The Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy awarded more than $2 million in grant funding to protect an endangered species and wildlife connectivity, it was announced Thursday.
“These projects reflect the conservancy’s commitment to collaborative science-based conservation that benefits both wildlife and local communities,” CVMC Executive Director Elizabeth King said. “We are proud to support our regional partners in advancing innovative solutions for habitat protection, climate resilience and species conservation.”
In a board meeting on May 11, board members approved of three grants through Proposition 1 and Proposition 4 funding programs.
Two institutions received funding to study and support sustainability efforts for the endangered desert pupfish. A grant of $695,751 went to the Center for Natural Lands Management for its Groundwater-Surface Water Monitoring project. This project aims to study why portions of the Simone Pond have been drying over the past two years, with the information expected to help maintain habit for the species at the Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve.
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens received a conditional grant of up to $863,450 for the Desert Pupfish Conservation Refugia project on land owned by the Torres-Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians. This project will evaluate methods to establish sustainable refuge habitat and restore functionality to former wetland cells that has conveyed water between the Whitewater River and the Salton Sea ecosystem, officials said.
The board has approved a grant of $512,000 through Proposition 4 local assistance planning grant to Mojave Desert Land Trust for its state Route 62 wildlife crossing project, which aims to advance planning for two wildlife crossings across state Route 62, a busy corridor from the Coachella Valley to Joshua Tree National Park. Organizers said the project is crucial for public and animal safety, as documented deaths of bighorn sheep and mountain lions have been reported along the highway corridor.