It works in partnership with other public agencies, nonprofit organizations and private landowners, employing 75 people and overseeing a current annual budget of 53 million dollars.

[3] The Conservancy was created by the legislature as a unique entity with flexible powers to serve as an intermediary among government, citizens, and the private sector in recognition that creative approaches would be needed to preserve California's coastline.

[4] In 2001, the Governor signed Senate Bill 908 directing the Coastal Conservancy to report back to the Legislature on progress made completing the trail.

[7] The goals of this project are to restore large patches of tidal marsh that support a wide variety of fish, wildlife and plants, including special status mammals and water birds – specifically the salt marsh harvest mouse, California clapper rail, and black rail, endangered fish – specifically the delta smelt, Sacramento splittail, steelhead trout and Chinook salmon, and aquatic animals.

[8] Construction of the project is expected to take three years – activities will be restricted to approximately April to November to avoid the rainy season and impact to migrating steelhead.

The IWRP's objectives are to: The Conservancy awarded $4.5 million to the Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County in June 2003 to initiate Phase 1 of the IWRP[9] focused on pre-implementation activities including designs and permits for nearly 100 critical watershed restoration projects in Santa Cruz County[9] including expansion of rural roads, technical assistance programs, comparative lagoon ecological assessment projects, countywide outreach and education program development, watershed education activity and resource guides, and coordination of resources: annual watershed partner forum, reporting, website and technical assistance.

[9] The project is being headed by the state of California and the federal government to restore 15,100 acres (61 km2) of Cargill's former salt ponds in San Francisco Bay.

[11] Cordgrasses are highly aggressive invaders that significantly alter both the physical structure and biological composition of our tidal marshes, mudflats and creeks.

[11] These partners are ultimately responsible for the success of the project through the long-term commitment to monitor and maintain the eradication efforts, and ensure that Spartina is not reintroduced to the system.

Since 2013, the Conservancy has awarded over $4 million in 150 separate grants for programs that bring people to the coast, increase stewardship of coastal resources, and provide educational opportunities.