San Joaquin River Conservancy Grant

The San Joaquin River Conservancy, established in 1992, aims to preserve the river's biodiversity and cultural resources while enhancing recreational and educational opportunities. This initiative spans approximately 5,900 acres along a 22-mile stretch of the river, facilitating land acquisition and habitat restoration through the Wildlife Conservation Board. The program supports public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and tribal entities in activities such as property acquisition and habitat enhancement to ensure sustainable access and conservation of the region's natural assets.

About WCB
Originally created within the California Department of Natural Resources, and later placed with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, WCB is a separate and independent Board with authority and funding to carry out an acquisition and development program for wildlife conservation (California Fish and Game Code 1300, et seq.). WCB's seven-member Board consists of the President of the Fish and Game Commission, the Director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Director of the Department of Finance, and four public members, two appointed by the legislature and two by the Governor. Legislation that created WCB also established a Legislative Advisory Committee consisting of three members of the Senate and three members of the Assembly, which meet with WCB, providing legislative oversight.
The primary responsibilities of WCB are to select, authorize and allocate funds for the purchase of land and waters suitable for recreation purposes and the preservation, protection and restoration of wildlife habitat. WCB approves and funds projects that set aside lands within the State for such purposes, through acquisition or other means, to meet these objectives. WCB can also authorize the construction of facilities for recreational purposes on property in which it has a proprietary interest.
WCB's three main functions are land acquisition, habitat restoration and development of wildlife oriented public access facilities, which are carried out through its programs.
The San Joaquin River Conservancy (SJRC) was established by the State Legislature in 1992 with the passage of the San Joaquin River Conservancy Act (Public Resources Code §32500 et seq). The purpose of the SJRC is to create the San Joaquin River Parkway (Parkway) to preserve and enhance the river’s extraordinary biological diversity, protect its valued cultural and natural resources, and provide educational and recreational opportunities for local communities and visitors. The Parkway is defined by state law as approximately 5,900 acres on both sides of a twenty-two-mile long reach of the river between Friant Dam to the east and State Route 99 to the west, in Fresno and Madera Counties (Public Resources Code Section 32510). WCB administers projects for the SJRC, including project review and approval, grant execution and management, real estate transactions, and project monitoring.
The Parkway today includes public lands and improvements owned by the SJRC, City of Fresno, County of Fresno, State Lands Commission, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Fresno County Office of Education, and those owned by the nonprofit San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust.
SJRC bond funds are appropriated and managed by the WCB through the San Joaquin River Conservancy Program (Program) grants. Land acquisition and improvement projects require approval by both the SJRC Board and WCB. The WCB, represented by its Executive Director, holds a position on the 15-member SJRC Board. The Board reviews and approves projects to ensure they are viable and consistent with the goals of the current SJRC Parkway Master Plan Update (2018), prior to consideration by the WCB.

Eligibility

Nonprofit Organization
Tribal OrganizationActivities eligible for the Program include:Property acquisition for resources conservation and public access
Habitat enhancement and restoration of public or private lands
Public access improvements for recreational and educational purposes