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Monday, 04 June 2007 01:59

Sierra Nevada Conservancy Announces Draft Guidelines For Prop 84 Monies: Could Be Good News For Amad

slide18California voters passed Proposition 84, the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coast Protection Bond Act of 2006 (the Act) on November 7, 2006. Proposition 84 added a section to the Public Resources Code (PRC), which authorized the Legislature to designate funds for the protection and restoration of rivers, lakes and streams, their watersheds and associated land, water, and other natural resources.

$54 million dollars of these funds were designated for allocation by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, and now the conservancy is presenting some draft guidelines for the selection and allocation of grant projects and funds for public comment. In the process of the development of these draft guidelines the conservancy’s board, which includes Amador County Supervisor Louis Boitano, has adopted a strategic Plan that will help focus the guidelines for two primary approaches to allocation of the monies, a Competitive Grants process as well as Strategic Opportunity Grants (SOGs).

slide21 The guidelines anticipate allocating approximately $17 million dollars annually for 3 years beginning in 2007-08, subject to legislative approval. For Fiscal Year 2007-08, the funds will be allocated to projects with Approximately $9 million dollars allocated through Competitive Grants across the SNC region to meet the purposes of the SNC. Approximately $6 million will be allocated as Strategic Opportunity Grants, SOGs, to eligible applicants to address needs across the six Sub-Regions that make up the conservancy with $1 million allocated for each Sub-Region.

That leaves about $2 million dollars in SOGs that could be authorized for projects that have Regional significance. In addition to Proposition 84 Bond requirements, all projects considered must address one or more of the program areas of the SNC. These include:
• Providing increased opportunities for tourism and recreation. • Protecting, conserve, and restore the Region's physical, cultural, archaeological, historical, and living resources. • Aiding in the preservation of working landscapes. • Reducing the risk of natural disasters, such as wildfires. • Protecting and improving water and air quality. • Assisting the Regional economy through the operation of the SNC's program. • And Undertaking efforts to enhance public use and enjoyment of lands owned by the public. Once a project is determined to meet these goals the Conservancy will then be considered under different categories depending on if the project costs are above or below the $50,000 dollar mark. For more information or to make comments on the draft guidelines contact the Sierra Nevada Conservancy

11521 Blocker Drive, Suite 205, Auburn, CA 95603. Fax comments to 530-823-4665. The draft guidelines are available for your review at: http://www.sierranevadaconservancy.ca.gov/docs/prop84grantguid.pdf