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  Climate Change  |   Forestry  |   Recreation  |   Water  |   Wildlife  |   Other Articles

December 31, 2014

Don't forget to support the Alliance with a tax-deductible contribution before the end of the year!

Sierra Happenings

Events and Activities

Lahontan Water Board is hosting a Climate Change Workshop

Join the Water Board to identify how climate change may affect you and provide your input to prioritize its actions.
Date: January 15, 2015
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Place: Lake Tahoe Community College South Lake Tahoe, CA

Job Announcements & Volunteer Opportunities

SYRCL seeks hundreds of volunteers

To help with the 13th Annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival! You will receive a film ticket in exchange for each volunteer shift you serve, up to two tickets. If you volunteer for two or more shifts, you may purchase an entire weekend Festival Pass for 50% off. Click here to register today.

Tahoe Rim Trail Association: Volunteer & Outreach Manager

Under the general supervision of the Director of Operations, the Volunteer & Outreach Manager (VOM) implements the goals and policies related to the recruitment, training, management and acknowledgement of volunteers for the TRTA.

Resources

Systems Biology Class in Lake Tahoe

January 6 - March 24 2015 Lake Tahoe Community College, South Lake Tahoe, CA. Instructed by Fred Roberts The emphasis of the course will be on all participants co-creating a shared systems perspective in the classroom while also acquiring systems tools to explore and address complex biological (environmental) issues. This course is multidisciplinary and designed for environmental professionals, concerned citizens, and students of all majors. We feel that the success of the class will be directly related to the diversity of backgrounds provided by participants.


Highlights

Sierra Nevada Alliance's 2013-2014 Fiscal Year Annual Report

As Alliance Board and staff designed the new Strategic Plan, the primary goal was to consider the organization’s greatest successes over the past 20 years, with a focus on the last 5 years; then identify opportunities for similar, concentrated programs going forward. Broadly, the Alliance will continue to support its Member Groups and their outstanding work, including providing AmeriCorps Members to build capacity through the Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership (SNAP) Program, while focusing existing conservation programs on the nexus between land use and water management. This report is not an evaluation of our now-ending Strategic Plan, but a framing document for our future work. Each of our continuing and evolving programs is evaluated based on past performance and shaped based on future opportunities. With the continued support from our Member Groups, individual Members, and partner organizations, we look forward to continuing and accelerating our work to protect and restore the Sierra Nevada for future generations.

Thanks for your support this year!





The policy of the Resource is to include articles that appear in local or major media outlets relevant to Sierra conservation. We also include news releases, event notices, funding opportunities and job announcements sent to us from our Member Groups and friends. If you as a reader disagree with the content of a submission we encourage you to submit a letter to the editor of the issuing publication to reach the broader audience who read the article. You are welcome to forward your letter to the editor to the Alliance for inclusion in our new "Letters to the Resource" section. We also invite Letters to the Resource to be directly submitted on any article with which you're concerned.

Newsletter contents prepared by Kelly Miller.
If you have articles, events or announcements that you would like included in this newsletter or if you have feedback, please email kelly@sierranevadaalliance.org.

Recent News

Climate Change

California rangeland loss could worsen climate change
The Sacramento Bee, Edward Ortiz, 12/29/14

Sierra Link: Disappearing rangelands in California and throughout the Sierra over the years will make it difficult for the state to reach it’s greenhouse gas emission goals and may imperil endangered species.

Forestry

Crews Complete Fire Safety-Land Health Project at Eagle Lake
Bureau of Land Management, Jeff Fontana, 12/14

Sierra Link: With this 10 year project coming to a close, wildfire risk to surrounding towns has been minimized and plant diversity improved.

Conservationists, loggers team up on forest health
AP News, Jeff Barnard, 12/26/14

Sierra Link: Oregon is leading by example with loggers and conservationists teaming up to maintain forest health and prevent catastrophic wildfire while keeping both sides of the party happy.

Recreation

Forest Service reworking where you can play in Sierra snow
Reno Gazette-Journal, Benjamin Spillman, 12/23/14

Sierra Link: Motorized vehicles in the Sierra could find themselves facing new regulations in the new year.

Water

Stanford's conservation efforts yield water savings
Stanford Report, Kate Chelsey, 12/17/14

Sierra Link: With the state’s looming water deficit (and 60% of that water coming from the Sierra) Stanford took water conservation matters into their own hands with big results.

U.S. green groups sue EPA over stormwater regulations
Reuters, Ayesha Rascoe, 12/19/14

Sierra Link: The NRDC and EDC are suing the EPA in hopes the agency will strengthen regulations preventing pollution from stormwater runoff. With more development and urban areas springing up in the rural Sierra, stricter regulations could mean less runoff and pollution.

Water Source for Almonds in California May Run Dry
New York Times, Felicity Barringer, 12/27/14

Sierra Link: Without water and snowpack, livelihoods of farmers throughout California would be impacted. What could a change in water rights mean for farmers, industry and Sierra water resources?

Wildlife

Tricolored blackbird gains endangered species protection in California
The Los Angeles Times, Louis Sahagun, 12/4/14

Sierra Link: With dairy farmers in the Central Valley delaying their harvest season to protect tricolored blackbirds, how can Sierra farmers do their part in protecting species?

Steelhead Numbers Alarmingly Low at American River's Nimbus Fish Hatchery
Daily KOS, Dan Bacher, 12/29/14

Sierra Link: Statewide drought is taking it’s toll on fish habitat throughout the Sierra and California.

Other Articles

Native Americans challenge construction of Mojave Desert solar plant
Los Angeles Times, Louis Sahagun, 12/12/14

Sierra Link: With large solar projects popping up throughout California, where will they go and what are the impacts?





Sierra Nevada Alliance

P.O. Box 7989
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96158

phone: 530.542.4546
fax:530.542.4546

www.sierranevadaalliance.org




Since 1993 the Sierra Nevada Alliance has been protecting and restoring Sierra lands, water, wildlife and communities. The regional climate change program shapes and implements county and regional resource plans that promote smart land use, incorporate sustainable water management practices, aggressively reduce greenhouse gases and adapt to climate change.