California Department of Conservation

🎉 A moment to celebrate - the first affordable housing complex for seniors coming to the City of Coachella!

🏡 52 new affordable homes in the future development broke ground this week - and this project is community-led and -driven!

“The Casa Sienna development is a prime example of how our Transformative Climate Communities Program empowers our most pollution-burdened communities to transform their neighborhoods,” said Erin Curtis, Executive Director of the California Strategic Growth Council, which administers the TCC Program in partnership with California Department of Conservation. “Affordable senior housing connected to services and amenities not only benefits seniors but also strengthens the broader community they call home. Today’s groundbreaking is the result of partnerships at all levels and community-led and -centered efforts to build thriving, resilient neighborhoods.”

California’s Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) Program, a partnership between the California Strategic Growth Council and the California Department of Conservation, contributed $7.7 million toward the project - part of $22 million awarded to Coachella Prospera.

TCC empowers the communities most impacted by pollution to choose their own goals, strategies, and projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and local air pollution.

→ Read the full press release: bit.ly/tcc_casa_sienna
→ Learn more about TCC: sgc.ca.gov/grant-
programs/tcc/

Good news for the land north of Yosemite!

In March, Mother Lode Land Trust completed the acquisition of the final 315 acres of Long Gulch Ranch — permanently protecting 890 contiguous acres of meadows, oak woodlands, springs, and mixed conifer forest just north of Yosemite National Park.

This milestone was made possible by a SALC Program grant paired with a grant from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, enabling the purchase of grazing lands that support an expanded cattle operation alongside conservation.

The property supports Great Gray Owl habitat, watershed health, and wildfire resilience — and will open up to 5 miles of new trails connecting to the Tuolumne River system and Yosemite, expanding public access to the outdoors.

https://conservation.ca.gov/dlrp/grant-programs/SALCP

Our April Conservation Catch-Up newsletter is here!

Check out the brand-new Sierra Nevada Earth Science Atlas, milestones, new rangeland conservation easements, the return of California Geology Magazine, & more.

Read/subscribe:
https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Conservation-Catch-Up.html?soid=1138598269161&aid=-po7bBnt3F4

PROJECT CLOSED: DRY CREEK RANCH ✅
📍 Merced County, CA

The California Rangeland Trust is proud to announce the permanent conservation of more than 1,300 additional acres at Dry Creek Ranch in Merced County—bringing the total protected land to over 5,700 acres.

In a time when the U.S. is losing more than 5,000 acres of agricultural land every day, efforts like this matter more than ever.

For the Richards family—now spanning four generations—this isn’t just land. It’s legacy. Since 1975, they’ve stewarded Dry Creek Ranch with care, and today, they’ve ensured it will remain a working cattle ranch, thriving habitat, and open space forever.

This project was supported through funding from the Bureau of Reclamation’s Central Valley Project Conservation Program, the Gov. Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation , and the California Department of Conservation.

Happy from the California Department of Conservation!

Today, and every day, we celebrate the people and partners who work hard, often behind the scenes, to protect our communities, natural resources, and environment.

Check out a special Earth Day message from Director Jennifer Lucchesi.

California Department of Conservation 2 likes. "Happy Earth Day! A Message from Director Jennifer Lucchesi | California Department of Conservation"