Altadena Foothills Conservancy Altadena ($3,000)
www.altadenafoothills.org
The Altadena Foothills Conservancy (AFC) was founded in 2000 to preserve open space lands, along with trails and associated historic structures in the Altadena foothills of Los Angeles County. To achieve this goal, the all-volunteer Board protects land through land purchase and easements; educates local residents and trail users about the value of the environment; and restores degraded land to improve the value of the habitat and the watershed. Funds from CWGF supported AFC's mapping project which highlighted existing resources and priorities for land conservation.

California Native Plant Society Berkeley ($4,000)
www.cnps.org
The California Native Plant Society (CNPS) is a statewide nonprofit organization that promotes appreciation and conservation of California's native plants. Funds from CWGF supported CNPS' East Bay Chapter's Priority Protection Project to identify, map, and prioritize sensitive botanical resources in Alameda and Contra Costa counties, enabling CNPS to educate local and regional land managers, land trusts, and governmental agencies on the valuable resources within their jurisdictions.

Community Clean Water Institute Sebastopol ($5,000)
www.ccwi.org
Community Clean Water Institute (CCWI) is dedicated to promoting and protecting clean water and public health in Sonoma County by identifying water pollution, advocating for sound water policies, and providing information to the public. Funds from CWGF supported Community Clean Water Institute's water quality monitoring program. CCWI has over 35 active volunteers testing water at 50 sites throughout Sonoma County.

Friends of Del Norte Crescent City ($5,000)
Friends of Del Norte provides a voice for the county's unique wildlands, waters and wildlife. It works to preserve and protect these resources so that they will not perish and future generations will share in their richness. Funds from CWGF allowed Friends of Del Norte to help pay legal expenses related to a proposed subdivision that would destroy Lake Earl, California's largest coastal lagoon. The wildlands at stake provide habitat for at least 15 threatened species, such as the western snowy plover, the Oregon silverspot butterfly and tidewater goby.

Friends of the Swainson's Hawk Sacramento ($4,000)
www.swainsonshawk.org
Friends of Swainson's Hawk (FOSH) is dedicated to the survival and recovery of the California Sacramento/Central Valley population of Swainson's Hawk and works to promote public awareness of the hawk, its habitat, and its flyway requirements. With its CWGF grant, FOSH was able to hire a strategic planning consultant who helped expand and begin implementing FOSH's strategic plan.

Golden State Flycasters San Diego ($4,750)
www.goldenstateflycasters.org
Golden State Flycasters (GSF) supports the conservation and restoration of fisheries, and also educates the public on the sport and art of fly-fishing. GSF conducts water monitoring in Escondido Creek in North San Diego County. Funds from CWGF were used to conduct a laboratory analysis of macroinvertebrate populations in the area and purchase equipment required for bioassessment sampling.

High Sierra Rural Alliance ($5,000)
www.highsierrarural.org
High Sierra Rural Alliance (HSRA) works to preserve and enhance the rural Sierra experience. HSRA believes that rural values provide a balance between human, economic, and environmental well-being. The CWGF grant allowed HSRA to develop a challenge against Plumas County related to General Plan amendments.

Los Padres ForestWatch Santa Barbara ($4,000)
www.lpfw.org
Los Padres ForestWatch (LPFW) is dedicated to protecting and restoring the Los Padres National Forest and surrounding public lands using science, law, education, and community involvement. Its programs include endangered species and habitats; rivers and watersheds; oil and gas drilling; livestock grazing; off-highway vehicle abuse; and public lands resource extraction. ForestWatch used its grant to protect the Los Padres National Forest from oil drilling in Los Padres National Forest, which would have significant impacts on the California Condor.

MyValleySprings.com ($5,000)
www.myvalleysprings.com
Located in Calaveras County, MyValleySprings.com's mission is to promote responsible growth and development through public participation in community planning in order to preserve the quality of rural life in the greater Valley Springs area. MyValleySprings.com used its CWGF grant to develop a community plan determining Valley Springs' community boundaries.

Rural Quality Coalition Foundation ($3,500)
www.ruralquality.org
Rural Quality Coalition Foundation (RQC) seeks to foster the retention of the rural quality of Nevada County through direct action. RQC serves as the main education and support group on environmental, open space, and land use planning issues in the county, and works to fight sprawl and retain open space throughout the region. With the help of CWGF funding, RQU was able to employ a Land Use Projects Director to focus on community outreach.

Save Round Valley Alliance for Smart Growth Bishop ($3,400)
www.srva.net
Save Round Valley Alliance for Smart Growth (SRVA) is a grassroots organization protecting and enhancing the quality of life in Inyo and Mono counties by encouraging appropriate planning and development that safeguard the natural environment, the regional economy, and the interests of local residents. Funds from CWGF supported SRVA's outreach and communications efforts.

Tolowa Dunes Stewards Crescent City ($4,250)
Tolowa Dunes Stewards is dedicated to stewardship, science, protection and restoration for the unique coastal biodiversity of the Lake Earl lagoon system and Smith River estuary, which includes sacred Tolowa Indian heritage sites, Tolowa Dunes State Park, Lake Earl Wildlife Area and Point St. George. Tolowa Dunes Stewards used the grant from CWGF to support its work to organize statewide and national coalitions and to apply for conservation designation.