Sacramento--Assemblymember Patty Berg (D - Eureka) announced the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) granted $2.6 million, in voter approved bond funds, at its meeting yesterday at the Capitol. “This is good news for the people and organizations who have worked especially hard to promote the preservation of these sensitive areas," Berg said.

At its regularly scheduled meeting today, the Board approved a $1,705,000.00 grant to the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District for the Van Hoosear Wildflower Preserve. The funds will assist with the acquisition of a 165-acre conservation easement for the preservation of extremely rare valley floor wildflower habitat on Grove Street.

In Humboldt and Mendocino Counties, the WCB approved $866,000.00 for four separate grants to Sanctuary Forest to assist in the acquisition of 450 acres for the preservation of old-growth redwood, mixed coniferous forest and Mattole River watershed lands adjoining the Mattole River Ecological Reserve.

The Lake County Land Trust received $240,000.00 to assist in the acquisition of 247 acres to preserve the Black Forest. The forest, located southeasterly of the community of Lakeport, in Lake County, includes an intact conifer forest. The funds will help facilitate public access.

Assemblymember Berg is a member of the Joint Legislative Advisory Committee of the Wildlife Conservation Board.