The Conservancy awaits final decision on restoration management permit 

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has confirmed that the Catalina Island Conservancy’s habitat restoration submission has met the criteria for Statutory Exemption for Restoration Projects (SERP). The determination confirms that key environmental requirements have been met.  

The Conservancy is now awaiting a final decision on its restoration management permit application, which would authorize long-planned work to restore native habitats, protect freshwater resources and reduce the risk of more frequent wildfires. 

“This first step toward island restoration confirms the strength of the environmental review behind this work,” said Lauren Dennhardt, senior director of conservation for the Catalina Island Conservancy. “We are looking forward to the state’s final decision on the restoration management permit so we can advance strategies that have successfully restored native ecosystems on other Channel Islands.” 

If approved, the restoration management permit would support Operation Protect Catalina Island the Conservancy’s multi-decade restoration plan that combines habitat restoration, conservation initiatives and wildfire prevention under one coordinated effort. Goals for the plan include: 

• Healthy Land and Water: Restoring soil and water systems to recharge groundwater, testing native planting methods, treating invasive grasses and monitoring recovery across the Island. 

• Bring Back Native Plants: Collecting wild seeds from Catalina’s native plants, farming them to expand supply, and planting them across the Island using methods timed with seasonal rains to restore fire-resistant vegetation at landscape scale. 

• Balance for Native Species: Restoring ecosystem balance by controlling invasive plants and removing invasive mule deer. Recovery will be monitored through tracking the Island fox, native birds, rare mammals such as the Catalina shrew, reptiles, amphibians and pollinators across the Island. 

This milestone follows years of collaborative planning, scientific review and public engagement, including 63 letters of support from community members, conservation partners and stakeholders, including the Gabrieleno-Tongva Tribal Community. 

For more information and key details visit catalinaconservancy.org/protect 

Relevant Links 

• Operation Protect Catalina Island 

• Catalina Fire Danger Levels 

• Be Fire Free For Fox Sake 

• Native Plants and Wildfire

 

About the Catalina Island Conservancy 
Founded in 1972, the Catalina Island Conservancy is one of California’s oldest private land trusts. It protects 88% of Catalina Island’s approximately 48,000 acres, including more than 62 miles of rugged shoreline and diverse wildlands. The Conservancy provides a balance of conservation, education and responsible recreation by protecting rare ecosystems, offering outdoor learning experiences as L.A. County’s largest outdoor classroom and maintaining nearly 165 miles of trails. The Conservancy invites visitors to experience the Island’s wildlands firsthand, whether hiking, biking, camping or joining a naturalist-led Conservancy Eco Tour. The Island is home to more than 60 species found nowhere else on Earth, including the iconic Catalina Island fox.