Local Coastal Program (LCP) Grants Application Period Now Open

Applications are Due July 7, 2014

The fiscal year 2014-15 application period for grant funds to support Local Coastal Program (LCP) planning is now open. Funding is available through two coordinated grant programs:

• Coastal Commission LCP Planning Assistance Grant Program: $1 million available for updating and certifying LCPs; may include updates to address impacts of climate change and sea-level rise.
• Ocean Protection Council LCP Sea-level Rise Grant Program: $1.2 million available for work that supports LCP updates specifically to address sea-level rise, including sea- level rise modeling, vulnerability assessments, and adaptation planning and policy development.

Go to http://www.opc.ca.gov/2009/12/climate-change/ for more info and application materials.

Dungeness Crab Task Force Meeting, April 22nd and 23rd, 2014

The California Dungeness Crab Task Force will hold a public meeting on April 22nd and 23rd, at the Ukiah Valley Conference Center, Ukiah, California

Thank You Ocean: Protecting California’s Ocean

What does a seafloor map look like, and who uses one? How does California use Marine Protected Areas as underwater laboratories? In this Thank You Ocean Report, we continue our conversation with Cat Kuhlman, the California Ocean Protection Council’s Executive Director, as she explains some of the innovative and collaborative projects the council is working on.

Upcoming Meetings

June 10, 2014
1 – 4 pm
Natural Resources Auditorium, First Floor
1416 Ninth Street, Sacramento

August 27, 2014
1 – 4 pm
Natural Resources Auditorium, First Floor
1416 Ninth Street, Sacramento

December 3, 2014
1 – 4 pm
Natural Resources Auditorium, First Floor
1416 Ninth Street, Sacramento

Secretary Laird urges Congress to fund Coastal Zone Management grants at $71 million

On December 31, 2013, Secretary for Natural Resources and OPC Chair John Laird sent the attached letter to the California Congressional delegation to encourage them to support funding for the Coastal Zone Management grants (within NOAA) in the FY13-14 budget at $71 million. This level of funding is consistent with allocations established by the Senate Appropriations Committee.