 |
Facts
The California Coastal Conservancy,
established in 1976, is a state agency that uses entrepreneurial
techniques to purchase, protect, restore, and enhance
coastal resources, and to provide access to the shore.
We work in partnership with local governments, other
public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and private
landowners.
To date, the Conservancy has undertaken
more than 1,000 projects
along the 1,100 mile California coastline and around
San Francisco Bay. These projects often accomplish more
than one Conservancy goal. Through such projects, the
Conservancy:
- Protects and improves coastal
wetlands, streams, and watersheds.
- Helps people get to coast
and bay shores by building trails and stairways and
by acquiring land and easements. The Conservancy also
assists in the creation of low-cost accomodations
along the coast, including campgrounds and hostels.
- Works with local communities
to revitalize urban waterfronts.
- Helps to solve complex land-use
problems.
- Purchases and holds environmentally
valuable coastal and bay lands.
- Protects agricultural lands
and supports coastal agriculture.
- Accepts donations and dedications
of land and easements for public access, wildlife
habitat, agriculture, and open space.
The Coastal Conservancy has a staff
of about 70 and a current annual budget of $53 million.
Since 1976, the Conservancy has used over $1.4 billion
to complete its projects. The Conservancy has been funded
primarily by state general obligation bonds approved
by California voters.
The Legislature created the
Coastal Conservancy as a unique entity with flexible
powers to serve as an intermediary among government,
citizens, and the private sector in recognition that
creative approaches would be needed to preserve California's
coast and San Francisco Bay lands for future generations.
The Coastal Conservancy's non-regulatory, problem-solving
approach complements the work of the
California Coastal Commission,
a distinct agency that regulates land use along the
coast and issues development permits. The Coastal Conservancy
also coordinates its work with the San
Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission,
an agency created to protect and
enhance San Francisco Bay and encourage the responsible
use of its resources.
Conservancy Accomplishments
The Coastal Conservancy serves all
Californians and visitors to the state who are interested
in enjoying, improving, and protecting the spectacular
natural resources of the California coast and San Francisco
Bay.
Since its establishment in 1976, the Coastal Conservancy
has:
- completed more than 1,000 projects in every coastal
county and all nine San Francisco Bay Area counties,
with hundreds of projects currently active. These
projects include construction of trails and other
public access facilities, restoration and enhancement
of wetlands and other wildlife habitat, restoration
of public piers and urban waterfronts, preservation
of farmland, and other projects in line with the goals
of California’s Coastal Act, the San Francisco
Bay Plan, and the San Francisco Bay Area Conservancy;
- helped preserve almost 200,000 acres of wetlands,
dunes, wildlife habitat, recreational lands, farmland,
and scenic open space;
- helped build several hundreds of miles of accessways
and trails, including major portions of the California
Coastal Trail and the San Francisco Bay Trail;
- assisted in the completion of more than 100 urban
waterfront projects, enabling local communities to
reclaim waterfont properties for recreational use
and economic development;
- retired hundreds of lots in inappropriately planned
subdivisions throughout the coast, thereby preserving
natural and scenic lands, protecting farmland, and
providing recreational opportunities; and
- joined in partnership endeavors with more than 100
local land trusts and other nonprofit groups, making
local community involvement an integral part of the
Coastal Conservancy’s work.
|
|
|
