New Funding Available to Install Hedgerows for Wildlife and Pollinator Habitat on Working Lands
The Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District (GRRCD) is happy to announce that limited funding has become available to assist with the design and implementation of hedgerow planting projects that improve and restore wildlife and pollinator habitat on working lands in the GRRCD district. Many species of California pollinators and other wildlife are in peril due in large part to habitat loss and climate change. Restoring habitat and reducing carbon and greenhouse gas emissions that drive climate change are necessary to increase our wildlife’s ability to survive the effects of climate change.
This funding has become available to the Gold Ridge RCD through the California Association of RCD’s Climate Resilience Through Habitat Restoration on California Lands block grant. This grant, funded by the California Wildlife Conservation Board, provides funding for 42 RCDs throughout the state to expand monarch, pollinator, and other wildlife habitat on public and private lands.
Assistance through the program includes hedgerow design, work crew assistance with planting and maintenance, and a rebate of up to $5,000 for purchased materials.
Applications will be due by August 31, 2023. Interested landowners and land managers can access the application here.
Project Selection:
All applicants whose proposed projects meet the project criteria will be considered for funding, although we may not be able to fund all projects. Before funding is awarded, participants will be required to sign landowner agreements stating that the habitat value of the planted area will be maintained for a period of at least 10 years, and granting access for project monitoring to GRRCD, its contractors, and WCB staff throughout that time period, with a 72-hour prior written or verbal notice. A template of the landowner agreement can be found here.
Project Design:
Selected applicants will be provided assistance with project design free of charge by GRRCD staff or consultants as needed, including plant selection and spacing, irrigation design, specifications for browse and weed protection, a materials list, and assistance with sourcing materials. Applicants who have designed developed, or wish to develop their own, may submit them to GRRCD staff for approval.
Project Implementation:
Once designs are approved, selected applicants will be responsible for sourcing, purchasing, and installing plants, irrigation, and browse protection as needed.
A supervised four-person crew provided by the Conservation Corps North Bay (CCNB) will be available free of charge during select time periods to assist with installation and/or spring maintenance, as funding allows. The crew will be made available to each project for up to one day in the fall and/or one day in the spring, Mon-Thurs during the weeks of November 13–16, 2023, and May 13–16, 2024. Participants will coordinate with GRRCD staff to schedule with CCNB supervisors. The crew will have their own basic tools, water, protective wear, etc. A restroom or portable toilet must be made available to crew members while onsite.
Project Verification and Rebates:
Rebates of up to $5,000 will be awarded to on a reimbursable basis for purchased materials following project implementation, verification by GRRCD staff, and submittal of receipts. Eligible materials include nursery plants, irrigation supplies, mulch, and weed and browse protection. Labor costs cannot be reimbursed. All receipts must be dated after the project was awarded funding by GRRCD. Rebates may take 4–5 months to be processed and approved by the funding agency.
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