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Goal D Accelerate state processes to support implementation of nature-based climate solutions

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Priority

Accelerate Nature-Based Climate Solutions and Strengthen Climate Resilience of Natural Systems

All Priority Goals

Progress Indicators

  • Scoping: Scoping and organizing action; collecting input and conducting community engagement.
  • Securing Funding: Securing funding; beginning project work.
  • Underway: Work underway; documentation and reporting in progress.
  • Nearing Completion: Work nearing completion.
  • Complete: Work complete; shifting to ongoing maintenance, monitoring, evaluation and assessment.
  • Ongoing Improvements: Ongoing advancements; continual improvements.

Actions

  • Action 1 Coordinate and guide prescribed fire and cultural fire activities and address the key barriers to widespread use in California.

    Success Metric: Launch a Prescribed Fire Strategic Action Plan.

    Timeframe: 2022

    Agency: Natural Resources Agency – Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, in partnership with U.S. Forest Service and other federal, state, local and tribal governments | Environmental Protection Agency – Air Resources Board

    For More Details: California’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan, Draft Statewide Prescribed Fire Strategic Plan

    Progress Indicator: Complete

    Success Metric: Develop and deploy an automated system for prescribed burn permits.

    Timeframe: 2021

    Agency: Natural Resources Agency – Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

    For More Details: California’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan

    Progress Indicator: Complete

    Success Metric: Conduct research, develop guidance and template permit language, deploy a system to streamline and clarify the regulatory processes, and fund cultural fire on and off tribally owned lands with the goal of cutting the green tape for cultural fire.

    Timeframe: Ongoing

    Agency: Natural Resources Agency – Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, in partnership with U.S. Forest Service and other federal, state, local and tribal governments | Environmental Protection Agency – Air Resources Board

    For More Details: California’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan; Good Fire: Current Barriers to the Expansion of Cultural Burning and Prescribed Fire in California and Recommended Solutions, Cutting Green Tape

    Progress Indicator: Scoping

    Success Metric: Develop and deploy cultural fire and burn boss trainings with tribal nations, state, and federal agencies.

    Timeframe: Ongoing

    Agency: Natural Resources Agency – Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, in partnership with U.S. Forest Service and other federal, state, local and tribal governments | Environmental Protection Agency – Air Resources Board

    For More Details: California’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan; Draft Statewide Prescribed Fire Strategic Plan

    Progress Indicator: Complete

  • Action 2 Expedite permitting processes for wildfire resilience projects using exemptions or the California Vegetation Treatment program.

    Success Metric: Wildfire resilience projects not stalled in environmental review: streamlined and consolidated environmental permitting for wildfire projects.

    Timeframe: Ongoing

    Agency: Natural Resources Agency – Board of Forestry

    For More Details: California Vegetation Treatment Program

    Progress Indicator: Nearing completion

  • Action 3 Accelerate permitting for groundwater recharge projects to capture peak flows for groundwater recharge.

    Success Metric: Increase in new groundwater recharge projects implemented on natural and working lands.

    Timeframe: Ongoing

    Agency: Environmental Protection Agency – State Water Resources Control Board | Natural Resources Agency – Department of Water Resources, Delta Stewardship Council, San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission | Department of Food and Agriculture

    For More Details: State Water Board Division of Water Rights Groundwater Recharge Permits; Flood Managed Aquifer Recharge

    Progress Indicator: Underway

  • Action 4 Align and improve permitting to help launch and incentivize more multi-benefit, multi-partner restoration projects that build water resilience.

    Success Metric: Accelerate pace and scale of multi-benefit, multi-partner restoration and water projects.

    Timeframe: 2023 and ongoing

    Agency: Natural Resources Agency – Department of Fish and Wildlife, Department of Water Resources, Delta Stewardship Council | Department of Food and Agriculture | Environmental Protection Agency – State Water Resources Control Board

    For More Details: California EcoRestore; Water Resilience Portfolio; Cutting Green Tape; Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program

    Progress Indicator: Underway

    Success Metric: Identify opportunities and a strategy for implementing regulatory alignment measures that reduce the administrative burden of regulatory compliance for agricultural producers and incentivize the use of climate smart agriculture practices.

    Timeframe: 2022–2024

    Agency: Department of Food and Agriculture | Environmental Protection Agency

    For More Details: Department of Agriculture Budget Highlights

    Progress Indicator: Securing Funding

  • Action 5 Streamline coastal permitting processes for restoration/nature-based solutions through pre-application coordination, programmatic approvals, consistent monitoring standards, regulatory reform, best available science, and agency leadership.

    Success Metric: Provide planning and permitting guidance encouraging the use of nature-based solutions.

    Timeframe: Ongoing

    Agency: Natural Resources Agency – Coastal Commission

    For More Details: Coastal Commission Strategic Plan 2021-2025

    Progress Indicator: Underway

    Success Metric: Number of coastal restoration projects implemented through streamlined permitting options.

    Timeframe: 2025

    Agency: Natural Resources Agency – Department of Fish and Wildlife

    For More Details: Cutting Green Tape

    Progress Indicator: Underway

  • Action 6 Expedite the regulatory approval process for appropriate large habitat restoration projects.

    Success Metric: A General Order adopted for Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification and waste discharge requirements for restoration projects statewide.

    Timeframe: 2022

    Agency: Environmental Protection Agency – State Water Resources Control Board

    For More Details: State Water Resources Control Board 401 Water Quality Certification and Wetlands Program

    Progress Indicator: Complete

    Success Metric: Development of streamlined incidental take authorization (California Endangered Species Act) for large restoration projects (Restoration Management Permit) and consistency determination process for programmatic federal biological opinions.

    Timeframe: Undergoing pilot testing, full rollout anticipated in 2022

    Agency: Natural Resources Agency – Department of Fish and Wildlife

    For More Details: Department of Fish and Wildlife Cutting the Green Tape Initiative

    Progress Indicator: Complete