To: Board of Supervisors
From: Internal Operations Committee
Report Title: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ALLOCATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE PROPAGATION FUNDS
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☒ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the allocation of Fish and Wildlife Propagation Funds in the amount of $80,911 to fund 12 conservation projects fully or partially, as recommended by the Fish and Wildlife Committee.
2. AUTHORIZE the Conservation and Development Director, or designee, to approve modifications to grantee budget allocations, not to exceed the grant amount, upon the recommendation of Fish and Wildlife Committee.
FISCAL IMPACT:
100% Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund. The recommendation will have no impact on the County General Fund. State law defines how money in the Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund may be spent and the Board of Supervisors is responsible for authorizing specific expenditures. As of November 7, 2024, the Fund had an available balance of $543,039.69. Requested funds totaled $112,065.26. Recommended allocations total and will reduce the fund by $80,910.50.
BACKGROUND:
On November 22, 2010, the IOC received a status report from the Department of Conservation and Development (DCD) regarding the allocation of propagation funds by the Fish and Wildlife Committee (FWC). The IOC accepted the report along with a recommendation that IOC conduct a preliminary review of annual FWC grant recommendations prior to Board of Supervisors review.
The Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund (Fund) was established in accordance with the California Fish and Game Code (Code) 13100 as a repository for fines collected for certain violations of the Code and other regulations related to fish and game. The most common fines are small ($25-$150) and are processed through the four Superior Courts in Contra Costa County. A portion of the fines are deposited into the Fund. The fines typically stem from hunting or fishing violations (e.g. not possessing a valid license) and illegal dumping. Occasionally portions of larger fines that result from violations, including failure to obtain appropriate permits for activities such as streambed alteration, illegal take of a special status species, and pollution of waters are deposited into the Fund. In 2022, due to the settlement of The People of the State of California vs. LP, SFPP, regarding a Kinder Morgan ruptured oil pipeline that leaked a large amount of gasoline into a drainage canal that occurred in November 2020, a deposit of $497,500 was made into the Fund. As of November 7, 2024, the Fund had an available balance of $543,039.69.
FWC Grant Program
The Board has charged the FWC with coordinating a process by which fine money could be appropriately “expended for the protection, conservation, propagation, and preservation of fish and wildlife” [Fish and Game Code 13100]. Since 1996, the FWC has implemented a structured process for reviewing funding requests. The FWC developed a grant application packet (attached), which includes a cover letter to explain the grant process and funding priorities, an application to solicit relevant information about the project, and a copy of the expenditure criteria established by California law for the Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund.
Public Outreach to Advertise the Grant Program
On May 23, 2024, the application packet was sent to the Fish and Wildlife Committee mailing list, the Contra Costa Watershed Forum mailing list, all Contra Costa County school districts, Contra Costa College, Diablo Valley College, Los Medanos College, UC Berkeley, Cal State University - East Bay, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, and St. Mary’s College. The CCC Office of Communications and Media distributed a press release to local and regional media outlets regarding the availability of the grant application packet. CCTV publicized it on the CountyNet Bulletin Board which reaches 400,000+ homes in the County. Supervisors also included the announcement in their email newsletters. It was posted as a newsflash on the Department of Conservation and Development’s website and displayed on its social media accounts: Facebook, Instagram and X. It was also made available on the Committee’s website and to anyone who requested a copy.
FWC Review Process for 2025 Grant Awards
12 applications requesting a total of $112,065.26 were reviewed. The Fish and Wildlife Committee members considered the funding of the applications at their September and October meetings. Several applicants attended the meetings to make themselves available to answer questions regarding their applications.
The Contra Costa County Fish and Wildlife Committee (FWC) completed its review of the 2025 grant requests for funding from the Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund (Fund) and forwarded its grant award recommendations to the Internal Operations Committee (IOC) on November 14, 2024. The IOC reviewed 12 grant applications and recommends that all of them receive full or partial funding. Projects recommended for funding total $80,910.50 and are geographically located across the county. More details are provided on the attached grant recommendations chart, which provides information on all the applications. The specific FWC recommendations and vote are noted later in this report.
The following recommendations are for full funding of the project as proposed unless noted otherwise.
Grant Recommendations
1. Allocate $6,444.00 to Golden Gate Bird Alliance for its “San Francisco Bay Osprey Camera” project. This project will support a valuable educational resource that fosters public understanding of osprey conservation and environmental stewardship by providing continued access to live streaming and real-time footage, which educators use to illustrate osprey behavior and highlight the success of conservation efforts in the Bay Area. Funds will be used to cover the monthly costs of webcam streaming, hosting services, and the website, including the live chat feature for one year.
2. Allocate $3,745.00 to Golden Gate Bird Alliance for its “Bringing Back the Natives Events” project. This project will support educational events that inspire Contra Costa residents to transform their gardens into habitats for native wildlife, fostering ecological diversity and contributing to the protection of declining species. Partial funding is recommended and may only be used for facility rental, Zoom fees, t-shirts, and metal holders for keystone species signs, with the 2024 Fall Conference facility rental to be reimbursed retroactively.
3. Allocate $7,200.00 to Things that Creep for its “Pocket Guide to the 30 Native Reptile Species in the San Francisco Bay Area” project. This project will provide Contra Costa County students, schools, and libraries with a valuable educational resource that enhances understanding of local reptiles, including threatened or endangered species, while promoting safe and respectful human-wildlife interactions and supporting conservation efforts. Partial funding is recommended and may only be used for printing 3,000 4-panel laminated pocket field guides.
** The FWC recommends approval of the applicant’s request for an exception for non-profit organizations that can demonstrate financial hardship that would allow for a partial disbursement of funds (up to ½ of the grant award) after the grant is awarded.
4. Allocate $7,030.00 to the John Muir Chapter of Trout Unlimited for its “Wildcat Creek Water Quality and Fish Habitat Monitoring Study” project. This project will enable JMTU to gather essential data on Wildcat Creek’s hydrology and water quality, improving understanding of spawning and rearing conditions for anadromous fish and guiding interventions to enhance fish passage and habitat quality, while also training and involving citizen monitors in efforts to improve water quality in Contra Costa County, ultimately providing suitable habitat for cold water fish populations. Funds will be used to purchase YSI Pro 20 DO/T Sensors, Cap and Membrane Kits, Oakton PCTS Testr30, replacement for Onset Hobo Unit (U26-001), Onset DO Sensor Caps (U26-RDOB-1), Onset DO Sensor Batteries, and waders.
**The FWC recommends approval of the applicant’s request for an exception for non-profit organizations that can demonstrate financial hardship that would allow for a partial disbursement of funds (up to ½ of the grant award) after the grant is awarded.
5. Allocate $1,030.00 to Worth a Dam for its “Beaver dams build neighborhoods: Playing with a full deck” project. This project will support a fun, hands-on activity at the Beaver Festival where children can explore the ecosystems of beaver ponds, collect trading cards, and discover artwork beneath their feet as they walk around, deepening their understanding of how beaver ponds shape local ecosystems while fostering a personal connection to the creatures and habitats of their watershed. Funds will be used to purchase trading cards and credit card sleeves, exhibit location maps, trading card flags, chalk pastels, and printing of signs and post tests.
6. Allocate $926.60 to Lindsay Wildlife Experience for its “Mammal pen construction for wildlife rehabilitation” project. Due to the Committee's preference for supporting material costs over labor-driven expenses, they recommend partial funding for the purchase of a supply shed only, which will enhance operational efficiency and ensure that rehabilitation supplies are readily available.
7. Allocate $19,449.66 to International Bird Rescue for its “Ethically and Effectively Resolving Human/Wildlife Interaction Issues in Contra Costa County Through Temporary Emergency Treatment and Care of Injured and Orphaned Wildlife” project. This project will support the replacement of outdated equipment and materials, ensuring effective rehabilitation for injured and orphaned aquatic birds from Contra Costa County, and enhance biodiversity by facilitating their return to natural habitats. Funds will be used to purchase a Tuff shed, pet dryers, pool filter sand 50 lb. bags, and above ground pool pumps.
8. Allocate $10,690.00 to The Watershed Project for its “Contra Costa Water Quality Monitoring and Water Quality Apprenticeship Training Program” project. TWP’s Water Quality Monitoring Program trains, educates, and engages community members and scientists in activities that analyze and discuss the County’s water quality to enhance water quality to support healthy habitats for fish and wildlife. Additionally, TWP offers a youth education program through the Water Quality Apprenticeship Training Program. Partial funding is recommended for purchasing equipment replacement parts, calibration standards, existing equipment repair fees, supplemental safety items to protect the monitoring crews, sending Benthic Macroinvertebrate and bioswale stormwater, soil, wood piece samples to a scientific lab for processing, and educational materials; and may not be used for the Water Quality Monitoring Annual event venue fee, catering, and outreach materials as listed in TWP's grant application.
9. Allocate $582.00 to SPAWNERS for its “Water Quality Monitoring Equipment for Students” project. The project will provide materials to teach students in grades 4-12 about watershed ecology, the effects of human activity on watersheds, and the scientific principles of fish and wildlife conservation. Funds will be used to purchase water monitoring kits, refill tablets for nitrate, phosphate, DO, BOD, pH, and coliform, a plastic tote bin, and a ream of paper.
10. Allocate $1,463.00 to Marine Science Institute for its “2025 Delta Discovery Voyage Program” project. The project provides public education that is aligned with CA Common Core and NGSS for public schools, focusing on scientific principles of fish and wildlife conservation by using supervised formal instruction conducted with a planned curriculum and aids to education. Partial funding is recommended to purchase expendable supplies: buckets, fish keys, posters, nets, vials and slides as listed in their grant application; and may not be used for vessel fuel and harbor fees. The Committee recommends that if the final approval of this grant takes place in 2025, MSI may be reimbursed retroactively to allow them to purchase supplies in December, before the voyages begin in January.
11. Allocate $5,680.24 to Save Mount Diablo for its “Expanding the Kestrel Population on Mount Diablo” project. This project will provide equipment to monitor and assist kestrel population expansion on Mount Diablo. Partial funding is recommended for research intern payments, WIFI Bluetooth trail cameras, lithium batteries, SD cards, and materials for nest boxes; and may not be used for land stewardship manager payment.
12. Allocate $16,670.00 to Lindsay Wildlife Experience for its “The Bear Den” project. The exhibit will support local and global conservation efforts by providing an engaging, interactive space that educates visitors about Grizzly, Black, and Polar Bears, and will focus on the importance of dwindling habitats, regional extinction, and the impact of climate change. Partial funding is recommended for all exhibit signage, graphics, exhibit titles, and 3D interactives and displays; and may not be used for graphic design related to signage, graphics, and exhibit layout as outlined in the grant application.
Further, the IOC recommends that within a year of grant funding approval, or within one month of project completion, whichever comes sooner, recipients be required to submit a final project report that includes invoices and receipts documenting how funds were spent and the results of the project. Details will be outlined in the grant award packet provided to all successful applicants.
Vote 7-0 (Ayes: Balbas, Gehlke, Heckly, Jennings, Morris, Pellegrini and Pursell; Noes: None; Abstain: None; Absent: Rogers)
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
N/A