acre Pt Pinole Regional Shoreline.  The event was well covered by the press, and you can read more about it  here...

 

HAMILTON WETLANDS restoration project, Novato

On Friday April 25, San Pablo Bay began pouring through a breached levee, marking a momentous occasion in the decades-long effort to restore Hamilton Airfield.   It was a signature step in this final phase of reconnecting 648 acres of wetlands to the Bay, and restoring tidal habitat for shorebirds, waterfowl, fish and other wildlife.  Jerry Kay, a Hamilton resident and producer of Earth News Network shared this video and narrative of the event.

REDWOOD CREEK restoration at MUIR BEACH
On a blustery May 3, the National Park Service and Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy officially celebrated the completed restoration of Lower Redwood Creek at Muir Beach.  This multi-year, landscape level coastal restoration project was designed to bring back the ecological functions of the creek, fresh water wetlands and intermittent tidal lagoons and dunes.  Residents will benefit from the improved function of a reconnected floodplain, as will Coho salmon and Steelhead trout.  You can learn more about the project, including listen to our podcast about it here
  

 

Getting Out in the Field  

Our first site visit of the 2014 calendar year took place on April 22 at Hayward and Cogswell Marshes.  With Marilyn Latta (State Coastal Conservancy) and Matthew Graul (East Bay Regional Park District) as our guides, participants learned about the intricacies and challenges of the region-wide efforts to control Invasive Spartina, the importance of increasing endangered species habitat, the dire need for funding and the multiple benefits of restoring landscapes – from job creation to flood control and other ecosystem services.   We’ve got 8 more tours planned in the months ahead.  If you have a group that would like to learn more about the restoration of SF Bay, please contact Caroline Warner

 

 

 

International Migratory
Bird Day is Saturday, May 10 
Celebrate  “Why Birds Matter” to you in your own way or by participating in any of the many events going on around the Bay Area or across the country!  Here’s one hosted by Point Blue Conservation and held at Muir Woods that we think you might like.

 

 

 

GRANTS – with deadlines

 

 

Deadline May 12:

California Landscape Cooperative Collaborative (CALCC) Place-Based Projects that lead to Climate Smart Actions

The CA LCC has $400,000-$500,000 to support 2-4 collaborative place-based projects that lead to climate-smart conservation actions by natural resource managers. Place-based projects develop adaptation strategies and actions in a CA LCC ecoregion or landscape within an ecoregion that can be implemented by the partners. more

 

Deadline May 15:

Natural Resources Conservation District Wetland Reserve Easement (WRE) program 

California NRCS is offering a wetlands grazing option in 3 geographic areas for participants with an approved wetlands conservation and grazing management plan.  Funding through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), recently created in the 2014 Farm Bill, replaces the former Wetlands Reserve Program, Farm and 

Ranch Lands Protection Program and Grassland Reserve Program, while accomplishing many of the same conservation goals.

more


Deadline June 27: 

National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Program

Applications for these grants need to be submitted by a state agency partner, and potential applicants should also contact the San Francisco Bay Joint Venture to let them know of their intent and for JV assistance. more

 

GRANTS – ongoing

 

Local Coastal Planning (LCP) Grants   

The state of California has announced funding to support local governments in planning for sea-level rise and climate change, and in developing new (or updating existing) Local Coastal Programs (LCP), consistent with the California Coastal Act.  The full grant announcement and application will be available in late spring 2014, with applications due in summer 2014. To assist applicants and streamline the application process, there will be a joint application form for the two grant programs. Local governments and partner organizations interested in applying for the grant funding should take this opportunity to begin planning for the application process.  more

 

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. for inquiries contact  (916) 445-8448.  more  

 

 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Coastal Program at San Francisco Bay

The program’s focus is on the San Mateo and Marin Counties’ outer Coast and is also available to projects in watersheds draining into San Francisco Bay. The mission of the Coastal Program at San Francisco Bay is to conserve coastal ecosystems by engaging external partners and other Service programs in activities that restore, enhance and protect fish and wildlife habitats and habitat forming processes. Funding Available: about $100,000 to $200,000 annually. There is no rigid application format or deadline to apply. However, our money is available on a Federal fiscal year basis (October 1 to September 30), and we encourage you to contact us as early as possible so that we can explore potential partnership opportunities for your project. We would like to hear from you starting in January each year, cooperative agreements for each year are generally finalized by June.   more  

 

MEDIA NEWS

 

 

GENERAL NEWS

 

 

 

 

COURSES, EVENTS & WORKSHOPS

 

 

 

JOBS & VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

 

 

OPEN UNTIL FILLED    

Stewardship Project Manager, Peninsula Open Space Trust  

Communications Intern, Friends of the SF Bay Estuary 

Executive Director, Putah Creek

Visitor Service Internship (Volunteer) Don Edwards SF Bay NWR  

Grant Writer Position, San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society
2014 Marin Transit / National Parks Shuttle Summer Internship, Parks Conservancy
Associate Personnel Analyst, State Coastal Conservancy

Environmental Education Volunteer Internship (6/2-8/22), Fish and Wildlife Service 

Conservation Project Manager, Audubon California 

Shorebird Habitats Project Coordinator, Intermountain West Joint Venture

Riparian Bird Research Technician, Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University 

Stewardship Technician, Audubon New Jersey 

Chief Financial Officer, Point Blue Conservation Science    
Planned Giving Manager, Point Blue Conservation Science  

Grant and Science Writer, Point Blue Conservation Science 

Conservation Internships and Graduate Student Opportunities, Point Blue Conservation Science 

Assistant Summer Teacher Naturalist, Richardson Bay Audubon Center and Sanctuary
Lead Summer Teacher Naturalist, Richardson Bay Audubon Center and Sanctuary
Seasonal Field Technician,
Richardson Bay Audubon Center and Sanctuary

Tags: