The Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA), in partnership with Save San Onofre
Coalition (SSOC), have released a call for projects for the upcoming Habitat Conservation Fund (HCF) grant opportunities. The $28 million HCF has been established for the purpose of preserving and restoring areas in Orange County through land acquisitions, habitat restoration projects or other environmentally beneficial projects, in alignment with TCA’s continued commitment to environmental stewardship.
In coordination with SSOC, the Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency (F/ETCA), operator of the 133, 241 and 261 Toll Roads, established a process to obligate funds between two categories of conservation measures – habitat restoration and property acquisition. To meet the 2025 HCF near term expenditure, $8 million will be allocated to qualified smaller, lower cost projects like habitat restoration and smaller property acquisitions by December 2025. The remaining $20 million will be allocated for larger property acquisitions with higher biological value before 2030.
For the near-term expenditure of $8 million, a Habitat Conservation Fund Implementation Process has been developed to expend the HCF on conservation measures and establish a process for the timely obligation of funds for qualified projects within Orange County. Staff worked with SSOC to establish selection criteria for conservation measures that would most benefit Orange County’s biological environment.
For the long-term expenditure of $20 million, qualified property acquisitions will be evaluated separately and included in the expenditure plan upon TCA and SSOC approval.
“In partnership with SSOC we look forward to the unique opportunities this Habitat Conservation Fund will provide for future, impactful environmental programs within Orange County,” shared Doug Feremenga, Manager of Environmental Programs at TCA. “TCA’s environmental mitigation and restoration efforts have provided regional advantages since inception of The Toll Roads. This habitat fund aligns strongly with the Agencies’ commitment to environmental stewardship for the betterment of the area for generations to come.”
TCA will host two application workshops with the first taking place on October 29, 2024, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. and second option on November 7, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. All applications are due by December 15, 2024, and applications will be evaluated through Spring 2025 with final notification of grant award in Summer of 2025. Any projects not in compliance or incomplete information may not be eligible for funding. For additional information, please visit TheTollRoads.com/HCF.
