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OC’s new wildlife preserve secures more funding
The Frank and Joan Randall Preserve/Genga on April 28, 2024.
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Melanie Schlotterbeck
)
Topline:
Orange County’s new wildlife preserve has been awarded more than half a million dollars to build the future 387-acre property near Newport Beach.
Why it matters: The Frank and Joan Randall Preserve/Genga is considered the last piece of underdeveloped Orange County coastline and is home to more than a dozen sensitive, threatened, or endangered species, according to Power In Nature, a statewide coalition that aims to help California reach its “30x30” goal of protecting 30% of land and coastal waters over the next few years.
Why now: The project has now secured nearly $1.8 million in funding, including last week’s $600,000 planning grant from the state’s Wildlife Preservation Board and a previous $1 million federal grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
The backstory: The Coastal Corridor Alliance, as well as the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, have been fundraising for the former oil field, which has been protected as a coastal preserve for about two years.
What's next: You’ll have an opportunity to learn more about the preserve this fall when the Coastal Corridor Alliance hosts early engagement opportunities.
Go deeper: Read more about the new preserve.
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