The Priority Conservation Area Grant Program

Supporting a decade of Bay Area conservation

Priority Conservation Areas

Priority Conservation Areas (PCAs) are regionally significant areas for protection and enhancement. PCAs include natural habitats, farms and ranchlands, recreation areas, urban green spaces, and locations that can help fight the effects of climate change.

PCAs are locally nominated by agencies and jurisdictions like open space districts, cities’ and counties’ parks and recreation departments, and other local entities. PCAs are designated under five categories that recognize the Bay Area’s natural systems, rural economy, and health of all residents: natural lands, agricultural and working lands, urban greening, regional recreation, and climate adaptation.

Examples of the PCA types: natural lands, agricultural lands, urban greening, regional recreation, and climate adaptation.

As of 2024, 185 PCAs have been nominated by local agencies and adopted by the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) around the nine-county region. PCAs are managed by local nominating agencies and jurisdictions and are designated by ABAG. PCA designations are intended to guide and elevate priorities for conservation based on local consensus. PCA designation does not result in any formal changes to land use and land use authority and decisions in these areas remain with the local jurisdictions. After PCA designation, PCA managers are eligible to apply for funding through the PCA Grant Program, which is staffed by the San Francisco Estuary Partnership (SFEP).

PCAs support the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), ABAG, and our partners’ commitment to a healthy and resilient Bay Area. The PCA Program advances regional plans including  Plan Bay Area 2050 ,  California's 30x30 Initiative , and SFEP's  Estuary Blueprint 

Learn more about nominating new   Priority Conservation Areas   or check on the current status of grant opportunities on the   PCA Grants page .

The PCA Grant Program

As of 2023, the PCA Grant Program has awarded more than 30 million dollars for regional conservation through the One Bay Area Grant (OBAG) Program and the California State Coastal Conservancy (SCC).

The PCA Grant Program was initiated in 2013 by MTC in collaboration with SCC to supply funding to cities, counties, park districts, utility districts, non-profits, and other agencies to acquire, enhance, and improve PCAs.

Grant funding supports the protection, restoration, and enhancement of open space and agricultural lands, creation and improvement of pedestrian and bicycle facilities, urban greening projects like city parks and stormwater improvements, and visual enhancements like viewpoints within PCAs.

Examples of PCA Grant projects: restoration and climate adaptation, regional trails, urban greening projects, visual enhancements, and farm to market infrastructure.

PCA Project Spotlight

PCAs demonstrate the region’s highest priority areas for natural habitat and resource protection. In this section, tour some featured projects that showcase the diversity of projects funded through the PCA program. A full set of projects can be found in the "All PCA Grant Projects" map at the bottom of the page.


All PCA Grant Projects

Click on a point to see the details of all 52 PCA Grant Projects.

All Grants Map

Accessible Project Viewer

For increased accessibility, explore the  List of Awarded Projects  on the San Francisco Estuary Partnership website.

Logos for the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, Association of Bay Area Governments, San Francisco Estuary Partnership, and the State Coastal Conservancy.

Learn more about nominating new   Priority Conservation Areas   or check on the current status of grant opportunities on the   PCA Grants page .

For questions regarding the PCA Grant Program, please contact:  Ben Botkin , Priority Conservation Area Grants Manager.

Credit for the creation of this StoryMap goes to Lila Bowen.

Updated January 2025