BOEMRE Awards $1.5 Million in Grants for California Coastal County Projects
Grants Advance Conservation and Restoration Efforts in Coastal Counties

CAMARILLO, California – The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) announced today that it has awarded four Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP) grants totaling $1,534,341 to four separate counties in California to support ongoing restoration, conservation and planning projects along the California coast. 

Created by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, CIAP provides funding to the six Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas producing states to conserve and protect the coastal environment. CIAP is an ongoing program with grant funding that is allocated based on the offshore energy revenues collected by the United States.  

“CIAP grants are making a difference in coastal communities working to preserve sensitive ecosystems,” said BOEMRE Director Michael R. Bromwich. “We will continue to work with these counties to support their efforts to protect the coastal environment so that generations to come can enjoy its beauty and its special qualities.”  

The four grants will support the following projects: 

	$913,992 for coastal restoration at Will Rogers State Beach in Los Angeles County. Construction of a new sea wall will protect against erosion along the coastal bluff, stabilizing the Pacific Coast Highway.
	$589,174 to update the Local Coastal Program in Ventura County. The Local Coastal Program guides the development of land within Ventura County’s coastal zone, consistent with the provisions and policies of the California Coastal Act. This update is a critical step to ensure consistent application of coastal regulations and enforcement of zoning laws, which include regulations to implement storm water management, water conservation and climate change goals.
	$20,000 to fund invasive species removal in San Luis Obispo County. This project will help restore areas of the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes, a 22,000 acre dune complex, which is one of the largest dune systems on the west coast. Veldt grass (Ehrharta calycina) and Beach grass (Ammophila arenaria) have been identified as the target invasive species. These species are aggressive invaders and prolific reproducers and could cause a major ecological shift in the Dunes Complex.
	$11,175 grant to monitor Chinook salmon and steelhead trout in Napa County. This type of population monitoring is a priority recovery action listed by both the National Marine Fisheries Service and the California Department of Fish and Game. The data will support effective management, conservation and protection of sensitive coastal resources.