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April 19, 2017

Sierra Happenings

Events and Activities

March for Science and Earth Day - Squaw Valley and Truckee

Please join us as we March for Science at the Tahoe-Truckee Earth Day Festival in Squaw Valley! There will be hands-on science activities, climate change short films, and a collective March for Science.

Date & Time: April 22 at the Village in Squaw Valley, 11am-5pm
Volunteer: We are looking for volunteers. Please email Heather Segale if you would like to help!

Please click here for more information!


SYRCL: Earth Day Cleanup at Pioneer Park

Get outside for Earth Day! Join the South Yuba River Citizens League and volunteer to help clean up Deer Creek at Pioneer Park.

Date: April 22, 2017 9am - 12pm
Location: Deer Creek at Pioneer Park, Nevada City
Details: Meet at 9am at the picnic tables to the left beyond the horseshoe pits. Please wear sturdy footwear and please bring thick gloves. Coffee for volunteers, as well as trash and recycling bags, will be provided.

For more information, click here!


Reno Earth Day 2017

Reno's annual Earth Day celebration will be full of interactive educational and environmental activities and programs to increase outreach, engagement with the community/region and retention of knowledge that carries over into everyday practices.

Date: April 23, 2017 11am - 6pm
Location: Idlewild Park in Reno

For more information, click here!


March for Climate and Earth Day - South Lake Tahoe

Join the national March for Climate and Earth Day celebration in South Lake Tahoe! We will meet at Lakeview Commons and march together to Earth Day festivities at Bijou Park! Please join us.

Date & Location: April 29, Lakeview Commons to Bijou Park, South Lake Tahoe, 10am-12pm
Volunteer: We are looking for volunteers! Please email Jenny Hatch if you would like to help!

Please click here for more info!


The Business of Local Energy Symposium 2017

Registration is now open for the third Business of Clean Energy Symposium in Long Beach, CA. The symposium provides a forum to exchange ideas about Community Choice Energy programs and to learn about current energy policy, regulations, markets, and technology. Use code BLE17ARCCA to receive 10% off registration!

Date: May 5, 2017
Location: Hyatt Regency, Long Beach, CA

Please click here for more info!


Bear Yuba Land Trust: Spring BioBlitz Dayz

Bear Yuba Land Trust (BYLT) invites students, families and community groups for the First Annual Community BioBlitz, a citizen science event held on five beautiful nature preserves this spring, to identify and collect data on many species of plants, animals and fungi!

Date: May 5-6, 2017
Location: Garden Bar Preserve and Rice’s Crossing Preserve South, respectively.
Details: No scientific knowledge is needed. Scientists will be on site at each preserve to guide us and share their knowledge. Sign up today!

For more information, click here!


Celebrate GardenFest with ESLT

The Eastern Sierra Land Trust (ESLT) invites all to join, as they celebrate the spring at their annual GardenFest! This free, family-friendly celebration is happening in conjunction with Take it Outside California – an annual, statewide movement to inspire Californians to get outdoors!

Date: May 6, 2017, 11am - 2pm
Location: ESLT’s Backyard, Bishop CA

For more info, click here!


Sugar Pine Foundation: Spring Tree Plantings

The Sugar Pine Foundation would like to invite our community to plant 1000 trees in the Emerald Fire near South Lake Tahoe.

Date and Location:
Sat, May 6, 10am – 1pm, South Lake Tahoe


For more info, click here!


LGC: 8th Annual Statewide Energy Efficiency Forum

The Local Government Commission (LGC), in partnership with the Statewide Energy Efficiency Collaborative, is hosting the 8th Annual Statewide Energy Efficiency Forum in Fresno from June 14th to June 15th, with pre-forum activities taking place June 13th. This forum is offered at no-cost to California local governments and features updates from key state agencies, highlights innovative local energy and sustainability projects, offers capacity-building trainings, and provides multiple networking opportunities.

Date: June 14th – 15th, 2017
Location: Fresno, CA

For more information, click here!


2017 Wild & Scenic Film Festival: Truckee

Our Wild and Scenic Film Festivals On Tour combine award winning environmental and adventure films with the energy of local activism. Truckee's 2017 Film Festival Tour will benefit both the Sierra Nevada Alliance, including the Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership, as well as local nonprofit organization Sierra Watch's program to Keep Squaw True.

Date: June 17, 2017
Location: CA 89 store, Downtown Truckee

Please click here for more info.


Cycle The Sierra: 2017 Registration Open

Cycle the Sierra is an annual cycling event that takes place in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of Northern California. This fully supported, five-day journey takes riders on a 300-mile loop through breathtaking country, beneath granite peaks, through evergreen forests and to alpine hot springs.

Date: Fri. June 16 - Tues. June 20, 2017
Location: Northern California

Please click here for more info.


Job Announcements & Volunteer Opportunities

River Wranglers: Environmental Education Director

River Wranglers seeks a dynamic and qualified Director of Environmental Education to promote its vision of connecting youth to the Carson River watershed.

Application due May 1, 2017

Click here for more information.

Executive Director: Foothills Conservancy

Foothill Conservancy is seeking a dynamic, outgoing, self-motivated, effective individual to serve as its executive director.

For more information, click here.

Stewardship Crew Vacancies: Friends of the Inyo

Friends of the Inyo is seeking Stewardship Crew workers, based in Bishop, to work throughout the Eastern Sierra in both frontcountry and backcountry locations.

For more info and full job descriptions, click here.

Volunteer Opportunity: Reclaiming the Sierra 2017 with the Sierra Fund

The Sierra Fund is preparing their fourth biennial conference, Reclaiming the Sierra 2017: Headwater Resiliency, scheduled May 8-9, 2017 in Sacramento. Volunteers make these important events possible. If you are willing to donate at least 5 hours to a volunteer shift, the Sierra Fund will offer a FREE one-day conference pass which may be used on either Monday, May 8 or Tuesday, May 9.

To claim your spot on the volunteer team, please fill out this volunteer questionnaire to be placed in the perfect role. Please contact Kelsey Westfall with any questions, either by email or by calling (530) 265-8454 x217.

Area CE Advisor - Forestry/Fire Science and Natural Resources

The Yuba City Area Cooperative Extension (CE) advisor for Forestry /Fire Science and Natural Resources will conduct a locally-based extension, education and applied research program to address high priority issues with a focus on forest fuels accumulation that has increased high-severity wildfires.

Application due May 8, 2017

Please click here for more information!

Mountain Area Preservation: Part Time Administrative Assistant

Mountain Area Preservation (MAP) seeks an experienced administrative assistant to join their team.

For more information, click here!

Leave No Trace: Yosemite, Grand Teton, and Denali National Park Research Assistants

The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics seeks Research Assistants for National Park Research Assignments in Yosemite, Grand Teton, and Denali National Park, as well as a summer 2017 Research Assistant for a study in Boulder, CO.

For more info, click here.

Resources

The Economic Benefits of Investing in Water Infrastructure

This Value of Water Campaign-commissioned economic impact analysis reviews the projected capital needs of water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities, and estimates the associated economic benefits that would be realized if the nation chose to make these investments.

To read the full economic impact analysis, click here!


Naturally Resilient Communities: Using Nature to Address Flooding

This guide of nature-based solutions includes case studies of successful projects from across the country to help communities learn more and identify which nature-based solutions might work for them.

For more info, click here!


2017 Climate-Related Legislative Tracking

The Alliance of Regional Collaboratives for Climate Adaptation (ARCCA) is tracking climate change-related bills as a resource for ARCCA members.

For more info, click here!


Urban Greening Grant Program

The California Natural Resources Agency is soliciting applications for their Urban Greening Program. Approximately $76 million is available.

Applications due May 1, 2017

For more info, click here!


PG&E Resilient Communities Grant Program

PG&E will invest $1 million over 5 years - $200,000 per year - in shareholder-funded grants to help communities better prepare for, withstand, and recover from extreme events and other risks related to climate change.

The 2017 targets are wildfires and healthy forests. Applications due May 12, 2017

For more info, click here!


Highlight

South Lake Tahoe Announces 100% Renewable Energy Pledge

Latest in Series of Mountain Communities Making Renewable Electricity Transition



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South Lake Tahoe, Calif. – South Lake Tahoe, California today became the 26th municipality in the United States and the latest in a growing coalition of mountain communities to commit to 100 percent clean and renewable electricity. On Tuesday, the South Lake Tahoe city council approved a measure establishing a goal of transitioning entirely to renewable sources of electricity by 2032.


Surrounded by city council members and key members of the community partners, Mayor Austin Sass also signed on to Climate Reality’s 100% Committed campaign.


This announcement comes on the heels of a similar pledge from Moab and Park City, Utah to transition to renewable electricity, showing that mountain communities are taking control of their energy future.


“South Lake Tahoe’s commitment for 100% renewable electricity is driven by our community,” said Mayor Austin Sass of South Lake Tahoe. “The passion to protect our natural resources made this commitment possible, and reflects the city's vision statement to "reflect the National Treasure in which we live".”


“The signing of the 100% renewable resolution today is a testament to what is possible,” said Nick Exline with 100% South Lake Tahoe. “We have seen citizens from across our community come together to tackle climate change by helping our city officials take bold action. We’re thrilled to see South Lake Tahoe commit to 100% renewable electricity.”


South Lake Tahoe’s announcement is grounded in a chilling reality. Winter tourism represents a $12.2 billion dollar industry, supporting thousands of jobs and sustaining the economies of communities throughout the country. Yet rising temperatures and climate disruption are threatening the future of many places where decreased snowpack threatens local industry.


Fourteen of the 15 hottest years on record globally have occurred since the beginning of this century, and 2016 is currently on track to be added to that list. By the end of the century, it is estimated that only six of the 19 cities that have previously hosted the Winter Olympics could be cold enough to host again.


“In the face of climate change in our own back yards, at our favorite ski mountain or hiking trail, a growing movement of mountain communities are coming together to determine our energy future, and it’s one without fossil fuels,” said Kim Stevens, I AM PRO SNOW Senior Regional Field Organizer. “We applaud the South Lake Tahoe city council for taking bold action to tackle the climate crisis and committing to 100 percent renewable electricity."


“Given the impact that fossil fuel-driven climate change is already having on Lake Tahoe and our mountain communities, it’s critical that the region lead the way toward the bold clean energy solutions that we need to take for our kids and grandkids.” Said Sierra Club Climate Parent, John Fredrichson. “By committing to powering South Lake Tahoe with 100% clean and renewable energy, the City Council today has established Tahoe’s intention to be a national clean energy leader, no matter what is happening in Washington, DC.”


"We are excited to be facilitating this initiative in South Lake Tahoe and look forward to duplicating this effort in mountain communities across the Sierra Nevada," said Jenny Hatch, Executive Director, Sierra Nevada Alliance. "By a collective effort, on the local level, we will make a tremendous impact. If local communities are interested in joining this growing movement, we welcome them to contact us."


About 100% South Lake Tahoe:
100% South Lake Tahoe is a coalition of community residents, businesses and organizations working together to create a 100% clean, renewable energy future. The Climate Reality Project’s I AM PRO SNOW, Tahoe Climate Change Action Network, Sierra Nevada Alliance, and Climate Parents actively engaged in the Tahoe 100% renewable energy campaign.

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The Sierra Nevada Alliance wants to work with communities throughout the Sierra range to duplicate this effort. Please email Jenny Hatch for guidance on this important initiative.




Sierra Nevada Alliance Seeking Office Space!


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Do you have a Truckee or Tahoe-based office space available for rent or for share? Now that the Sierra Nevada Alliance has fully transitioned into a new organizational chapter, we are ready to relocate our office. We cannot express enough thanks to the Sierra Business Council for for providing us shared space in their offices during our past two transitional years.


Please email Jenny Hatch with any ideas for collaboration or if you know of space available!





If you would like to support the Sierra Nevada Alliance Initiatives,
please click here to contribute to our funding.




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 Kate Gladstein.
If you have articles, events or announcements that you would like included in this newsletter or if you have feedback,
please email Kate!.





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Recent News

Climate Change

Climate change: ‘human fingerprint’ found on global extreme weather
The Guardian, Damian Carrington, 3/27/2017

Sierra Link: The fingerprint of human-caused climate change has been found on worldwide heatwaves, droughts and floods, such as California's historic drought impacts, according to scientists.

California isn’t accounting for this major emitter
High Country News, Gary Wockner, 4/11/2017

Sierra Link: Even though large reservoirs emit methane, the state doesn’t off-set their impact.

Forestry

Sierra Institute wins award for proposal to turn logging waste into energy
Sacramento Bee, Jane Braxton Little, 4/17/2017

Sierra Link: Sierra Institute for Community and Environment, a research organization focused on education and community collaboration, has won a $100,000 national competition for its entrepreneurial approach to solving challenges facing national forests across the country.

Driven by heat and high winds, wildfires are 10 times worse this year than average
Think Progress, Natasha Geiling, 3/21/2017

Sierra Link: Record-high temperatures combined with low humidity and high wind have created the ideal environment for wildfires throughout much of the Great Plains and the West.

Recreation

Our Most Iconic National Parks are in Danger of Becoming Oil and Gas Drilling Hot Spots
Fusion TV, Daniel Setiawan, 4/11/17

Sierra Link: In late March, President Trump signed an executive order which in addition to rolling back a number of Obama-era climate polices may also make it easier for energy companies to drill in America’s national parks.

Conservation Groups to Army Corps: “Centennial Dam Puts Too Much at Risk – Seek Alternatives”
South Yuba River Citizens League, Staff Report, 4/13/2017

Sierra Link: The Foothills Water Network (FWN) submitted a joint letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers detailing an extensive list of actions and strategies which would eliminate the need for the Nevada Irrigation District (NID) to build a major new dam on the Bear River.

Water

California's robust mountain snowpack boosts flood concerns
SF Gate, Rich Pedroncelli and Scott Smith, Associated Press, 3/30/2017

Sierra Link: As big snowflakes fell high in California's Sierra Nevada on Thursday, surveyors on snowshoes measured the deepest springtime snowpack in years and said it boosted concerns about destructive floods when all that snow melts.

Groups demand transparency on Oroville Dam spillway repairs
Sacramento Bee, Ryan Sabalow and Dale Kasler, 4/19/2017

Sierra Link: In a filing Wednesday with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, a coalition of environmental groups expressed concern that the state Department of Water Resources is only going part way in repairing the emergency spillway.

Wildlife

Conservation Groups Sue Forest Service over Livestock Impacts in Stanislaus National Forest
YubaNet News, Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center, 3/28/2017

Sierra Link: Recently, Sierra Forest Legacy (SFL) and the Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center (CSERC) filed suit against the USFS for allowing poorly managed grazing to pollute streams and to damage high elevation meadows and riparian areas in the Sierra Nevada.

California tribes fear abysmal salmon run may trigger public health crisis
Sacramento Bee, Ryan Sabalow, 4/14/2017

Sierra Link: Native American communities are bracing for a public health crisis this year; the salmon run will be so minuscule, that for the first time there will be practically no tribal fishing on our northern rivers. What will this devastatingly low fish year mean for hundreds of Sierra Nevada tribes?

Other Articles

California Today: Winemakers Wonder: Who Will Pick the Grapes?
The New York Times, Mike McPhate, 4/7/2017

Sierra Link: More than two-thirds of California farmworkers are undocumented immigrants and the Trump Administration’s threatened crackdown is scaring many of them away, winemakers say. This is a socioenvironmental ripple we will feel in the Sierra and beyond.

How to Pull Water Out of Thin Air, Even in the Driest Parts of the Globe
MIT Technology Review, James Temple, 4/13/2017

Sierra Link: A new device that’s powered by sunlight could help solve water scarcity problems.





Sierra Nevada Alliance

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

phone: 530.542.4546
fax:530.542.4546

www.sierranevadaalliance.org

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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.