Blog

Courtesy of CDFW:

Media Contacts:
Armand Gonzales, CDFW SWAP Project Lead, (916) 616-0691
Carol Singleton, CDFW Communications, (916) 322-8962

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will hold public meetings to discuss the 2015 update to the California State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP). The meetings will be held in Sacramento, Oakland, San Diego and Los Angeles at the following locations:

Friday, May 22, 9-11 a.m.

Resources Building Auditorium

1416 Ninth St.

Sacramento, CA 95814

Thursday, May 28, 2-4 p.m.

Joseph P. Bort MetroCenter Auditorium

101 Eighth St.

Oakland, CA 94607

Wednesday, June 3, 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Chula Vista Women’s Club Reception Hall

357 G St.

Chula Vista, CA 91910

Thursday, June 4, 2-4 p.m.

Los Angeles Zoo Witherbee Auditorium

5333 Zoo Dr.

Los Angeles, CA 90027

(Does not include zoo admission)

California’s SWAP is a comprehensive, statewide plan for conserving the state’s fish and wildlife and their vital natural habitats for future generations. It is part of a nationwide effort by all 50 states and five U.S. territories to develop conservation action plans and participate in the federally authorized State and Tribal Wildlife Grants (SWG) Program. The draft SWAP 2015 will be available for public review after May 18 at: www.wildlife.ca.gov/SWAP.

During the public meetings, CDFW representatives will provide an overview of wildlife conservation, explain the requirements of SWAP 2015 and describe the process used to develop statewide and regional conservation strategies. California’s SWAP 2015 identifies Species of Greatest Conservation Need and uses an ecosystem approach to conserve and manage diverse habitats and species. The availability of SWAP 2015 on CDFW’s website and how to provide written input will be described. Input from the public will help shape the final SWAP 2015, which will be completed by October 2015.

Congress created the SWG program in 2000 recognizing of the need to fund programs for the conservation of wildlife diversity. California’s first SWAP was completed by CDFW (then Fish and Game) and approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2005. CDFW has received approximately $37 million in federal support for the state’s wildlife conservation activities through the SWG program from 2005 through 2014. The SWG program requires that SWAPs be updated at least every 10 years. CDFW has now prepared the draft SWAP 2015, which is the first comprehensive update of SWAP 2005. SWAPs are required to include provisions to ensure public participation in the development, revision and implementation of projects and programs.

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For more than two years, California has been dealing with the effects of drought. To learn about all the actions the state has taken to manage our water system and cope with the impacts of the drought, visit http://ca.gov/drought/.

Every Californian should take steps to conserve water. Find out how at http://saveourwater.com/.

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Persons with disabilities needing reasonable accommodation to participate in public meetings or other CDFW activities are invited to contact the Department’s Reasonable Accommodation Coordinator Melissa Carlin at (916) 651-1214 or melissa.carlin@wildlife.ca.gov.  Reasonable Accommodation requests for facility and/or meeting accessibility should be received at least 21 days prior to the event.  Requests for American Sign Language Interpreters should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event, and requests for Real-Time Captioning at least four weeks prior to the event. These timeframes are to help ensure that the requested accommodation is met.  If a request for an accommodation has been submitted but due to circumstances is no longer needed, please contact the Reasonable Accommodation Coordinator immediately.