Priority Conservation Area Program
2025 Nomination Cycle
1 2025 Priority Conservation Areas Nomination
Process
What is a PCA?
Priority Conservation Areas (PCAs) are designated geographic areas nominated by local jurisdictions and recognized by the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) to support regional conservation, resilience, and sustainability goals.
The PCA designation process creates a map of areas that have the potential for conservation, enhancement, restoration and public access. Specific projects within designated PCAs may be eligible for future funding from the PCA Grant Program, which helps local governments, park districts, utility districts and other agencies protect or enhance properties designated as PCAs.
PCAs are defined by two elements: (1) a mapped polygon geography, and (2) a designation as one or more of the five PCA types (Figure 1).
Figure 1: PCA Types
* Climate Adaptation PCAs cannot stand alone; they must be nominated as one additional PCA type too.
What is new about PCAs?
In May 2024, the ABAG Executive Board approved reforms to the PCA planning framework, marking the first substantial changes since its creation in 2007. The two-year PCA Refresh culminated in a Final Report, which introduced new minimum data criteria to improve regional cohesion across PCA geographies.
Who can nominate a PCA?
Only local government entities with local land use authority, including cities, towns, counties, park districts, open space agencies, and water districts, can nominate PCAs. Collaboration with community members, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other partners is encouraged. Nongovernmental organizations cannot nominate PCAs. Instead, they should engage with local jurisdictions.
Process and timeline to nominate and amend PCAs
New PCA Nominations
With the PCA Refresh and a portion of existing PCA amendments completed, ABAG is now accepting new PCA nominations. Newly designated PCAs will be eligible for 2025 PCA Grant funding.
Natural Lands Working
Lands
Urban
Greening
Recreation Climate
Adaptation*
Priority Conservation Area Program
2025 Nomination Cycle
2 The call for new PCA nominations will occur during spring 2025. All nominations or amendments must be submitted by May 2, 2025.
Figure 2: Timeline and Process to Nominate New PCAs.
Existing PCA Amendments
In 2024, many of the 185 PCAs were amended to meet the new criteria, but some still need revisions.
Jurisdictions that have not yet amended existing PCAs may do so during the first nomination window, through May 2, 2025. These jurisdictions will receive an email from ABAG to direct the jurisdiction on the amendment actions needed. ABAG staff will review the amendments to ensure eligibility criteria are met before requesting a final approval from the jurisdiction which can be completed with a director-level or higher signature.
For more information on which PCAs have been amended or need amendments, see amended PCAs, jurisdictions with amendments needed, and the list of PCAs with amendments needed.
Resources to support the PCA nomination process
• Nomination Briefer Part 2: Nomination Considerations
• 2025 PCA Nomination Cycle Webinar (Register here): In addition to the following resources, join us for a webinar, which will include an overview of the PCA nomination process, a walkthrough of the submission tool, and a Live Q&A session.
• Online Map Viewer: Use the PCA GIS Nomination Tool to submit a PCA nomination for review. Use the tool to explore relevant layers, draw PCA boundaries, and submit relevant information. • Case Studies: Learn about strategically nominated PCAs and successful PCA grant applications. • Template Presentation for Jurisdictions: Generic background slides on PCAs and the nomination process, suitable for internal or external presentations.
• Template PCA Nomination Summary Memo for Jurisdictions: A template combining elements of previously used summary memos, which jurisdictions can customize as needed. • Template PCA Nomination Resolution for Jurisdictions: A template based on past resolutions, which can be adapted by local jurisdictions.
Staff Support: Jurisdictions can email Kate Lyons or schedule a 30-minute appointment to discuss nomination or amendment approaches.
Priority Conservation Area Program
2025 Nomination Cycle
1 PCA Nomination Considerations: Eligibility
Criteria and Prioritizing Nominations
PCA Eligibility Criteria
Priority Conservation Areas (PCAs) nominations and amendments must meet the location-based criteria outlined in the table below, which vary by PCA type. Use the PCA GIS Nomination Tool to submit PCA boundaries and provide supporting details for review. ABAG/MTC staff will assist throughout the nomination window, helping jurisdictions confirm compliance and offering guidance to address any gaps.
In addition to the criteria outlined in the table below, PCA nominations cannot overlap with existing PCAs. If there is a strong desire for a new PCA to cover an area with an existing PCA, the existing PCA must be amended so there is no overlap.
Please note that jurisdictions submitting PCA nominations encompassing more than 50% of their total jurisdiction’s area are required to provide a written justification explaining the rationale for proposing such a large Priority Conservation Area.
Visit MTC’S GIS data catalog to review city limits and urban growth boundaries which are mapping layers that inform eligibility. For information on how eligibility maps were developed for each PCA type, visit the PCA Refresh GitHub methodology website.
Table 1: Geographic Requirements by PCA Type
PCA Type Location Requirement Coverage
Requirement Additional Notes
Natural Land 100% outside city limits or
urban growth boundaries
75% coverage
with eligibility map
Along the bay shoreline, some special
habitats inside city limits are eligible if
100% coverage with the eligibility map
is met.
Working
Land
100% outside city limits or
urban growth boundaries
75% coverage
with eligibility map
Urban
Greening
100% inside city limits or
urban growth boundaries
75% coverage
with eligibility map
Recreation
Can exist inside or outside
city limits or urban growth
boundaries
75% coverage
with eligibility map
Climate
Adaptation
Can exist inside or outside
city limits or urban growth
boundaries
75% coverage
with eligibility map
Must also be nominated as another
PCA type; cannot exist alone.
2 Considerations for Prioritizing Nominations
Most of the Bay Area meets the eligibility criteria for PCA designation – this was a feature of the PCA Refresh, ensuring local flexibility to nominate most areas. This section offers suggested approaches for prioritizing PCA nominations. Relevant mapping layers are available on the Online Map Viewer.
1. Local Needs and Priorities
• Focus on Equity Priority Communities (EPCs): Prioritize new PCAs in or near EPCs to address social and environmental inequities. Remember to check PCA type and eligibility when nominating areas inside city limits or urban growth boundaries.
• Engage the Community: Leverage past or new community, stakeholder, or CBO engagement to identify areas that reflect community values and needs. • Advance Local Plans: Review existing plans and policies to connect PCA nominations to local conservation and development objectives.
2. Highest-Value Conservation Areas
• Identify the Highest Value and Opportunity Locations: Broad eligibility criteria allow flexibility for local nominations, but nominating all eligible areas can defuse the focus of PCAs. Instead, use data or local knowledge to target areas with the highest conservation value or highest opportunity.
3. Regional Significance
• Review Regionally Identified Priorities. ABAG created Regionally Identified Priorities, or "Regionally Identified PCAs," during the PCA Refresh process to pinpoint lands with regional connectivity or significance for each PCA type. These areas serve the same planning and policy purposes as Locally Nominated PCAs but do not qualify for grant funding unless they are also locally nominated (learn more about Regionally Identified PCAs in the PCA Refresh Final Report, page 16). While Regionally Identified PCAs can help guide the nomination of new PCAs, their absence does not preclude an area from being nominated. View Regionally Identified PCAs in the Online Map Viewer to strategically align local nominations with regional goals. Jurisdictions are encouraged to nominate Regionally Identified PCAs when in agreement with local priorities.
4. Multi-Benefit Opportunities
• Consider Areas that Advance Multiple Goals: Many locations meet criteria for multiple PCA types (e.g. a local stream may be a critical habitat, trail gap, park desert, and flood risk area). Prioritize areas that achieve multiple PCA conservation goals to maximize co-benefits like biodiversity, climate resilience, recreation, community health, and equity.
• Enhance Connectivity: Support nominations that link regionally significant habitat corridors and recreation networks.
Priority Conservation Area Program
2025 Nomination Cycle
Priority Conservation Area Types: Definition, Objectives, Datasets and Benefits Natural Lands (NL)
Areas critical to the functioning of wildlife and plant habitats, aquatic ecosystems and the region’s water supply and quality.
• Natural Lands Objective 1 – Protect a full representation of the Bay Area’s habitats in robust amounts to ensure long-term resilience of the region’s biodiversity. o Datasets: Essential Lands (CLN 2.0), Resilience Sites (TNC), Areas of Conservation Emphasis (CDFW).
• Natural Lands Objective 2 – Enhance watersheds including priority stream corridors, wetlands, and groundwater recharge areas.
o Datasets: Stream Conservation Targets (CLN 2.0), Soil Agricultural Groundwater Banking Index (UC Davis), Marsh Suitability/Polder Management/Tidal Marsh (SFEI), Fish Passage Assessment Database (Caltrans).
• Natural Lands Objective 3 – Maintain and enhance wildlife corridors and habitat connectivity. o Datasets: Bay Area Critical Linkages (CLN 2.0), Wildlife Movement Barrier Priorities (CDFW).
Primary benefits
• Terrestrial & aquatic ecosystem health
• Water supply and quality
• Habitat connectivity
• Equity – stewardship diversity
Co-benefits
• Carbon sequestration
• Recreation
• Climate resilience
• Compact growth
Agricultural/Working Lands (WL)
Farmland, grazing land and timberland that support the region’s agricultural economy and provide additional benefits such as habitat protection and carbon capture. • Agricultural/Working Land Objective 1 – Protect important farmland, grazing land, and timber land to support the Bay Area agricultural economy and access to locally- and community-grown food. o Datasets: Farmland (FMMP), Grazing Lands (FMMP)
• Agricultural/Working Land Objective 2 - Maintain areas of high carbon stock and enhance low-carbon stock areas with multi-benefit management to support carbon sequestration. o Dataset: Existing Carbon Stock (Greenprint)
Primary benefits
• Agricultural resources and economy
• Carbon sequestration
• Equity – farmworker housing
• Equity – land ownership diversity
Co-benefits
• Wildlife habitat
• Water supply and quality
• Climate resilience
• Compact growth
Urban Greening (UG)
Existing and potential green spaces in cities that improve community health, capture carbon emissions, address stormwater, and enhance the public realm.
• Urban Greening Objective 1 – Expand tree cover in urban areas with limited shade and vegetation. o Dataset: Tree Canopy (NLCD, 2021)
• Urban Greening Objective 2 – Expand green stormwater infrastructure projects particularly in areas with low surface permeability or other stormwater management issues in urban areas. o Dataset: Impervious Surface (NLCD, 2021)
• Urban Greening Objective 3 – Enhance urban creeks to provide improved ecological, recreational, and resilience functions.
o Dataset: Stream Conservation Targets (CLN 2.0)
• Urban Greening Objective 4 – Prioritize urban greening areas within 1/2-mile radius of Equity Priority Communities and/or areas with high pollution burden.
o Datasets: Equity Priority Communities (MTC), CalEnviroScreen 4.0 (OEHHA) Primary benefits
• Community health
• Climate resilience
• Urban riparian corridors
• Equity – community nature benefits
Co-benefits
• Wildlife habitat
• Water quality
• Recreation
• Urban agriculture
Recreation (R)
Existing and potential parks, trails, and other publicly accessible recreation facilities that support community wellbeing.
• Recreation Objective 1 - Complete and enhance access to the Regional Trails Network. o Dataset: Regional Trail Network (BATC)
• Recreation Objective 2 - Create new and enhance existing local parks, particularly in areas with limited access to outdoor recreation.
o Datasets: Areas of High Park Need (TPL Park Serve), Park Deserts (WRT) • Recreation Objective 3 - Prioritize recreation areas within 1/2 mile radius of EPC. o Dataset: Equity Priority Communities (MTC)
Primary benefits
• Recreation
• Community health
• Zero-emission travel
• Equity – community nature benefits
Co-benefits
• Wildlife habitat
• Water quality
• Climate resilience
• Connectivity
Climate Adaptation (CA)
Areas that will accommodate habitat range shifts and will buffer climate impacts to enhance ecosystem and community resilience.
• Climate Adaptation Objective 1 – Enhance and prepare areas that provide habitat migration opportunities, particularly for marsh and other shoreline systems when sea levels rise, and extreme precipitation events become more frequent.
o Datasets: 100-Year Flood Zone (FEMA), Sea Level Rise - 4.9' (MTC/BCDC, built from USGS & DSC) • Climate Adaptation Objective 2 - Manage very high fire risk to reduce the intensity and spread potential for future wildfires.
o Dataset: Fire Hazard Severity Zone (CALFIRE)
• Climate Adaptation Objective 3 - Enhance areas that provide cooling experiences in areas experiencing extreme heat.
o Datasets: Extreme Heat (CalAdapt), Urban Heat Island Effect (Greenprint/UC Berkeley) Primary benefits
• Climate resilience
• Community health
• Habitat migration
• Equity – community benefits
Co-benefits
• Wildlife habitat
• Carbon sequestration
• Water quality
• Recreation