Thursday's action will allow the city to begin planning restoration projects for the environmentally sensitive area. It also completes a green-belt zone around the city that will ensure a permanent open-space buffer around Arcata.

The grant puts Arcata in partnership with the State Coastal Conservancy, Department of Fish and Game and the Wildlife Conservation Board for the land acquisition that includes tidal influenced sloughs near Humboldt Bay.

"The people of Arcata have worked for this for a long time," Berg said. "This is going to protect the environment while ensuring open space for generations of Arcata residents."

Arcata City Manager Dan Hauser said "planning will begin immediately. We'll own both sides of the estuary and will be able to restore it. This estuary is probably our largest coho salmon-producing stream."

The deal provides for unbroken public ownership of lands on the northeast side of Humboldt Bay, from the Bayside cutoff, to Samoa Boulevard.

"This is a good example of what we can accomplish when we get landowners and government working together," said Berg.

The Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) was created by legislation in 1947 and is responsible to select, authorize and allocate funds for the purchase of land and waters suitable for recreation purposes and the preservation, protection and restoration of wildlife habitat.