Campaign Updates
Here are just a few of the projects the Climate Change Program is working on as part of our effort to maintain and improve the health of our beautiful "Range of Light."
Alliance Takes On Ski Area Report Card
For the last eight years, the Alliance has helped produce and popularize the Ski Area Environmental Report Card. Unfortunately, Rocky Mountain Wild (a merger of Center for Native Ecosystems and Colorado Wild), which led the report card efforts these many years, will no longer be able to devote staff time to the annual effort. As a result, the Alliance’s Climate Change Program was asked if we would be willing to take over the project for the 2012/13 season and be the permanent lead on the Ski Area Report Card going forward. We agreed and now have our amazing intern, Anna, going full-steam ahead on the project.
The Ski Area Environmental Scorecard grades western U.S. ski resorts on their environmental policies and practices. The grades of the scorecard are based on a point system of individual criterion. The criterion is grouped together into four categories: Habitat Protection, Protecting Watersheds, Addressing Global Climate Change, and Environmental Practices and Polices, which then form an overall grade of A-D.
This is a big undertaking, and we expect to release the Report Card later than usual this year, but in time for the big skiing weekend around President’s Day. Check out the 2011 report card here and stay tuned for the 2012 Report Card (confusingly released in 2013 this year)!
Plumas General Plan Into the Home Stretch
By Craig Breon
Regional Climate Change Program Director, Sierra Nevada Alliance
It seems absurd that it can take more than five years to develop a 20-year growth plan, but that is now common. Plumas County started their latest General Plan Update (GPU) in 2006, and it appears we will see final approval in the spring of 2013. From most accounts, it seems to have been worth the wait.
In terms of on-the-ground results, Plumas has moved towards focusing future development into existing developed areas, such as in and near Quincy or around Lake Almanor. This decision has been driven largely by the high cost of providing services to far-flung subdivisions as well as the increasing risk of forest fire associated with the intrusion of development into the forests. The proposed Plumas standards for future subdivisions—which depend significantly on the availability of services—may make a good model for other Sierra communities to consider.
Plumas also gets credit for creating a sound public process for the GPU—not just the required window-dressing, but actually taking citizen input seriously. As a result, a recent Plumas Planning Commission workshop on the Environmental Impact Report for the GPU went smoothly, with citizens speaking from diverse perspectives but nearly all supporting the general thrust of the plan.
While projected population growth for Plumas County is modest, there’s still potential for more than 30,000 developable lots in the County—much of which would be second homes for vacationers. Thus, while the GPU may provide a good structure, there are still considerable risks to the counties natural resources and community character. The Alliance continues to work with our local Member Groups and others to improve the GPU as it moves towards completion. For more information, see the Plumas General Plan web page here .
Resources
The Sierra Nevada Alliance is seeking an Intern
The Wild and Scenic Film Festival On Tour combines award winning environmental and adventure films with the energy and local activism. The Sierra Nevada Alliance is excited to host this inspiring event, and we are looking for an energetic and dynamic intern to help make the 8th Annual our most successful Film Festival yet! We are seeking a talented and hardworking intern to provide a wide range of special event organizing support to help achieve this goal. The Film Festival intern’s primary responsibility will be to assist in planning, coordinating and implementing the 8th Annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival On Tour held on March 8, 2013 in South Lake Tahoe, California. We hope Film Festival Attendees will be inspired to take further action regarding issues that impact our environment, ourselves and our world!
Contact: Lynn by email or call (530)542-4546 ext 305
Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership Seeking Applications to host AmeriCorps Members from April to September 2013
The Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership (SNAP), a program of the Sierra Nevada Alliance, invites Sierra Nevada conservation organizations and agencies to apply to become a Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership Host Site for a new upcoming 2013 half-term placement program. AmeriCorps member(s) serve 6 months at the organization/agency from April 8th, 2013 – September 28, 2013, conducting projects the host site needs completed that are related to, watershed restoration and assessment, watershed education projects, and volunteer recruitment and support.
For more information contact: Mike Thornton by email or call 530-542-4546 ext. 312
Deadline: Jan. 17, 2013
Click here to read more and download the 2013 SNAP Host Site RFA.
Position Opening: Air Pollution Specialist, California Air Resources Board
Description: Qualified Air Resources Engineer candidates are encouraged to apply. This position will primarily focus on criteria pollutant and greenhouse gas issues in the Southern California region, in addition to operating as part of the overall team working with a wide variety of public stakeholders, local, regional, and state agencies to develop and implement plans, programs, and projects that will help California protect public health through air quality and transportation plans that result in more sustainable communities.
Application Requirements: Completed standard State application (STD 678), one page cover letter, and any other relevant documents (e.g. unofficial transcript, copy of degrees, resume, etc.)
Location: Sacramento or El Monte, CA
Contact Information: Jennifer O'Hara, 916-322-0285 or email johara@arb.ca.gov
Click here for more information.
Position Opening: Program and Communications Manager, Ubuntu Green
Description: The Program Manager will oversee the organizations programmatic and communications work. This will include UG’s Green Youth Leadership Team (G-Squad), a team of youth that work in the community to maintain a community garden and promote environmental stewardship and healthy eating and living; the Home and Community Garden Project, which promotes community engagement through building home and community-based gardens; the 350 Edible Garden Campaign, which is promoting the building of 350 home, school and community gardens in the Sacramento-region and volunteer engagement coordination.
Location: Sacramento, CA
Start Date:Jan. 28, 2013
Contact Information:
Send resume to hr@ubuntugreen.org. No phone calls please.
Click here for more information.
Position Opening: Public Land Manager II (PLM II), California Tahoe Conservancy
Description: The PLM II position is assigned to manage the activities of multiple Conservancy programs and supervise staff from among the following program areas: Land Acquisition, Land Coverage, Forest Habitat Enhancement, Special Uses, and Resource and Urban Land Management. In addition, the position will be involved in internal and external policy, coordination and liaison activities.
Location: South Lake Tahoe, CA
Contact Information:
Penny Stewart (530) 543-6013
Click here for more information.
Regional Ecologist, Central Valey & Mountains Region, The Nature Conservancy (California)
Description: The Regional Ecologist provides technical and scientific support and leadership for projects and initiatives of The Nature Conservancy in the Great Central Valley and Mountain Region of California, with emphasis on the Sierra Nevada ecosystem and associated watersheds. The Regional Ecologist leads and supports conservation planning, prioritization, and monitoring projects, and supports implementation of land protection, threat abatement, and restoration strategies. S/he independently identifies conservation issues, and applies the scientific approach to address those issues. S/he develops and leverages a network of external scientific colleagues, collaborators, and partners to deliver information needed to advance the Conservancy’s conservation objectives. S/he conducts field surveys and assessments, manages data, writes project reports and proposals, and coordinates fieldwork and logistical support for research. S/he develops adaptive management plans and conceptual models, and participates on multidisciplinary teams to develop cutting-edge ecosystem conservation strategies.
Location: Sacramento, CA
Click here for more information and to apply.
Comic of the Month
Newsletter contents prepared by Anna Olsen.
If you have articles, events or announcements that you would like included in this newsletter or if you have feedback, please email anna@sierranevadaalliance.org.
