La Luz Center

DESCRIPTION:TO CREATE A MORE CLIMATE RESILIENT COMMUNITY IN THE UNDERSERVED, UNINCORPORATED, DENSELY POPULATED SPRINGS AREA OF SONOMA VALLEY, THIS THREE-YEAR PROJECT CREATES A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN A LATINO-SERVING COMMUNITY-BASED NONPROFIT, A WATERSHED ENVIRONMENTAL NONPROFIT, AND A COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO RETRAIN A LOCAL, UNDERSERVED, PREDOMINANTLY LATINO WORKFORCE AND CONNECT GRADUATES TO JOBS THAT WILL TAKE ON THE IMMENSE AND PERPETUAL NEED FOR WATERSHED CLIMATE RESILIENCE WORK ACROSS THE NORTH BAY. THE 176 GRADUATES WILL IMPROVE THE RESILIENCE OF AN ESTIMATED 26,400 ACRES BY 10 YEARS POST-PROJECT. THE PROJECT ALSO PROMOTES AND INCENTIVIZES CLIMATE-RESILIENT LANDSCAPING AT THE HOMES OF 100+ SPRINGS RESIDENTS; SUPPORTS 9+ NEIGHBORHOOD-LED CREEK TRASH CLEANUPS; COLLECTS 2 SEASONS OF DATA TO ENHANCE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER CONTACT RECREATION IN SONOMA CREEK IN THE SPRINGS; AND MONITORS SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE AT 10+ SITES DURING STORMS OVER 2 WINTERS TO PINPOINT CAUSES OF POTENTIALLY UNSAFE SANITARY SEWER OVERFLOWS IN THE SPRINGS. THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT PROVIDES FULL FEDERAL FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $967,914. SEE TERMS AND CONDITIONSACTIVITIES:TO IMPLEMENT THE SAN FRANCISCO ESTUARY PARTNERSHIP COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT PLAN (CCMP), THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES WILL TAKE PLACE: 1) PROVIDING TRAINING176+ PEOPLE FROM THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES OF THE SPRINGS (8 COHORTS OF 22+ PEOPLE EACH). ADAPTED CURRICULUM IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH 2) 50+ HOUSEHOLDS IN THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES OF THE SPRINGS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CLIMATE RESILIENCE LANDSCAPE CONSULTATIONS, SITE PLANS, AND TREATMENT WORKBOOKS. 3) DATA WILL BE PRODUCED FOR AT LEAST 4 CREEK SITES BRACKETING WATER CONTACT RECREATION AREAS FROM WATER SAMPLES THAT WILL BE COLLECTED AND ANALYZED AS A PART OF THE PROJECT. 4) FOUR TRUCKLOADS OF TRASH WILL BE REMOVED FROM SONOMA CREEKS AND 5) OBSERVATIONAL DATA COLLECTED DURING AT LEAST 4 STORM EVENTS OVER 2 WINTER PERIODS AT 10+ BRANCH ACCESS POINTS TO IDENTIFY AREAS OF STORMWATER OVERFLOW. SUBRECIPIENT:FOR THIS PROJECT, THE SUB AWARDEE WILL PROVIDE HANDS-ON TRAINING SITES AND ASSISTANCE FOR TASK 1 RELATED TO BUILDING A CLIMATE RESILIENCE WORKFORCE AND WILL ASSIST LA LUZ WITH PROJECT ADMINISTRATION AND REPORTING (TASK 7 PROJECT MANAGEMENT), AND LEAD TASKS 2-5 RELATED TO EDUCATION MATERIALS FOR CLIMATE RESISTANT NEIGHBORHOODS (2), WATER QUALITY MONITORING IN SONOMA CREEKS (3), TRASH CLEAN UP IN SONOMA CREEKS (4), AND STORMWATER SEWER OVERFLOWS (5). OUTCOMES:ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE: 1) 176+ PEOPLE FROM THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES OF THE SPRINGS PROVIDED WITH TRAINING IN CLIMATE RESILIENT LAND MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE (8 COHORTS OF 22+ PEOPLE EACH 2) 50+ HOUSEHOLDS IN THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES OF THE SPRINGS PROVIDED WITH CLIMATE RESILIENCE LANDSCAPE CONSULTATIONS, SITE PLANS, AND TREATMENT WORKBOOKS 3) QUALITY DATA COLLECTED FOR AT LEAST 4 CREEK SITES BRACKETING WATER CONTACT RECREATION AREAS 4) CREEK CLEANUP EVENTS COORDINATED WITHIN OR UPSTREAM OF THE SPRINGS TO COLLECT AT LEAST FOUR TRUCKLOADS OF TRASH 5) OBSERVATIONAL DATA COLLECTED DURING AT LEAST 4 STORM EVENTS OVER 2 WINTER PERIODS AT 10+ BRANCH ACCESS POINTS TO IDENTIFY STORMWATER INFUSION POINTS INTO THE SANITARY SYSTEM. EXPECTED OUTCOMES ARE: INCREASED HEALTH AND SAFETY OF 176 COMMUNITY MEMBERS, PLUS THEIR EMPLOYEES, WHO WORK OUTDOORS, INCLUDING QUALITY OF LIFE AND HEALTH IMPROVEMENTS FROM INCREASED FINANCIAL SECURITY OF GRADUATES. INCREASED INFORMATION FOR RESIDENTS ABOUT RESILIENT LANDSCAPING PRACTICES. INCREASED CERTAINTY ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE ONLY FREE WATER CONTACT RECREATION AVAILABLE TO APPROXIMATELY 5,000 LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS IN 1,152 ACRES ACROSS THE SPRINGS. USING INFORMATION GATHERED FROM STORMWATER EVENTS WORK TO REDUCE EXPOSURE RISK TO PEOPLE IN THE UNDERSERVED SPRINGS FROM SANITARY SYSTEM OVERFLOWS DURING STORM EVENTS.