Featured IWRP Projects
Project Identification & Funding Coordination Process
PIFI Technical Advisory Committee
Eligible Project Types
Phase 1 Projects
Selection Criteria
Future Project Selection
PIFI Technical Advisory Committee
The first objective of IWRP is to coordinate the relevant state
agencies on the identification, funding, and implementation
of watershed restoration projects. To this end, representatives
of the three major resource and funding agencies convened a Project
Identification, Funding, and Implementation Technical Advisory Committee—fondly
known as the “PIFI TAC”. This committee includes representatives
from the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), the Central
Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB), and the Coastal
Conservancy.
This Technical Advisory Committee will facilitate project identification
by allowing the agencies to exchange information about their respective
mandates and priorities, to coordinate on the identification of
projects that further state watershed restoration goals, and to
discuss and approve IWRP project proposals.
It will improve the process of funding projects by coordinating
the use of state funding to avoid duplication of effort and to direct
grant applicants to appropriate funding sources, thus making best
use of the applicants’ grant writing time. The PIFI TAC will
also guide potential project leads to fundable, high-priority projects,
and advise on proposal development when possible.
And finally, the PIFI TAC will serve as a forum for agency representatives
to discuss implementation issues of mutual concern.
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Eligible Project Types
Many types of projects are eligible for consideration, including
activities other than on-the-ground restoration. The following list
is not exhaustive.
Types of Projects the PIFI TAC Will Consider Under IWRP:
1) Proposals for conceptual design, engineering design and permits,
and construction of on-the-ground projects related to:
o Restoring riparian vegetation and removing invasive, non-native
plants
o Controlling erosion, particularly related to roads and culverts
o Modifying or removing barriers to fish passage
o Enhancing wetlands
o Treating agricultural or urban runoff
o Restoring lagoons
(For more details, see Chapter 2 of the IWRP Design & Permitting
Coordination Process Guidelines Manual.)
2) New plans and assessments can be proposed via the annual Watershed
Partner Forum. These could be for watersheds currently without
plans, or to supplement existing watershed plans with additional
information on different species or scientific disciplines.
3) Outreach and education in keeping with the IWRP Outreach and
Education Program strategic plan, which will start development
in Fall/Winter 2004.
4) Restoration monitoring in keeping with the IWRP Watershed
Restoration Monitoring Program, which will start development in
Fall 2004.
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Phase 1 Projects
For the first phase of IWRP, a preliminary list of 55 projects
has been assembled. Most of these projects on the Phase 1 list were
identified in the recently completed watershed restoration plans,
while those that were not had strong support from one or more of
the resource agencies. These projects are currently being approved
by the PIFI TAC. The list is divided into three “batches”
so as not to overload agency staff and to allow the process to be
perfected. Batch 1 began review in Spring 2004, Batch 2 will begin
in Summer 2004, and Batch 3 in Spring 2005.
While the Phase 1 funding is geared toward the 55 identified projects,
funding may be available for additional projects, should any projects
fall off the list. To propose a project for consideration, contact
CDFG, RWQCB, or Coastal Conservancy staff, and demonstrate that
the project meets the criteria listed below.
A separate Technical Advisory Committee, the Rural Roads TAC, is
identifying another 20–40 road-related design projects on
non-county rural roads. These will follow the same design and permitting
procedures as the other 55 projects.
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Selection Criteria
1. Recommended in a watershed plan and/or are supported by CDFG,
RWQCB, or Coastal Conservancy staff.
2. Identified as high-priority or demonstrate a compelling need.
3. Have a high likelihood of receiving implementation funding.
4. Feasible and ready-to-go.
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Future Project Selection
Each summer, watershed partners will be sent solicitations for
new projects. (Contact the RCD if you’re not already on the
IWRP mail and email lists.) For their projects to be considered,
partners will be asked to fill out synopses that meet the project
criteria. These synopses will be compiled and discussed at the
annual Santa Cruz County Watershed Partner Forum to be held each
fall. Funding agencies will provide guidance on which projects will
be most competitive for funding and offer suggestions for collaboration
where appropriate. Partners will then develop proposals for funding.
While IWRP is not a dedicated source or guarantee of funds, project
concepts that go through this identification and development process
will emerge as high-quality proposals with a greater chance of receiving
funding. What’s more, selected projects can then enter the
streamlined IWRP Design & Permitting coordination process, speeding
them on their way to implementation—and on their way to helping
fish, wildlife, and water quality.
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