Sustainable Conservation’s Accelerating Restoration program is excited to announce the Restoration Permitting Roadmap, a first-of-its-kind web tool designed to help restoration practitioners in the Sacramento River Basin navigate the often complex and time-consuming permitting process. This new resource aims to accelerate regional ecological restoration efforts so projects can move forward more efficiently while meeting essential environmental regulations.
The web page and associated materials were developed through a contract with the Northern California Water Association, funded by a U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Cooperative Agreement administered by Reclamation District 108. The web tools also received review from the following organizations: Alnus Ecological, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California Trout, Central Valley Flood Protection Board, Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board, Delta Stewardship Council, Ducks Unlimited, Environmental Science Associates, State Water Resources Control Board, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Click here to view the webtool.
The Need for Expedited Restoration Permitting
In the face of climate change, continued development, and weather volatility, California needs landscape-scale natural solutions more than ever. Thanks to unprecedented funding opportunities from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the potential $10 billion California Climate Bond (Proposition 4), the state is at the threshold of a transformative era for large-scale restoration. With some restoration project portfolios, such as those of the Floodplain Forward Coalition, seeking nearly $1 billion in funding for actions benefiting over half a million acres, simplified permitting processes can make these dollars go further.
With the help and guidance from our myriad partners, the new Roadmap is a direct response to this need. By clarifying the permitting process, the roadmap helps landowners, conservation organizations, and agencies get more restoration projects off the ground faster and at a lower cost. The tool offers a step-by-step overview of the permitting process and guides users toward available restoration-specific permitting pathways. The tool focuses on the Sacramento River Basin while also providing a framework that can be applied statewide.
Empowering Restoration Practitioners
The Roadmap for Restoration was developed with input from environmental consulting firms, nonprofits, regulators, California Tribes, landowners, and agricultural networks. Their insights, combined with Sustainable Conservation’s institutional knowledge, culminated in a resource suite to guide restoration practitioners through the permitting landscape.
Key features of the roadmap include:
• Permit like the Pros: A simplified, step-by-step guide outlining best practices for planning and implementing a restoration project using specialized permitting pathways, where applicable.
• Process Flow Chart: A detailed decision-making tool that guides practitioners through how to determine what permits they may need while highlighting efficient pathways for compliance and essential connections between interdependent permits.
• Permit Summary Table: An easy-to-navigate table with essential information on various permits, agencies, and resources, helping users quickly determine the most appropriate pathways to propose using for their projects.
Testimonials
“By working closely with agencies, landowners, and conservation groups, we’ve created a tool that not only simplifies the restoration process but also encourages continued partnership across sectors, organizations, and agencies,” said Ashley Boren, Sustainable Conservation CEO. “It’s our hope that this roadmap will foster even more collaboration, driving effective restoration projects that benefit both our environment and communities.”
“These tools represent a significant step forward in our mission to conserve and restore California’s natural resources while ensuring the protection of our communities and ecosystems,” said Erika Lovejoy, Senior Program Director, Accelerating Restoration, Sustainable Conservation. “The Roadmap is designed to catalyze restoration project implementation by empowering landowners, conservationists, and agencies to realize their ambitious restoration visions faster, more efficiently, and collaboratively.”
“We are excited to continue the progress to advance and scale up floodplain reactivation in the Sacramento Valley,” said David Guy, President, Northern California Water Association (NCWA). “The permitting roadmap webpage will help landowners, conservation organizations, and agencies accelerate the implementation of these fish and wildlife restoration actions by applying restoration-specific regulatory tools.”
“This permitting roadmap is an amazing tool for restoration practitioners in the Sacramento River Basin,” said Holly Swan, Mt. Lassen Project Manager, California Trout. “It’s easy to follow, regionally specific, and maps out essential links between permits. The detailed guidance and insights empower us to navigate the restoration process with confidence and efficiency.”
About Sustainable Conservation: For over 30 years, Sustainable Conservation has united people across business, agriculture, conservation and government to steward California’s vital natural resources. Our programs promote practical solutions that enhance environmental and economic sustainability, focusing on water, land, and air quality. For more information, visit www.suscon.org and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
