Grant Application
Basic Information
Project Title: Agro-Ecological Land Improvement Project on a 1.5 Acre City owned property newly added to the long-term lease held by the licensed non-profit City Farm SLO.
Location (County and Nearest City): San Luis Obispo County, City of San Luis Obispo
Distance to nearest city or census designated place: City of San Luis Obispo, Incorporated Place 68154, Census Tract 113
Located within a priority population: ? Y ?x N [Census tract number]
Project Funding
CFCP Request Amount: $75,000
$ Match Amount: $7500 from City of San Luis Obispo
Status of Match: Confirmed by attached letter
Applicant Information
| Applicant | Central Coast Ag Network dba City Farm SLO |
| Federal Employer ID Number | 20-3447329 |
| Mailing Address | Box 3763 San Luis Obispo CA 93403 |
| Contact Person | Steven Marx |
| Title | Director |
| Phone Number | 805 783 0401 |
| Email Address | [email protected] |
Co-Applicant (complete if applicable)
| Name | City of San Luis Obispo |
| Federal Employer ID Number | 95-6000781 |
| Mailing Address | 990 Palm Street |
| Contact Person | Robert Hill |
| Title | Sustainability & Natural Resources Official |
| Phone Number | 805 781 7211 |
| Email Address | [email protected] |
Property Information
| Property APN(s) | San Luis Obispo County Assessor Parcel Nos. 053-152-006; 053-152-007; 053-152-008; 052-153-009 |
| Current Zoning/ Minimum Parcel Size | City of San Luis Obispo; Conservation / Open Space; No Minimum Parcel Size |
| Total Project Acreage
(Assessor’s Acreage) |
1.5 acres |
| Irrigated Acres | 0 |
| Non-irrigated / Grazing Acres | 1.5 acres |
| Nonagricultural Acres | 0 |
4.Narrative Questions
Project title: Agro-Ecological Land Improvement Project on a 1.5 Acre City owned property newly added to the long-term lease held by the licensed non-profit City Farm SLO
1.4 1.Describe how the proposed project meets one or more of the Land Improvement Program Goals.
Provide a brief description of the project
1.1 This model project integrates innovative Land Improvement and Agricultural activities. It revitalizes alluvial cropland formerly used only as a marginally effective water detention basin, initiates site-appropriate food production, mitigates flood risk, installs water capture infrastructure, reduces soil loss and streambank erosion, enriches diverse native riparian habitat and fosters community engagement with controlled access to educational and open space recreation resources.
The project meets these Land Improvement Goals:
1.4 “The improvement will enhance the agricultural value of land protected by an easement and promote its long-term sustainable agricultural use.”
- The 1.5 acre parcel owned by the City of San Luis Obispo was added to the long term lease of City Farm SLO’s adjacent 21 acres of Calle Joaquin Agricultural Reserve by an act of the City Council in September 2025. According to the City’s Natural Resources Manager, the proposed project aligns with the City’s environmental enhancement, farming, and drainage goals, making it the most logical use for the site.
.2 “The improvement will increase the compatibility of agricultural operations with sensitive natural areas” by
- reducing backup flooding during wet periods that has resulted in topsoil loss and has impacted production of upstream row crops and orchards. It will achieve this through the use of keyline contouring, which promotes water infiltration by creating interconnected swales, berms and recharge basins.(see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keyline_design)
- enlarging the pasture now used by City Farm’s sheep herd, supplying them with rich fodder, and promoting soil health through absorption of manure, surface aeration, and weed control that they supply, in keeping with the regenerative grazing principles employed on their existing adjacent City Farm pasture.
- utilizing the raised berms for tree plantings to add to City Farm SLO’s orchards and their successful perennial production of soil and microclimate-suited varieties of apples and pears and to accommodate long term growth of productive nut trees and newly developed varieties of edible acorns.
- By planting native hedgerows along the border with adjoining car dealerships and providing habitat for pollinators and other beneficial insects and for raptors and mammalian predators that control impacts of gophers, ground squirrels, moles and voles on farmland.
1.3 “The improvement will demonstrate new and innovative best management practices that have the potential for wide application” by
- extending City Farm’s present regenerative agricultural/carbon farming practices of no- and low-till cultivation, extensive compost application, cover-cropping, by using its growing flock of ruminants to clear and maintain borders and control weeds and by initiating several agro-ecological management methods pioneered by the project collaborators, in particular Jesse Trace at Traceland Farm documented in the 2025 Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Report, (https://projects.sare.org/sare_project/fw22-401/)
“The proposed improvement includes the financial and technical involvement of other agencies,”
- if the preapplication is approved, including the City of San Luis Obispo’s Natural Resources Protection Program, the Coastal San Luis Resource Conservation District, the California Conservation Corps, and the United States Natural Resources Conservation Service
1.3 “The improvement is a crucial part of a coordinated watershed management plan”
- including the San Luis Obispo Creek Watershed Enhancement Plan (2001) and the City of San Luis Obispo’s Waterway Management Plan (2003). City Farm SLO is located along Prefumo Creek, which drains an 8,110-acre sub-watershed above the project site. Although the lower reaches of Prefumo Creek have been altered and manipulated over the years, it nonetheless supports perennial streamflow and supports the federally-threatened steelhead trout, diverse bird species and other aquatic and terrestrial wildlife. Prefumo Creek also has flooding history that has resulted in significant damages and property loss. The project site directly overlies the San Luis Obispo Valley Groundwater Basin and the project features that would result in increased water infiltration and groundwater recharge would be beneficial to basin management in the context of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA).
1.2 “Describe how the proposal will result in public benefits that address the most critical statewide needs and priorities for statewide funding”.
- City Farm practices multiple methods of carbon sequestration. Its public visibility and commitment to conservation and regenerative agriculture makes it a model and case study for practice implementation.
- The site would provide a demonstration project for groundwater recharge on marginal farmland. This supports the goals of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) to reduce water use in high priority groundwater basins. It would also be a pilot project in the SLO Basin for the Multi Benefit Land Repurposing Program (MLRP) as the site still provides useful benefits like grazing, and wildlife / pollinator habitat. Both programs are funded by the state and would eventually be supported in full or in part by the groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) according to SGMA.
- Carbon sequestration activities are included in the City of San Luis Obispo’s Climate Action Plan for Community Recovery (2020) as part of the Natural Solutions pillar and overall goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2035.
- City Farm has had soil samples analyzed by professional labs indicating that on its plots it has increased soil organic matter from 2.96% in 2016 to 18.12% in 2021 using heavy compost application and reduced tillage techniques.
- City Farm offers opportunities for education about conservation, particularly in creek and riparian areas through existing agricultural and environmental education programs.
- The proposed project includes elements identified in a Carbon Farm Plan prepared by the Coastal San Luis Resources Conservation District (2022), including riparian restoration and hedgerow plantings
Explain how the proposal will,
- 4 improve a community’s ability to adapt to the unavoidable impacts of climate change,
- 5 By adding substantial quantities of water during heavy rainfall periods to recharge the groundwater aquifer drawn upon by City Farm’s well, rather than letting it run off to the ocean, by using tested keyline techniques, and by improving the quality of land and soil resources.
- 2 By supplementing ongoing agricultural production with new grazing and perennial and tree cropland, the project will contribute to City Farm SLO’s strengthening of the local food system through its Farmer Cooperative’s access to markets and by strengthening access to local organically grown produce by local residents and School District Food Services, by reducing food miles, by addressing food desert conditions, and by adding to the Food Bank’s sources of fresh produce
- b) improve and protect
- 3 coastal or rural economies By support of four subtenant, independent farm businesses that produce 105,000 lbs. of produce for sale per year, generating $138,000 revenue per year and employing five people onsite per year. City Farm SLO’s subtenants include beginning farmers and are of mixed racial background and gender. City Farm’s non-profit educational farm operation produces 10,000 lbs. of produce per year, generating revenue of $20,000 per year and employing two full-time and three part-time employees and by utilization of the California Conservation Corps
- 3 agricultural viability By increasing and diversifying agriculturally productive acreage to include perennial and tree crops, and experimenting with varieties of oaks with long term high-value yields
- 3 wildlife corridors, or habitat, By extending the CFCP’s funded 2023-2025 Prefumo Creek Restoration and Enhancement Project 1000 feet downstream and further promoting aquatic and terrestrial wildlife access and use (see see https://prefumocreekproject.org)
- c) develop future recreational opportunities,
- By extending controlled public access to Prefumo Creek along a natural surface walking path for education and interpretive learning opportunities and by promoting passive recreation and appreciation of the City’s Agricultural Reserve in an area located near new residential neighborhoods within the San Luis Ranch development. This amenity will help demonstrate how active agriculture and healthy riparian ecosystems can complement one another.
5 d) enhance drought tolerance, landscape resilience, and water retention.
- By planting drought-tolerant perennial crops and shade-providing fruit and nut trees for future harvests, by employing regenerative cultivation methods that that emphasize the diversity and functions of natural ecosystems as well as soil health elements such as mulch application, reintroduction of mycorrhizal mycelium, and evaluation of soil minerals, and by maximizing aquifer recharge and reducing runoff during times of seasonal precipitation.
1.4 2. Describe how the project satisfies one or more of the Land Improvement Eligibility Criteria. Include quotes from staff evaluation of preproposal
Staff comments on Eligibility in response to Preproposal (11/5/25)
- “Verified that documentation of Organizational Eligibility is on file with the Department.
- The proposed project would appear to meet multiple Land Improvement Goals, including project enhances the agricultural viability of the property by reducing erosion and invasives while recontouring the area will promote groundwater
- The project would reduce negative impacts to the watershed in the form of flooding, erosion, and upstream impacts. The project would also facilitate groundwater recharge, landscape resilience, and increase the potential for community engagement with the site.
- A prior MND completed for the City of SLO Agricultural Master Plan was provided. If this application is covered under the scope of that MND, no concern would be identified. If additional CEQA review will be required for this project, this should be provided at the time of application for CFCP grant.”
2 3. Describe how the proposed project will benefit the protected land and enhance the sustainability of the long-term agricultural uses
- Preventing compaction of arable land and soil loss by directing accumulating water into designated drainage swales and recharge basins
- Improving fertility and soil health with regenerative grazing
- Eliminating fire hazards created by senescing biomass of non-native vegetation
- Enhancing riparian habitat
- Improving the migration corridor for wildlife navigating through the urban environment
- Increasing safety and security through activation of the site and taking an “eyes on the prize” management approach and by construction of fencing, lockable gates and signage to reduce instances of crop pilferage and theft of farmers’ tools and equipment
3 4. Describe how the project will serve or benefit a severely disadvantaged community, disadvantaged community, and/or socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher.
- City Farm SLO’s subtenants include beginning farmers and are of mixed racial background and gender. City Farm’s non-profit educational farm operation produces 10,000 lbs. of produce per year, generating revenue of $20,000 per year and employing two full-time and three part-time employees and by utilization of the California Conservation Corps
- As a demonstration/pilot program, the project will help educate such communities about the value of support of agro-ecological practices, as did recent work by one of the program’s principals funded by The Underrepresented Communities Technical Assistance program (URCTA).
- Under preliminary consideration is a plan to incorporate a small community garden on the parcel reserved for the use of future formerly homeless residents at Beacon Studios, a project of People’s Self-Help-Housing located close by.
6. 5. Describe the project team’s qualifications, experience, and capacity to perform the proposed tasks.
Applicant Steven Marx
- Retired Professor of English and Environmental Studies (1988-2012), Founder and manager of the Cal Poly Land Project, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
- Present Board Member, City Farm San Luis Obispo, former Board Chair and Executive Director
- Manager of Prefumo Creek Restoration and Enhancement Project, 2023-2025, Funded by CFCP
Co-applicant, Robert Hill
Project Consultant, Jesse Trace
- Hydrologist, Co Owner and Manager of Traceland Farm Project, documented in the 2025 Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Report, (https://projects.sare.org/sare_project/fw22-401/
5, 7 6. Describe how the investment will be durable and extend beyond the completion of the project.
- By providing permanent flood and erosion control, water conservation, aquifer recharge, pasturage, perennial crop and orchard, native hedgerows, access control
- 8.Describe the plan for monitoring, reporting, assessing, and reporting on project milestones. [copied from 2023 application]
City Farm SLO is committed to project success and takes seriously the need to demonstrate accountability and adherence to grant funding requirements. Quarterly monitoring reporting is proposed for the project and will include both quantitative and qualitative performance tracking. From a quantitative perspective, reporting will include budget tracking and percentage of project completion with notes on activities completed during the prior quarter (for example, number ofplants or length of trail installed). From a qualitative perspective, reporting will include bothphotographic evidence and anecdotal evidence of project implementation and success, such asquotes or testimonials from volunteers, interns, or members of the public. Lastly, reporting willnote lessons learned in order to inform broader knowledge of “what works and what doesn’t” forprojects such as the one proposed.
10 8.Describe the community and stakeholder support for the proposed project. . [copied from 2023 application]
The San Luis Obispo community has long supported conserving open space, including working agricultural lands. The city has a robust open space preservation program and the 70-acre Calle Joaquin Agricultural Reserve where this project will take place is part of this commitment to conservation. The San Luis Ranch housing development adjacent to City Farm has also set aside land for agricultural production and will be creating an Ag Heritage Center. A network of pedestrian and bicycle paths will connect these areas and bring increased public engagementwith City Farm SLO.
The community has a strong commitment to climate action, as evidenced by the City’s adopted Climate Action Plan. The plan calls for creek restoration projects, such as the subject Prefumo Creek project, in furtherance of carbon sequestration efforts through land management practices(see Pillar 6: Natural Solutions). City Farm SLO has strong support from the community and its work has grown dramatically since 2013 through grants and partnerships with the County Health Department, the San Luis Coastal Unified School District, the SLO Food Bank, the CommunityFoundation, and Cal Poly University. The City of San Luis Obispo and Creek LandsConservation have a strong ongoing partnership to support watershed health and are eager to partner with City Farm SLO to protect this sensitive natural area and the Farm’s agricultural operations.