California awards $8 million to help communities strengthen resilience against growing climate impacts

SACRAMENTO, CA (June 1, 2023) – The Governor’s Office of Planning and Research announced today $8 million in project awards through Round I of the Adaptation Planning Grant. The grant, funded through Governor Newsom’s 2021-22 Climate Budget and established through SB 170, will support communities statewide in developing adaptation projects that address climate risks and strengthen resilience.

Based on California’s best available science, climate impacts are projected to accelerate statewide, with vulnerable populations most at risk. To minimize these impacts, projects in the first round will support local governments, community-based organizations, and Tribes in assessing local hazards, conducting robust engagement, and creating equitable and community-driven strategies to minimize climate impacts experienced on the ground. There is clear need for investments of this kind as $63 million in awards was requested for only $8 million in funding.

The fourteen projects represent a significant step towards fostering cross-sector collaboration and equity in statewide efforts to adapt to climate change. Nine of the projects are located within Justice40 communities and will advance the Biden Administration’s goal to invest in communities burdened by legacy pollution. Of the nine projects, three are led or co-led by California Native American tribes. One of the grant’s goals is to build local capacity to help position climate-vulnerable communities to leverage additional state and federal funding.

“These projects are transformative in nature as they meaningfully center California’s most climate-vulnerable communities and leverage the expertise of multiple stakeholders,” said Sam Assefa, Director of the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research. “We are thrilled to make these awards today to help local partners accelerate their work to build capacity, assess risk, and develop tailored solutions and partnerships- essential to our success in building a resilient California for All.”

Projects in the first round bring together eight cities, eight non-governmental organizations (NGOs), seven community-based organizations (CBOs), six counties, four special districts, three California Native American tribes, two universities, one joint powers authority (JPA), one council of governments (COG), and one metropolitan planning organization (MPO). The coalitions underscore a collective commitment to developing projects that yield multiple benefits and are rooted in diverse partnerships.

Explore the Adaptation Planning Grant projects awarded today:

Yosemite Slough Adaptation Plan – $649,000

The Yosemite Slough Adaptation Plan aims to address the disparity in adaptation planning between the Bayview Hunters Point neighborhood and the rest of San Francisco’s urban waterfront. The plan focuses on building community capacity, developing equitable adaptation strategies, and positioning Yosemite Slough for federal funding. Project partners include the San Francisco Planning Department, En2Action, BAYCAT, San Francisco Estuary Institute, California State Parks Foundation, and other city agencies.

Hoopa Valley Tribe Climate Adaptation Plan – $338,448

The Hoopa Valley Tribe will complete climate adaptation scoping activities, a Vulnerability Assessment, and develop a Climate Adaptation Plan in partnership with the community and tribal staff.

San Rafael Climate Adaptation Planning Collaborative – $644,200

The San Rafael Climate Adaptation Planning Collaborative will work with disproportionately vulnerable communities in partnership with local organizations in the Canal neighborhood to co-create solutions for improved safety and resilience. Partners will work to improve understanding of climate hazards, prioritize adaptation measures, and build climate capacity within community-based organizations while providing STEM educational opportunities for students from the Canal neighborhood.

City of San Fernando Climate Action and Resilience Plan – $599,918

The City of San Fernando will complete a Climate Action and Resilience Plan (CARP) and update elements in its General Plan (land use, circulation, open space, and conservation) which are crucial for effective resiliency planning and aligning with local, regional, and state initiatives. The project will engage the community early on to gather input in an equitable manner, develop targeted strategies to address disparities, and support vulnerable populations to address climate-related concerns.

Shade Equity Masterplan for the Unincorporated Eastern Coachella Valley – $644,411

The Shade Master Plan for Eastern Coachella Valley’s unincorporated communities in Riverside County will benchmark and develop strategies for shade in predominantly low-income, Spanish-speaking areas experiencing temperatures exceeding 120 degrees. The plan will serve as a blueprint for investing in new shade infrastructure and adapting to extreme heat and associated benefits to residents, agencies, and stakeholders in the area.

Ramona Barona Climate Adaptation and Action Plan – $596,600

The Ramona-Barona Climate Collaborative, led by the Ramona Municipal Water District and its partners the Barona Band of Mission Indians, Sustainable Ramona and the Ramona Chamber of Commerce, aims to develop a comprehensive climate adaptation and action plan to address climate impacts in the area including extreme heat, water shortages, landslides, flooding, and wildfires.

San Jose interdependent Water, Energy, Security Electrified Transportation Climate Adaptation Plan – $649,970

The San José Interdependent Water, Energy, Security & Electrified Transportation Climate Adaptation Planning Proposal aims to develop a comprehensive climate adaptation plan that focuses on critical infrastructure and incorporates the needs of vulnerable communities.

City of Berkeley Safety Plan and Environmental Element Update – $600,000

The City of Berkeley, in partnership with the Ecology Center and the Berkeley Climate Equity Collaborative, will co-create with community an update to Berkeley’s General Plan Safety Element, development of a new General Plan Environmental Justice Element, and creation of metrics that incorporate equitable outcomes to monitor and evaluate progress towards meeting the City’s climate and resilience goals.

Planning for an Equitable, Climate Safe Lake – $649,350

Planning for an Equitable, Climate-Safe Lake will create an inclusive and collaborative framework for improving climate adaptation planning and implementing risk reduction projects in Lake County. The project supports the Community Risk Reduction Authority (RRA) in becoming a self-sustaining climate action provider with an equity focus, including embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion values into RRA’s leadership and processes, assessing vulnerabilities, implementing actions from the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, and tracking progress.

Stockton Climate Action and Adaptation Plan – $650,000

The City of Stockton will partner with trusted, local non-profits and engage a highly qualified consultant to create a new Climate Action and Adaptation Plan. The City’s current CAP hasn’t been updated since 2014, leaving the City and its partners without a clear vision for the future of Stockton’s environment. A new CAP that focuses on public health and equity will guide strategies to address the impacts of climate change, particularly for disadvantaged communities in Stockton.

Lake Elsinore Climate Adaptation Plan – $401,100

Lake Elsinore’s Climate Adaptation Plan will assess climate change impacts and the adaptative capacity of residents, especially Lake Elsinore’s most vulnerable community members, and develop strategies to respond to specific impacts.

San Mateo County OneWatershed Climate Resilience Framework – $649,648

o  The San Mateo County OneWatershed Climate Resilience Framework Project aims to develop a model for community-led risk identification, a replicable watershed approach, resilient neighborhoods and watersheds, and breaking down silos in water-related infrastructure planning to address climate adaptation challenges holistically.

LA’s Cool Capital Stack – $506,000

The LA Cool Capital Stack creates a pipeline of viable community-led climate resilient infrastructure projects designed to strengthen LA County communities most vulnerable to extreme heat and other climate hazards. It establishes an agency-community collaborative that brings together LA County, Metro, and Infrastructure Justice Los Angeles (IJLA) to co-create an approach to equitable, climate resilient infrastructure development.

WRCOG Energy Resilience Plan 2.0 Microgrid Feasibility Studies – $421,000

WRCOG will develop an Energy Resilience Plan 2.0, which will identify up to ten sites across Western Riverside County to conduct feasibility studies to determine the potential to implement microgrids and community resilience centers.

The Adaptation Planning Grant aims to enhance local communities’ resilience in the face of climate change impacts. The Adaptation Planning Grant Program, a key component of the Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resilience Program, provides funding to support integrated climate adaptation planning efforts in California.