The Oak Woodlands Conservation Act requires that to qualify for a grant, the county or city in which the grant money would be spent, shall prepare or demonstrate that it has already prepared an Oak Woodlands Management Plan.  Once the city or county has demonstrated that an Oak Woodlands Management Plan exists, a landowner would be eligible to participate in the program.

Prior to WCB awarding a grant for an oak woodland conservation easement, restoration or enhancement project or any public education or outreach project, Section 1366 of the Act requires that a city or county in which grant money would be spent shall prepare or demonstrate that it has already prepared an Oak Woodlands Management Plan.  The Act requires the plan to include a description of all native oak species located within the county or city's jurisdiction.

To assist with the preparation of the plan, the Act allows a nonprofit organization, park or open space district, resources conservation district or other local government entity to apply to the Board for funds to develop an Oak Woodlands Management Plan for a county or city.  However, the county or city shall maintain ultimate authority to approve the Oak Woodlands Management Plan.  If two or more entities seek grant funding from the Board to prepare an Oak Woodlands Management Plan for the same jurisdiction, the county or city shall designate which entity shall lead the efforts to prepare the necessary document.

The Advisory Committee recognized that such a plan should contain elements designed to encourage the long-term conservation of oak woodlands.  More importantly, the committee recognized that elements of the required plan should not be overly restrictive to discourage landowners, or local jurisdictions from participating in the program.

To participate in the Oak Woodlands Conservation Program, a county or city shall adopt an Oak Woodlands Management Plan in the form of a Resolution.  The Resolution does not have to be part of the General Plan.  If a county or city currently has a plan in place that meets the minimum requirements of the Oak Woodlands Management Plan, a resolution by the governing body certifying such compliance is sufficient.

A Resolution shall be adopted that contains at least the following elements:

Minimum Elements
Of
Oak Woodlands Management Plan
To Be Approved by
Local Resolution

1. The county or city agrees to adopt a Resolution to offer private landowners the opportunity to participate in the Oak Woodlands Conservation Program.  The Oak Woodlands Management Plan and Resolution is adopted pursuant to the requirements of California Fish and Game Code Section 1366 (a).  Previously adopted resolutions are acceptable if they meet the minimum requirements of the Resolution.
2. The county or city shall prepare statements that describe the status of oak woodlands in their jurisdiction.  Such statements shall include a description of all native oak species, estimates of the current and historical distribution of oak woodlands, existing threats, status of natural regeneration and growth trends.  To the extent possible, local jurisdictions shall prepare maps displaying the current distribution of oak woodlands.
3. The county or city shall prepare statements recognizing the economic value of oak woodlands to landowners and the community at large.  These statements shall encourages and support farming, ranching and grazing operations that are compatible with oak woodland conservation.
4. The county or city shall prepare statements recognizing the natural resource values of oak woodlands including the critical role oak woodlands play relative to the health and function of local watersheds, soil and water retention, wildlife habitat, open space and the reproduction or reduction of fuel loads.
5. The county or city shall prepare statements recognizing that the loss of oak woodlands has serious effects on wildlife habitat, retention of soil and water and that planning decisions for oak woodlands should take into account potential effects of fragmentation of oak woodlands.
6. The county or city shall prepare statements expressing support for landowners that participate in the Oak Woodlands Conservation Program.  To qualify for funding consideration by the Wildlife Conservation Board, the county or city agree, pursuant to Section 1366 (f) of the Act to certify that individual proposals are consistent with the county or city Oak Woodlands Management Plan.
7. The county or city shall prepare statements that support and encourage education and outreach efforts designed to demonstrate the economic, social and ecological values associated with oak woodlands.
8. The county or city shall review and update as necessary, the Oak Woodlands Management Plan.

The Oak Woodlands Conservation Program is designed to consider grant proposals from the following participants: private landowners, local government entities, park and open space districts, resource conservation districts and nonprofit organizations.  Participants are encouraged to develop partnerships with interested individuals or organizations that are designed to leverage available technical and financial resources.

In addition, pursuant to Section 1366 (f), the county or city shall certify that proposed grant requests are consistent with the Oak Woodlands Management Plan of the county or city.  As such, eligible participants must consult with the local county or city and obtain a certification (see Application, Required Attachments and Certifications) that the proposal is consistent with local Oak Woodlands Management Plan.

Further, Section 1366 (f) requires that if the land covered by the proposal is in the jurisdiction of more than one county or city, then each county or city shall certify that the proposal is consistent with the Oak Woodlands Management Plan of each county or city.

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 1363, the Act requires that no less than 80 percent of the funds be used for the following type of projects:

1. Grants for the purchase of oak woodland easements.

   The holder of the conservation easement shall ensure, on an annual basis that the conservation easement conditions have been met for that year.  To facilitate this annual review, a Baseline Condition Report shall be prepared that identifies the biological resources that are present on the property and covered under the conservation easement.  The Act requires that priority be given to projects designed to protect oak woodlands in perpetuity with conservation easements.

2. Grants for restoration or enhancement projects.

   Project proposals must contain an appropriate management plan that describes the restoration effort and the management practices that will be used to ensure the restoration or enhancement effort achieves the goals of the landowner and the goals of the project.

3. Grant for long-term leases.

   Projects are designed to protect oak woodlands for purposes of open space, viewshed, wildlife habitat or alternative grazing opportunities.  Such leases must be managed according to a management plan prepared to meet the goals stated in the long-term lease or project agreement.

4. Grants for cost-sharing incentive payments.

   Projects designed to achieve conservation objectives and the landowner is willing to enter into long-term agreements.  Such agreements shall include management practices that benefit the goals of the landowner and the oak woodlands.  The length of the long-term agreement will be dependent upon the nature of the project, the goals of the landowner and benefits to the oak woodlands.  Typical long-term agreements could run 15, to 45-years.  Cost-share incentive payments could include, but are not necessarily limited to the following:

   • Compensation for not cutting trees for firewood.
   • Long-term payment to keep the land in open space, managed according to a plan designed to benefit the landowner and the oak woodlands.
   • Reimbursement for conservation improvements such as fencing, solar panels, grazing cages to protect young oak saplings, alternative water sources, tree planting and tree maintenance.
   • Compensation for alternative grazing practices such as up-front payments to defer grazing on restoration areas.  Areas would be managed according to a plan designed to benefit the goals of the landowner and the restoration of the oak woodlands.

Applicants are encouraged to seek input from the local Fish and Game Biologist or other resource professionals when developing proposals that request funding for conservation easements, development of management plans or long-term agreements.

To qualify for funding consideration for a restoration, enhancement, purchase of an oak conservation easement or long-term agreement, projects must meet one or more of the following criteria, must contain an appropriate management plan to assure project goals are maintained and the oak stand must have greater than 10 percent canopy:

	The project is of sufficient size to provide superior wildlife values.
	The project area contains a diverse size-class structure of oak woodlands and/or a diversity of oak species that will promote the sustainability and perpetuation of oak woodlands.
	The property is adjacent to other protected areas or will contribute toward ease of wildlife movement across ownerships.
	The project contributes toward regional or community goals, provides scenic open-space, protects historic or archeological values, or contains unique geologic features.
	The property is a working landscape.  The landowners have implemented or agree to implement stewardship practices that recognize and incorporate the ecological requirements of oak woodlands and associated habitats, thus promoting the economic and resource sustainability of the farming and ranching operation.
	The property removes or reduces the threat of habitat conversion from oak woodlands to some other use.
	The project has the potential to serve as a stewardship model for other landowners.

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 1363, the Act allows for 20 percent of the funds to be used for the following type of projects:

1. Grants for public education and outreach by local governments, park and open space districts, resource conservation districts and nonprofit organizations.
2. Assistance to local government entities, park and open space districts, resource conservation districts and nonprofit organization for the development and implementation of oak conservation elements in local general plans.
3. Technical Assistance.

To qualify for funding consideration for a public education, outreach proposal or technical assistance project, the project must meet the following criteria:

	The project shall be designed to identify and communicate the social, economic, agricultural and biological benefits of conserving oak woodlands.
	The project shall be designed and targeted to reach the maximum number of local landowners that could benefit from public education and outreach efforts.
	The project shall be designed and implemented as a collective effort or partnership that, where appropriate, includes local entities such as; landowners, the Resource Conservation District, Fish and Game Biologist, UCCE Farm Advisor, representatives from farming or ranching organizations and the county or city planning department.
	The project shall be designed to promote and encourage oak woodland conservation through voluntary approaches.
	The project shall provide sources of available financial and/or technical information to assist landowners wishing to conserve their oak woodlands.
	The project will identify measurable goals and objectives to evaluate the success of the project.  For projects not completed within one year of approval, the design shall include specific interim deliverables or benchmarks and a timeline for completion.
	If requested by the WCB, project sponsors must be willing to make education, outreach and technical assistance information available online so that other project proponents may benefit from the education and outreach effort.  Such information should not include private or proprietary information about private landowners or their operations.