Published Date:
March 25, 2025
California Natural Resources Agency Announces Awards for the
Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Grant Program
SACRAMENTO – The California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) in coordination with the California Transportation Commission (CTC) today announced over $7.5 million in funding for 10 projects in eight counties under CNRA’s Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation (EEM) grant program. EEM provides grants to local, state, and federal governmental agencies as well as nonprofit organizations for projects that mitigate environmental impacts produced by new or modified state transportation facilities.
“Important transportation improvements are taking place across California, paired with environmental conservation and restoration,” said CNRA Secretary Wade Crowfoot. “These environmental projects help mitigate unavoidable impacts of these transportation projects and protect and restore sensitive natural areas and open spaces. The projects receiving funding demonstrate a ‘win-win’ for California. They help us meet our environmental goals while enabling vital transportation improvements that benefit all Californians.”
Together, these projects will add about 7,400 acres to California’s effort to conserve at least 30 percent of the state’s land and coastal waters in their natural state by 2030 (an effort known as 30x30) and will contribute to California's Nature-Based Solutions Climate Targets to mitigate and build resilience to climate change.
The awarded projects are as follows:
El Dorado County:
- American River Conservancy was awarded $1 million to acquire a conservation easement to protect 1,005 acres of blue oak woodland-foothill pine, montane hardwood, riparian, and annual grassland habitats along the South Fork American River in western El Dorado County. The project is contiguous with 4,500 acres of existing protected land including Cronan Ranch and the Salmon Falls Unit of Folsom State Recreation Area.
Fresno County:
- Sierra Foothill Conservancy was awarded $563,750 to purchase a conservation easement on the 310-acre Creek Ranch in Fresno County. The project will permanently conserve 100 acres of blue oak woodland, 200 acres of annual grassland, and over 2.2 miles of riparian habitat, which support special-status species such as California tiger salamander, western spadefoot, and burrowing owl.
Los Angeles County:
- Koreatown Youth and Community Center was awarded $554,000 to plant 250 trees and remove 600 sq. ft. of concrete along the LA Metro Purple Line.
- Amigos de Los Rios was awarded $648,914 to plant approximately 200 trees and 2,000 plants along 2.6 miles of the San Gabriel River Trail.
Orange County:
- City of Anaheim was awarded $750,000 to create a new 3.3-acre multi-benefit natural park on vacant land at 2445 E. Orangewood Avenue in the City of Anaheim. The project will plant 90 native trees, protect 64 mature trees, install a riparian bioswale, create decomposed granite walking paths, and install water-efficient irrigation systems.
Riverside County:
- Oswit Land Trust was awarded $1.5 million to acquire 642 acres of high-quality habitat in the foothills of the San Jacinto Mountains, preserving healthy coastal sage scrub, riparian scrub, grasslands, and habitats occupied by numerous sensitive status species.
San Bernadino County:
- Mojave Desert Land Trust was awarded $577,000 to acquire in-fee an 80-acre property south of the Town of Yucca Valley within North Joshua Tree Linkage wildlife corridor that connects Joshua Tree National Park with the Sand to Snow National Monument. The project will permanently protect important western Joshua tree and desert tortoise habitat.
- City of Chino Hills was awarded $214,232 to remove 54 dead or diseased non-native trees and plant 66 native drought tolerant trees and 32,234 square feet of meadow grassland as well as the installation of a community flower garden.
San Diego County:
- Lakeside’s River Park Conservancy was awarded $235,635 to revegetate a six-acre former sand mine site with native vegetation along the San Diego River. Volunteers will plant 6,500 willow stakes and some cottonwoods.
Yuba County:
- Trust for Public Land > San Francisco Office was awarded $1.5 million to purchase a conservation easement that will protect the 5,364-acre Richards Ranch property located in the Sierra Nevada Foothills including approximately 1.9 acres of wetlands, 17.4 acres of ponds and 19 acres of lakes. Additional benefits include providing a wildlife corridor for migratory deer herds, habitat for several other species, and recreational and educational opportunities for the public.
EEM grants are funded by the Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program Fund created by Streets and Highways Code Section 164.56. CNRA evaluates grant proposals and submits projects recommended for funding to the California Transportation Commission for approval and award.
