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Approve the recommendation of the Solano County Park and Recreation Commission to award grants totaling $9,735 through June 30, 2027, from the Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund to the Solano Resource Conservation District for public education programming; Solano Land Trust for a blue oak irrigation and planting project; Napa-Solano Audubon Society for environmental education programs; and International Bird Rescue for temporary emergency treatment of injured and/or orphaned wildlife and Suisun Resource Conservation District for public workshops; and Authorize the Director of Resource Management or designee to execute the grant contracts and any necessary modifications that fall within the grant award amounts
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No __X_
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No __X_
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Resource Management recommends that the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve the recommendation of the Solano County Park and Recreation Commission to award grants totaling $9,735 through June 30, 2027, from the Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund (FWPF) to the Solano Resource Conservation District for public education programming; Solano Land Trust for a blue oak irrigation and planting project; Napa-Solano Audubon Society for environmental education programs; and International Bird Rescue for temporary emergency treatment of injured and/or orphaned wildlife and Suisun Resource Conservation District for public workshops; and
2. Authorize the Director of Resource Management or designee to execute the grant contracts and any necessary modifications that fall within the grant award amounts.
SUMMARY:
For FY2025/26, the Board appropriated $10,000 from the FWPF to award grants to projects in Solano County that are consistent with Fish and Game Code §13103 and focused on improving fish and wildlife habitat, care for injured wildlife, or public education related to fish and wildlife conservation. After conducting public outreach on grant availability, five project submissions were received, each of which were recommended by the Solano County Parks and Recreation Commission for funding. With Board approval, the Solano Resource Conservation District, Solano Land Trust, Napa-Solano Audubon Society, International Bird Rescue and Suisun Resource Conservation District will be required to sign individual grant contracts and will have until June 30, 2027, to complete their respective projects.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The FWPF consists of funds received by the County from Fish and Game Code fines and accumulated interest. $10,000 was appropriated in the FY2025/26 Working Budget to be disbursed as grant awards from the FWPF. Staff recommends awarding the requested amount of $9,734.09, with the balance of the $10,000 returning to the fund for award in future grant cycles. There is no impact to the General Fund and the cost of preparing the agenda item is nominal and absorbed by the Department’s FY2025/26 Working Budget.
DISCUSSION:
The Department of Resource Management administers the FWPF grant application process and grant awards are recommended by the Park and Recreation Commission, serving in its dual role as the Fish and Wildlife Commission. The current grant cycle began September 1, 2025, when staff distributed the FWPF grant application materials and emailed notices to previous grant applicants and other interested parties. Staff also issued a press release and made the grant application materials available on the County’s website. The Commission set the maximum allowable grant request at $2,500 per applicant. The application deadline was September 30, 2025 and resulted in five applications requesting a total of $9,734.09 in project funds.
To assist in evaluating applications, the Commission appointed an ad hoc FWPF Evaluation Committee. The Committee reviewed and scored applications based on criteria identified in the FWPF application materials. At its November 13, 2025 meeting, the Park and Recreation Commission received the award recommendations based on scoring (Attachment A) from the FWPF Evaluation Committee and recommended funding programs/projects with the following entities: the Solano Resource Conservation District, Solano Land Trust, Napa-Solano Audubon Society, International Bird Rescue and the Suisun Resource Conservation District, with all applicants requesting amounts ranging from $607.42 to the maximum allowable request of $2,500.
Projects recommended for funding would result in the following outcomes:
Solano Resource Conservation District
Students will participate in field trips through the watershed education program and will experience first-hand a watershed ecosystem near their home and learn how to protect it. Curricula for these programs include discussion of how watersheds are habitats for plants and animals and include hands-on activities to help bring these concepts to life. Furthermore, students will learn about watershed conservation practices, like picking up litter and preventing animal waste from entering waterways, and how these practices help protect organisms and keep pollution out of Solano County's drinking water sources. Teaching future leaders and residents of Solano County about the impact of their actions on the environment instills a stewardship mindset that they will carry with them into adulthood. The County's goals for fish and wildlife conservation are served when the public is better informed about their role in keeping our waterways clean.
Solano Land Trust
The Blue Oak restoration project will further enhance biodiversity and reestablish Blue Oak woodland in a clearcut landscape, which will increase resources and improve habitat connectivity for wildlife, installing a drip irrigation system which will support blue oak establishment furthering the propagation and conservation of wildlife. Diversifying plantings promotes wildlife utilization with faster growing shrubs providing food and nesting sites for birds and other wildlife. This will act as a natural form of integrated pet management; birds coming to consume berries will also consume grasshoppers that harm young oaks. Additional plantings of flowering shrubs and forbs will attract and provide for pollinators. Patwino Worrtla Kodoi Dihi Open Space Park hosts native milkweeds, and these additional flowering shrubs will provide butterflies much needed late season nectar sources as well.
Napa Solano Audubon Society
In addition to teaching students about conservation and the benefits of the birds and wildlife in the world around them, the Napa Solano Audubon Society’s educational team also participates in citizen science activities and community events to educate citizens on the importance of protecting habitats and the birds and wildlife that live within them. Citizen Science Projects include: eBird observation data collection, participation in the Cornell Universities' Feeder Watch Program, the CBRP Bluebird Nesting Box Monitoring Project, and Audubon's Climate Watch Program. Starting in January, the effort will also be undertaking a second 5-year, countywide Breeding Bird Atlas (BSA), as part of California's First statewide BBA. This project will contribute to research in monitoring bird populations, comparing data with baseline findings from the first Breeding Bird Atlas that was completed 15 years ago, and helping to identify population trends and endangered species in need of support. In addition, the project will support a number of Community activities including: a Monthly Educational Speaker Series, the Christmas Bird Count for Kids, the Benicia Christmas Bird Count, Vallejo's Winged Migration and Suisun's Pacific Flyway Festivals, Earth Day and annual Coastal and Creekside Restoration Projects and community tabling activities. All of these events are focused on wildlife education and the preservation and protection of our environment.
International Bird Rescue
This project benefits the native wildlife of Solano County by giving aquatic birds, including federally endangered Western Snowy Plovers that have been harmed by human and industrial impact, and who have been referred to us by Solano County residents, organizations, and government agencies, a second chance at a normal life through best-in-class rehabilitation protocols. Birds successfully rehabilitated are released back to the wild at species appropriate locations. Research shows that rehabilitated animals achieve successful, long-term outcomes, including, but not limited to, completing average life expectancies, producing and rearing their own offspring, and serving as nutrition for other animals: all important outcomes of a healthy, balanced ecosystem.
Suisun Resource Conservation District
This project aims to enhance the conservation and management of fish and wildlife through adaptive strategies, current scientific insights, and collaboration with landowners who share their management practices. Such exchanges inform future actions that benefit wildlife in the region. For example, recent speakers at Suisun Resource Conservation District workshops have emphasized how invasive plants like Phragmites and Russian Thistle affect the Suisun Marsh. They also talked about successful strategies for managing these invasive species. Given the dynamic nature of the Suisun Marsh, it's essential to remain adaptable to constantly changing conditions by utilizing the most reliable information available. Workshops will play a crucial role in disseminating the knowledge necessary for effective management and promoting the conservation of fish and wildlife in the marsh.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board may choose not to approve the recommendation of the Park and Recreation Commission. This alternative is not recommended because the applications received careful evaluation from the FWPF Evaluation Committee and are recommended by the Commission for meeting the criteria of the funding guidelines. In addition, without this funding opportunity these programs will not likely be funded and completed.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Solano County Park and Recreation Commission recommended approval of the grant award at its scheduled public meeting of November 13, 2025. Subject matter expert Brenda Brinkhous-Hatch, Program Manager for Putah Creek Council, served on the FWPF Evaluation Committee.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION