California Rangeland Trust

WILLOW CREEK RANCH CONSERVATION EASEMENT ACQUISITION PROJECT

CENTRAL VALLEY PROJECT CONSERVATION PROGRAM FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021 AND 2022 - 2021

1. AWARD PURPOSE: THE AWARD PURPOSE IS TO PROTECT THE ENDANGERED SPECIES' POPULATIONS AND ASSIST WITH THEIR RECOVERY SO AS TO PRESERVE THEM FOR THE CONTINUED AND FUTURE ENJOYMENT OF THE PUBLIC. THE PROJECT IS BEING UNDERTAKEN TO FACILITATE A BENEFIT TO THE PUBLIC.2. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: THE RECIPIENT WILL CONDUCT A PROJECT TO COMPLETE THE CAPTIVE PROPAGATION AND REINTRODUCTION TO SUPPORT POPULATIONS OF A FEDERALLY LISTED ENDANGERED SPECIES.3. EXPECTED DELIVERABLES OR OUTCOMES: THERE ARE FIVE OBJECTIVES, (1) NEGOTIATE AND PREPARE THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT DOCUMENT, (2) CONDUCT THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT APPRAISAL, (3) PREPARE A PHASE I ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENT REPORT AND BASELINE CONDITIONS REPORT, (4) COMPLETE CONSERVATION EASEMENT LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING PLANS AND (5) CLOSE ESCROW, PURCHASE, AND RECORD THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT.4. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: THIS PROJECT IS TO CONSERVE HABITATS FOR FEDERAL AND STATE LISTED ENDANGERED THREATENED SPECIES.5. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES (IF KNOWN OR SPECIFIED AT TIME OF AWARD): N/A

PURPOSE: THE RECIPIENT WILL CONDUCT A PROJECT TO CONSERVE HABITATS FOR FEDERAL- AND STATE-LISTED ENDANGERED AND THREATENED SPECIES. THE PUBLIC PURPOSE AND BENEFIT FOR DOING SO IS TO PROTECT THE SPECIES POPULATIONS AND ASSIST WITH THEIR RECOVERY SO AS TO PRESERVE THEM FOR THE CONTINUED AND FUTURE ENJOYMENT OF THE PUBLIC. THE PROJECT IS BEING UNDERTAKEN TO FACILITATE A BENEFIT TO THE PUBLIC, AND IS NOT PRIMARILY FOR THE BENEFIT OF RECLAMATION OR THE RECIPIENT.ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED:1)PROJECT MANAGEMENT2)REVIEW TITLE REPORT 3)DRAFT CONSERVATION EASEMENT4)DRAFT LONG-TERM MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT PLAN5)ORDER REAL ESTATE DUE DILIGENCE REPORTS6)DRAFT SUBORDINATION AGREEMENTS7)APPROVE FINAL DOCUMENTS8)CLOSE ESCROW AND SUBMIT FINAL CLOSING DOCUMENTS9)PURCHASE CONSERVATION EASEMENT10)CLOSEOUT PROJECT AND INSTALL SIGNDELIVERABLE(S) EXPECTED OUTCOME(S):1) A LONG-TERM MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT PLAN WILL BE DEVELOPED FOR THE EASEMENT AREA BY THE RECIPIENT IN COORDINATION WITH RECLAMATION AND THE LANDOWNER. THE PLAN WILL DIRECT HOW THE PROPERTY IS TO BE MONITORED AND MANAGED TO PROTECT AND CONSERVE CVP-IMPACTED SPECIES IN THE FUTURE. IT WILL INCLUDE STIPULATIONS AS TO HOW THE LAND WILL BE MANAGED LONG-TERM FOR THE BENEFIT OF FEDERALLY-LISTED AND OTHER CVP IMPACTED PLANTS AND ANIMALS, AND HOW MANAGEMENT OF THE LAND AND VEGETATION IS EXPECTED TO MINIMIZE CONFLICTS WITH CVP-IMPACTED SPECIES AND ADHERE TO THE OBJECTIVES OF THE GRANT AGREEMENT.2) PURCHASE AND RECORD THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT IN MERCED COUNTY RECORDS.3) POST SIGN ON PROPERTY.BENEFICIARY:THE PUBLIC

FARM AND RANCH LANDS PROTECTION PROGRAM

DRY CREEK RANCH CONSERVATION EASEMENT ACQUISITION PROJECT

PURPOSE: THE AUTHORITY TO CONDUCT THE PROJECT IS PROVIDED TO THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION (RECLAMATION) THROUGH PUBLIC LAW 85-624, 16 U.S.C. 661 ET SEQ., AS AMENDED, AND SECTION 7(A) FISH AND WILDLIFE COORDINATION ACT (FWCA), (70 STAT 1122 16 U.S.C. 742F(A)), AS LIMITED AND DELEGATED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY TO THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION AT 255 DM 1.1B. SPECIFICALLY: SECTION 6 F. (2) FISH AND WILDLIFE:THE REGIONAL DIRECTORS AND THE DIRECTOR, MANAGEMENT SERVICES OFFICE, ARE DELEGATED THE AUTHORITY PURSUANT TO THE FISH AND WILDLIFE COORDINATION ACT (16 USC 661-666C) SECTION 5 OF THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT OF 1973 (16 USC 1534) AND SECTION 7(A) OF THE FISH AND WILDLIFE ACT OF 1956 16 USC 742F(A) TO TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS, EITHER DIRECTLY OR BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO NON-FEDERAL PARTIES (255 DM 1.1.B.). AUTHORITY TO AWARD FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AGREEMENTS FOR PROJECTS ASSOCIATED WITH OFF-SITE LOCATIONS PARAGRAPH 6.F.(2)(B) IS LIMITED TO THE REGIONAL DIRECTORS AND DIRECTOR, MANAGEMENT SERVICES OFFICE. THE AUTHORITY OF THE REGIONAL DIRECTORS AND DIRECTOR, MANAGEMENT SERVICES OFFICE TO AWARD FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AGREEMENTS FOR ALL OTHER PROJECTS AUTHORIZED BY THIS DELEGATION CAN ONLY BE RE-DELEGATED TO DESIGNATED GRANTS OFFICERS.(B) PLAN, DESIGN, CONSTRUCT, AND MONITOR, INCLUDING ACQUIRE LANDS OR INTEREST THEREIN AS NEEDED, INSTREAM HABITAT IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO FISH PASSAGE SCREENING FACILITIES AT OFF-SITE LOCATIONS (AS NEGOTIATED ON PRIVATELY OWNED LANDS AND FACILITIES NOT ASSOCIATED WITH A RECLAMATION PROJECT) THE ACTIVITIES TO BE FUNDED UNDER THE FWCA ARE TO ACQUIRE INTEREST IN LANDS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE POPULATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH WATER SYSTEMS OR WATER SUPPLIES AFFECTED BY RECLAMATION PROJECTS, BY PROVIDING FUNDS TO A NON-FEDERAL PARTY AS AUTHORIZED UNDER THE AUTHORITY. THE CENTRAL VALLEY PROJECT CONSERVATION PROGRAM (CVPCP), WHICH IS PROVIDING FUNDS FOR THE PROJECT, IS INCLUDED AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENT IN ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT BIOLOGICAL OPINIONS BETWEEN RECLAMATION AND THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (USFWS) FOR OPERATION OF THE CENTRAL VALLEY PROJECT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CENTRAL VALLEY PROJECT IMPROVEMENT ACT. THE FUNDING APPLICATION FOR THE DRY CREEK RANCH 2 CONSERVATION EASEMENT ACQUISITION PROJECT WAS EVALUATED BY RECLAMATION AND USFWS PERSONNEL WHO DETERMINED THAT THE PROJECT MEETS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENTS DESCRIBED ABOVE. THEREFORE, DUE TO ITS CONNECTION TO A REQUIREMENT FOR OPERATION OF A RECLAMATION PROJECT (THE CENTRAL VALLEY PROJECT), THE PROPERTY UPON WHICH THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT WOULD BE RECORDED MEETS THE DEFINITION OF AN ON-SITE LOCATION FOR PURPOSES OF THE FWCA. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED:1)PROJECT MANAGEMENT2)SECURE FUNDING3)REVIEW TITLE REPORT4)DRAFT CONSERVATION EASEMENT5)DRAFT LONG-TERM MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT PLAN6)ORDER REAL ESTATE DUE DILIGENCE REPORTS7)DRAFT SUBORDINATION AGREEMENTS8)APPROVE FINAL DOCUMENTS9)CLOSE ESCROW AND SUBMIT FINAL CLOSING DOCUMENTS10)PURCHASE CONSERVATION EASEMENT11)CLOSE OUT PROJECT AND INSTALL SIGNDELIVERABLES AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES:1)PROJECT MANAGEMENT2)SECURE FUNDING3)REVIEW TITLE REPORT4)DRAFT CONSERVATION EASEMENT5)DRAFT LONG-TERM MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT PLAN6)ORDER REAL ESTATE DUE DILIGENCE REPORTS7)DRAFT SUBORDINATION AGREEMENTS8)APPROVE FINAL DOCUMENTS9)CLOSE ESCROW AND SUBMIT FINAL CLOSING DOCUMENTS10)PURCHASE CONSERVATION EASEMENT11)CLOSE OUT PROJECT AND INSTALL SIGNBENEFICIARIES: THE PUBLIC

JCR RANCH (EAST) CONSERVATION EASEMENT ACQUISITION PROJECT