Program: Rangeland, Grazing Land and Grassland Protection Program

Bond Act: Proposition 84

Agency of Appropriation: Wildlife Conservation Board

Bond Statute: 75055(d)(1)

Implementing Statute: Public Resources Code, Section 10330

  • Front-end
  • In-progress
  • Follow-up (Audit)

Funding under this section will be allocated for protection of grazing lands pursuant to California Rangeland, Grazing Land and Grassland Protection Program. The purpose of the program is to protect California’s rangeland, grazing land and grasslands through the use of conservation easements.

Program goals are: 1) To prevent the conversion of rangeland, grazing land and grassland to nonagricultural uses; 2) To protect the long-term sustainability of livestock grazing; 3) To ensure continued wildlife, water quality, watershed and open-space benefits to the State of California from livestock grazing.

Applications are accepted on a year-round basis. To qualify for funding, applications must be submitted at least four months in advance of the scheduled Board meeting. Upon receipt of a proposed project and application, WCB will review the application for compliance with program requirements. If the proposed project meets the program requirements, is consistent with and compliments the program guidelines and selection criteria, and sufficient money exists to fund the request, the project may be scheduled for Board consideration. Applicants will be notified as to when the project will be considered by the Board.

ts considered for funding under the Rangeland, Grazing Land and Grassland Protection Program are required to submit a grant application requesting funds to facilitate the acquisition of a conservation easement designed to compliment the purpose of the rangeland program. Under this program, fee acquisitions are not eligible for funding.

Proposed projects that meet eligibility requirements and sufficiently address the selection criteria will be presented to the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) for funding consideration. If approved by the WCB, appropriate documents will be finalized and funds deposited into the designated escrow account. Upon the close of escrow, the Grantee is required to provide the WCB a recorded copy of the conservation easement.
ngeland, Grazing Land and Grassland Protection Program is designed to prevent the conversion of rangeland, grazing land and grassland to nonagricultural uses; protect the long-term sustainability of livestock grazing; and to ensure continued wildlife, water quality, watershed and open-space benefits to the State of California from livestock grazing.

The program awards grants to local governmental entities, non-profit organizations and special districts to facilitate the purchase of conservation easements. All conservation easements must be recorded upon the close of escrow and a copy of the recorded document provided to WCB.

Commencing one year after the close of escrow, the Grantee is required to conduct an annual site visit and monitor compliance with the terms and conditions of the WCB grant agreement and conservation easement. The grantee is further required to conduct the monitoring consistent with approved monitoring protocols. Upon completion of the monitoring visit, grantees are required to submit an annual monitoring report to WCB.

No less than once every three years, WCB staff will conduct a site visit to verify the grantees annual monitoring reports.

Projects within this Program: