The allocation comes from a $43.868 million package that includes $32 million from the state's climate bond program, earmarked for nine of the projects.
The largest land purchase—a $11.5 million grant to the Wildlands Conservancy—will bring 14,177 acres into the newly expanded Beaver Valley Headwaters Preserve. The acreage connects more than 20,000 acres of meadows, rivers, and forest, and is critical for coho and Chinook salmon runs.
Other acquisitions include a $7.5 million award to buy 1,093 acres near Yucca Grove, San Bernardino County, and a $700,000 grant for an 80‑acre property in Lake County that will augment the EcoCultural Stewardship Training Center.
The grants also fund habitat restoration—$2.4 million for stream and floodplain work at Big Springs Creek, and $4 million for a 79‑acre meadow restoration at Johnson Meadow near Lake Tahoe—aimed at improving water flow and reducing erosion.
Tribal partners will benefit as well. The Politsuwi property acquisition will expand the Robinson Rancheria's training center, creating job opportunities and preserving oak woodlands for local wildlife.
The Wildlife Conservation Board will monitor implementation through quarterly reports, with the first progress review slated for June 2024, and the state plans to match the funding with additional grants for long‑term stewardship.