CLIMATE RESILIENT COMMUNITIES IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Communities in Los Angeles and Ventura County are already experiencing the impacts of a changing climate. Floods, extreme heat, and devastating wildfires like the 2017 Thomas Fire are becoming more common, threatening these regions and disproportionately impacting communities in need of environmental or climate justice, which often lack the adaptive capacity and resources to plan for climate hazards. There is a need to plan for and adapt to these impacts, and for adaptation measures to be equitable and be made collaboratively with community leadership, and that they are rooted in
science.

REDUCING FIRE RISK

To support and build local capacity, Coastal Quest is partnering with communities and local agencies to reduce fire risk, better understand post-fire water quality, and increase climate resiliency for both people and nature. To date, we have partnered with Ventura County Resource Conservation District to apply for fire prevention funds to support a regional wildfire collaborative that will help educate and reduce the risk of wildland fires and California Wildfire Conference. We are assisting stakeholders to establish a governance structure to remove the fire-prone invasive weed, Arundo donax, resulting in local workforce development, increased water quality, more durable restoration sites, and increased fire
resilience.

BUILDING LOCAL CAPACITY FOR CLIMATE ACTION

Though Ventura County has many initiatives and collaboratives that advance actions to protect communities from climate change, many cities, communities, community-based organizations (CBOs) and leaders are left out of these processes because they lack the resources to engage. Coastal Quest is working with partners in the County to test scalable models that allow community voices and leadership to drive climate resilience action and planning. Through technical assistance, grant
writing, and small grant programs, we are working with cities and communities in Ventura County to support advancing early-stage resilience initiatives from local leaders and CBOs. We want to support communities in reaching their climate goals, strengthening regionwide efforts to support and ensure inclusive, equitable climate resilience planning and adaptation solutions for people and nature.

Applications to our Ventura County Climate Resilience Small Grants Program opened April 11, 2023,
and CLOSED May 12, 2023. Click the button below to learn more.