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County backs coastal restoration and marine grants; board to send letters of support
Summary
Presenters outlined a NOAA marine-resources grant (oil-spill readiness and Pinto abalone monitoring) and a Pulling Together restoration/WICRI application focused on invasive-plant removal and workforce development; commissioners authorized letters of support and will place grant approvals on the regular meeting agenda.
Two conservation-related grant requests drew broad support from the board: a NOAA-funded marine resources grant administered by the county's marine resources committee and a Pulling Together/WICRI coastal restoration application.
Marine resources staff described a NOAA award to support oil-spill readiness training, Pinto abalone restoration and monitoring, and partial staff support; the grant period runs through December 2027 and the presenter described the grant at roughly $147,000 as part of the project budget.
A separate restoration representative summarized a multi-site invasive-plant removal and restoration program (Pulling Together/WICRI) that includes Scotch broom, reed canary grass and Himalayan knotweed control across several watersheds and supports local workforce training. The presenter said the project has historically secured biennial funding and that the current application request is on the order of about $1.0 million including match and supports roughly 25 jobs; presenters emphasized the projects' ecosystem and wildfire-risk benefits from reducing invasive understory fuels.
Commissioners thanked presenters, noted interest in identifying county-owned demonstration sites for biochar or other techniques, and agreed to authorize letters of support and put grant approvals on the regular meeting agenda for formal action.
