Sacramento, California – California is directing nearly $60 million toward protecting wildlife, restoring fragile ecosystems, and helping more residents step outside and experience nature firsthand.
Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the California Wildlife Conservation Board has approved $59,642,096 in grants for 27 projects spanning 18 counties. The funding is aimed at preserving biodiversity, strengthening habitat connections, and improving public access to open space. Four of the projects directly support the state’s California Salmon Strategy for a Hotter, Drier Future.
California is recognized as one of the world’s 36 biodiversity hotspots. The latest round of grants builds on the governor’s “30×30” initiative, an effort to conserve 30 percent of the state’s lands and coastal waters by 2030. State officials say the goal is not only to protect species and landscapes, but also to ensure that communities across California can more easily reach and enjoy natural areas.
In Southern California, major investments will advance wildlife crossings designed to reconnect fragmented habitats. A $5.5 million grant to the Mojave Desert Land Trust will fund environmental review and design work for two crossings over State Route 62 near Yucca Valley. The crossings are intended to link habitat between the San Bernardino and Little San Bernardino mountains, including areas near Joshua Tree National Park. Conservation leaders say the structures will allow animals to move safely across the highway while reducing vehicle collisions.
Another $4 million grant will support the design of a wildlife crossing over Interstate 15 at Rainbow Canyon. The project, led by the Temecula-Elsinore-Anza-Murrieta Resource Conservation District in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, seeks to restore connectivity between the Santa Ana and Palomar mountains. The crossing is expected to benefit mountain lions and other wide-ranging species that depend on large, connected territories.
Several grants focus on reviving salmon habitat in Northern California. A $2.9 million award to California Trout Inc. will fund restoration along the East Fork Scott River at Beaver Valley Headwaters Preserve in Siskiyou County. The project includes adding side channels and large wood structures, reconnecting floodplains, and improving summer flows for coho salmon.
Additional salmon-focused funding includes $1.1 million for the Lagunitas Creek Aquatic Habitat Enhancement project in Marin County, supporting habitat for coho salmon, steelhead trout, and other native species. In Tehama County, $1.85 million will go to Chico State Enterprises to restore floodplains and habitat along lower Battle Creek. Another $1.5 million will help Sonoma County Regional Parks improve spawning habitat on Mark West Creek for coho, Chinook, and steelhead trout.
Beyond waterways, the grants also support land restoration and public access. The Pepperwood Foundation will receive $1.75 million to restore nearly 900 acres of oak woodland and grasslands in Sonoma County. The project aims to reduce wildfire fuel loads, enhance biodiversity, and reintroduce cultural burning practices as part of long-term stewardship.
Meanwhile, the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County will use a $4.88 million grant to expand public access at Watsonville Slough Farm. Plans include building a five-mile trail network, adding visitor amenities, and providing bilingual interpretation and educational programming. The project is designed to connect underserved communities with wetlands, grasslands, and working agricultural lands at no cost.
Established in 1947, the Wildlife Conservation Board partners with tribes, conservation groups, and public agencies to protect and restore California’s natural resources. State leaders say the newly approved projects reflect a broad strategy: safeguard ecosystems, reconnect habitats, and make sure that nature remains within reach for all Californians.