Coastal projects get $1.3 million

12/22/00

NEWS-PRESS STAFF REPORT

About $1.3 million in state grants for preserving and protecting coastal resources has been awarded to 15 projects in Santa Barbara County.

The grants, 13 to county government and two to the city of Carpinteria, are among $3.1 million given to five coastal counties, Gov. Gray Davis announced Wednesday. The money will allow local governments to perform a range of projects, including help rebuild piers, protect agricultural lands from development, improve eroding beaches and coastal access, restore wetlands and buy coastal open space deemed worthy of protection.

"The projects will help protect our valuable coastal habitat and address future energy planning issues," Davis said in a prepared statement.

The 13 county projects were awarded a total of $1,154,650. The largest is $250,000 for purchasing conservation easements, in conjunction with the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County, along the Gaviota coast. Three other projects received $100,000 each: replacing an aging wooden bridge on a bike path near Goleta Beach; replacing and reinforcing an asphalt driveway at Goleta Beach to support heavy equipment that will be used for a sand replenishment project; and making several additions and improvements to Cabrillo High School Aquarium in Lompoc.

Carpinteria will receive $197,255. That money will be used to prepare a management plan for the Carpinteria Bluffs and to install an interpretive overlook at the southeast corner of the 52-acre parcel that is now a city park.

The grant money comes from royalties the state receives from offshore drilling leases.