Sustainable Economic Development Through Natural Resources Protection and Improvement I. TOPIC Sustainable Economic Development II. LOCATION Northern Coastal California III. SUBJECT Sustainable Economic Development Through Natural Resources Protection and Improvement IV. SUMMARY Northern California is highly dependent on its environment for both the products it provides and the employment opportunities in businesses and industries that deal with natural resources. Many people have lost jobs as industries have adjusted to the steadily declining reserves of raw materials, especially in the fishing and lumber industries. In 1982, the Redwood Community Action Agency (RCAA) developed an integrated approach to natural resources management one that would protect and increase existing resources and create year round jobs. Working with private businesses, local, state, and federal agencies, and other non-profit organizations, the RCAA has undertaken projects such as fisheries and wetland habitat restoration, flood hazard reduction on urban streams, water quality improvements, displaced worker training, and community education. Increasingly, the Natural Resources Services Program (NRSP) is involved with community planning, including bicycle transportation and multi-use trails planning. The RCAA is a licensed contractor; thus, it is able to take the lead in many of these projects. In addition to creating 8.5 full-time equivalent jobs and 12 project-by-project jobs, the NRSP will have a long-term spin-off effect by creating jobs in manufacturing, businesses, and tourism. V. SUCCESSFUL PRACTICE Established an approach to sustainable economic development as an integrated program of protecting and improving the region's natural resource base; created a bridge to overcome historical tensions between economic development and environmental protection. VI. CONTACT Stephen Sungnome Madrone Project Director Lloyd Throne Executive Director Redwood Community Action Agency (A Community Action Agency) 904 G Street Eureka, California 95501 707-269-2065 707-445-0884 (FAX) VII. CASE STUDY The Problem: The economy of northern, coastal California is driven by the region's natural resources, especially in the lumber and fishing industries. After Redwood National Park expanded in 1978, timber harvesting regulations in the region changed dramatically. The natural resource base declined significantly, and job opportunities disappeared. Many people lost their jobs as industries downsized in response to dwindling reserves of natural resources. The environment itself was suffering from years of overuse and inadequate restoration measures. The declining health of the natural resources had resulted in a generally weakened economy. The Approach Adopted: The Redwood Community Action Agency (RCAA) took an integrated approach to preserving and tapping the region's natural resources. RCAA saw the forest as more than a source of logs it is also a recreational resource and a source of clean water, fish, and other products. RCAA sought to implement a program of sustainable use that would provide year round jobs in natural resources protection, restoration, development, and use. How They Implemented The Approach: RCAA established a separate Natural Resources Services Program (NRSP) in 1982. The program got its first funding in 1982 from the State Coastal Conservancy, the dispute resolution arm of the State Coastal Commission. The Conservancy gave NRSP $10,000 to conduct a coastal stream restoration inventory. NRSP would identify streams in Humboldt and Del Norte Counties that were candidates for restoration projects. After completing the inventory, NRSP identified the 10 streams in greatest need of restoration. In 1983, the Coastal Conservancy gave NRSP a new grant of $500,000 to undertake all 10 restoration projects. The two-year grant allowed NRSP to fund two full-time positions and 30 part-time positions on the 10 individual projects. This first project served as a springboard to other public-private partnerships, funding sources, and restoration projects. The state Department of Fish and Game, the state Department of Water Resources, and the Coastal Conservancy combined for another $500,000 to pursue salmon restoration and urban stream restoration projects. This second influx of funding allowed the NRSP to buy materials, hire project workers, and undertake many more restoration projects. While the funds made many projects possible, they did not meet all the agency's administrative costs. In 1987, the NRSP project director got his contractor's license. This allowed RCAA to pursue for-profit contracting projects. California law allows non-profits to earn up to 25 percent of their funds through for-profit ventures. These funds are unrestricted and have turned the NRSP into a fully self-sustaining venture. NRSP collaborates with other private contractors in the community to pursue joint efforts, but it is careful not to provide services that would compete with existing, local businesses. For example, NRSP does not provide residential landscaping services. Results: NRSP has pursued restoration projects with the Louisiana Pacific and Georgia Pacific paper companies, Pacific Lumber, and numerous local companies and organizations. The NRSP has also joined the Collaborative Learning Circle, a consortium of 20 non-profit groups in northern California and southern Oregon that work together on natural resource issues and projects, including training programs for displaced timber workers and salmon fishers. NRSP's projects also include streams, fisheries, and wetland habitat restoration; flood hazard reduction on urban streams; water quality improvements; bicycle transportation; and trails planning. NRSP's restoration and protection projects have led to a self-sustaining business venture dedicated to sustainable economic development in an area that relies on its natural resources. NRSP has created 8.5 full-time equivalent jobs and about 12 temporary jobs for each project. And because each project is designed to promote sustainable economic development, the NRSP will have the long-term spin-off effect of creating jobs in manufacturing, businesses, and tourism. NRSP now raises about 30 percent of its funds through for-profit enterprises. Grants from more than a dozen sources account for 70 percent of NRSP's funding. VIII. KEY WORDS Coastal Waterways Community Action Agency Contractors Economic Development Environment Environmental Engineering Environmental Protection Environmental Restoration Fishing Floods Jobs Lumber Natural Resources Salmon Streams Timber Urban Streams