The East Bay Regional Park District secured $400,000 in state funding to restore livestock ponds critical to wildfire-prevention grazing.

The work covers grasslands across 87,000 acres, including Contra Costa County parklands that border Walnut Creek, such as Briones Regional Park, Las Trampas Regional Wilderness and Diablo Foothills Regional Park.

The money was included in the state budget package passed Sept. 1. It fills a gap created by the recent elimination of a federal livestock pond program, according to the district. Assemblywoman Lori D. Wilson of Assembly District 11 and Sen. Jerry McNerney of Senate District 5 each submitted budget requests on behalf of the park district.

Each pond costs about $75,000 to restore. The one-time funding will cover up to five restorations over 12 months.

The district calls grazing the only practical way to maintain safe vegetation levels across its vast parklands. Cattle, goats and sheep eat down dry grass that would otherwise fuel wildfires. The animals need functioning ponds for water, especially in remote areas far from other infrastructure.

The district manages more than 600 ponds across its system.

General Manager Max Korten said the restored ponds "will support prescribed grazing operations vital to vegetation management, wildfire prevention, and safety of East Bay communities."

Wilson said the funding would proactively save costs by preventing the loss of grazing on East Bay rangelands. She cited wildfire risk reduction, improved water quality, soil health and carbon sequestration as benefits of keeping the grazing program running.

McNerney called the district's livestock grazing program a potential model for grasslands management across California. He said he was proud to partner with Wilson to secure the funding.

Board President Olivia Sanwong described joining a stewardship team at Sunol Regional Wilderness for a pond survey, where she spotted California red-legged frogs, the state's official amphibian. The district says restored ponds also recharge groundwater and protect endangered species habitat.

The funding also supports local ranchers who have long partnered with the district to graze livestock on parklands. The district said it hopes to advance state legislation that would streamline permitting for pond restoration and define the role of livestock ponds in wildfire prevention.

No specific timeline for the first restorations has been announced. Residents can learn more about the district's fire-safety and vegetation management programs on its website.