Loading
Priority
Accelerate Nature-Based Climate Solutions and Strengthen Climate Resilience of Natural Systems
Actions
-
Action 1 Integrate multi-benefit nature-based solution strategies into transportation resiliency planning.
Success Metric: Ensure integration of multi-benefit nature-based solutions into all transportation planning guidance and products, including transportation corridor plan guidance and project planning documents.
Timeframe: Ongoing
Agency/Agencies: State Transportation Agency – Caltrans
For More Details: California Transportation Plan 2050
Success Metric: Prioritize nature-based solutions in transportation project delivery and environmental mitigation.
Timeframe: Ongoing
Agency/Agencies: State Transportation Agency – Caltrans
For More Details: California Transportation Plan 2050
-
Action 2 Minimize adverse environmental impacts of the transportation system through enhancing California’s natural resources and environmental health.
Success Metric: Increase usage of natural infrastructure solutions such as bioswales, rainwater storage systems, and permeable pavements to enhance infrastructure resiliency.
Timeframe: Ongoing
Agency/Agencies: State Transportation Agency – Caltrans
For More Details: California Transportation Plan 2050
Success Metric: Increase implementation of management practices that minimize soil loss and improve the water holding capacity of soil along roadways, such as compost or mulch application and live planting.
Timeframe: Ongoing
Agency/Agencies: State Transportation Agency – Caltrans | Environmental Protection Agency – Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery
For More Details: Landscape Architecture Program - Erosion Control Design
Success Metric: Support a comprehensive culvert and fish passage improvement program along transportation corridors.
Timeframe: Ongoing
Agency/Agencies: Natural Resources Agency – Department of Fish and Wildlife, Wildlife Conservation Board | State Transportation Agency – Caltrans
For More Details: California Fish Passage Forum
-
Action 3 Prioritize the use of nature-based solutions in infrastructure design to help protect and restore California’s coast when developing climate change and sea level rise adaptation approaches.
Success Metric: Develop guidance for Coastal Commission staff and project applicants on evaluating shoreline management adaptation options in light of sea level rise in support of nature-based adaptation strategies and phased adaptation approaches.
Timeframe: 2026
Agency/Agencies: Natural Resources Agency – Coastal Commission
For More Details: Coastal Commission Coastal Management Program 309 Assessment and Strategy; 2021-2025 Coastal Commission Strategic Plan; Coastal Commission Sea-Level Rise Policy Guidance; Sea Level Rise Working Group Joint Statement on Sea-Level Rise Adaptation Planning
Success Metric: Number of permits for Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Areas, wetlands, and marine resources mitigation strategies that deliver climate resilience benefits.
Timeframe: Ongoing
Agency/Agencies: Natural Resources Agency – Coastal Commission
For More Details: Coastal Commission Coastal Management Program 309 Assessment and Strategy; 2021-2025 Coastal Commission Strategic Plan; Coastal Commission Sea-Level Rise Policy Guidance; Sea Level Rise Working Group Joint Statement on Sea-Level Rise Adaptation Planning
Success Metric: Develop and implement nature-based solutions to protect the state’s marine and coastal biodiversity, lands, and waters, while building climate resilience and economic sustainability.
Timeframe: Ongoing
Agency/Agencies: Natural Resources Agency – Department of Fish and Wildlife, Coastal Commission, Ocean Protection Council, State Lands Commission
For More Details: Coastal Commission Coastal Management Program 309 Assessment and Strategy; 2021-2025 Coastal Commission Strategic Plan; Coastal Commission Sea-Level Rise Policy Guidance; Sea Level Rise Working Group Joint Statement on Sea-Level Rise Adaptation Planning
-
Action 4 Encourage investment in upper watersheds to protect water quality and supply.
Success Metric: Support sustainable forest health conditions that protect water quality and supply, improve aquatic habitat, and reduce drought mortality and wildfire risk.
Timeframe: Ongoing
Agency/Agencies: Environmental Protection Agency – State Water Resources Control Board | Natural Resources Agency – Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Department of Conservation, Department of Water Resources, Sierra Nevada Conservancy
For More Details: California Forest Carbon Plan; Sierra Nevada Conservancy Strategic Plan 2024-2029; Regional Forest and Fire Capacity Program
Success Metric: Maintain robust reforestation programs to quickly recover critical watersheds after high-severity wildfire.
Timeframe: Ongoing
Agency/Agencies: Natural Resources Agency - Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Sierra Nevada Conservancy
For More Details: Sierra Nevada Conservancy Watershed Improvement Program; CAL FIRE Reforestation Services Program
-
Action 5 Integrate nature-based solutions into the development of California’s High-Speed Rail system.
Success Metric: Use climate-ready, native, and/or fire-resistant landscaping and compost application.
Timeframe: Annual
Agency/Agencies: State Transportation Agency - High-Speed Rail Authority | Environmental Protection Agency – Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery
For More Details: High-Speed Rail 2021 Climate Adaptation Plan
Success Metric: Number of grants funded, and trees planted through High-Speed Rail’s Urban Forestry Program.
Timeframe: Annual
Agency/Agencies: State Transportation Agency - High-Speed Rail Authority
For More Details: High-Speed Rail 2021 Climate Adaptation Plan
-
Action 6 Utilize nature-based solutions as part of cooling strategies, including through planting trees, expanding greenspace, and restoring urban streams. Increase public awareness of best practices to green urban residential areas.
Success Metric: Develop and implement outreach, education, financial assistance, studies, and technical assistance programs to support local agencies and the public in increasing in building resilience through water-efficient greenspace, compost utilization, climate-ready urban tree planting, and other nature-based solutions.
Timeframe: Ongoing
Agency/Agencies: Natural Resources Agency – Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Department of Water Resources, Wildlife Conservation Board, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy | Environmental Protection Agency – State Water Resources Control Board, Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery | State Transportation Agency – Caltrans, High-Speed Rail Authority
For More Details: Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance; Save Our Water; California compost champions: farmers growing healthy food, fighting climate change