Policy Priorities

Info about 2026 Great Sierra River Cleanup coming soon!

The importance of our lobby day:

Covering nearly 27 million acres with some of the world’s most outstanding natural features, the Sierra Nevada attracts visitors from throughout the country and the world. The region plays a critical role in California’s water system by providing 75% percent of the State water supply. More than 60% of California’s animal species and 50% of its plant species call Sierra home. Of which, 92 animals are identified as species of greatest conservation need and more than 200 species of plants found nowhere else in the world are listed as either rare or threatened. Across the range, there are hundreds of rural towns, communities, and Native American Tribes.

However, these places and towns face unprecedented risks. Wildfires are burning at far higher severity. Forest management choices throughout the last century combined with increased drought and higher temperatures stress overgrown forests. At the same time, many meadows and streams require restoration and protection from further degradation and erosion. These impacts – all of which climate change will exacerbate – will not just be felt by local communities, but by millions of downstream water users throughout the state. 

Despite its ecological and cultural significance, the Sierra Nevada remains historically underrepresented in legislative and agency decisions about allocating funding for natural resource protection and management. Rural communities in the Sierra Nevada are also often under-resourced and underfunded when it comes to climate allocations. As a result, the Sierra Nevada’s communities and infrastructure, as well as the ecosystems on which these local economies depend, face serious threats.

We organize the Sierra Day at the Capitol to amplify our collective voice and increase our influence on decision-makers. By joining us, you will raise awareness of the importance of the Sierra Nevada region to California leaders and advocate for critical funding and policy.

Speakers

Info about 2026 Great Sierra River Cleanup coming soon!

Info about 2026 Great Sierra River Cleanup coming soon!