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April 27, 2016

Sierra Happenings

Events and Activities | Job Announcements | Resources

Events and Activities

ESLT Brown Bag Lunch Series: Tracing our Agricultural Roots!

Please join Eastern Sierra Land Trust for their free monthly Brown Bag Lunch Series, and listen as local speakers share informative, entertaining tales about the colorful history of Inyo County. On May 3, Bishop resident Rob Pearce will share stories of ranchers and farmers who built up the county's agricultural tradition.

Date: May 3rd, 12-1pm
Location: ESLT Office Backyard (250 N. Fowler St. in Bishop)
Details: Guests are encouraged to bring lunch and sunglasses.

To learn more, click here, or call Catherine Tao, ESLT Education Coordinator/AmeriCorps Member, (760) 873-4554!

Volunteer and Fish for Fun with SYRCL and The Sierra Fund!

Volunteer to post fish consumption advisories with The Sierra Fund and SYRCL! This event is a fun opportunity to explore our beautiful watersheds while sharing important information about how to eat fish safely. Many volunteer roles are available, including helping with kids activities or event setup/tear down at Pioneer Park in Nevada City.

Date: Saturday, May 21st, 1-4pm

Location: Seaman’s Lodge, Pioneer Park, Nevada City

Details: Age-appropriate activities and games, learning about fishing locations, the history of mercury in our area, efforts underway to clean it up, and choosing which fish to eat. Free ice cream will be provided and prizes will be awarded.

Contact Jenn at SYRCL to sign up, or call (530) 621-1224.

GardenFest with Eastern Sierra Land Trust!

Get that garden ready for spring with GardenFest at ESLT! At this fun, family-friendly community event, you'll have the opportunity to purchase native plants; learn gardening tips; sample Mountain Rambler Brewery local brews and Owens Valley Growers Co-Op brick-oven pizza made on-site; and more.

Date: April 30th, 11am-2pm
Location: ESLT Office (250 N. Fowler St. in Bishop)
Details: Guests are encouraged to bring lunch and sunglasses.

To learn about this and other events, click here!

Bird and Wildflower Walks: South Yuba River State Park!!

State Park Docents will lead guided easy two mile Wildflower Walks every Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. beginning on Sunday March 6 and continuing through at least May 8. Resident Birding experts will also be leading guided two mile walks approximately once monthly through the early fall. Dates and details for both events are posted on the website.

Please click here to learn more about either event schedules.

Truckee Tahoe Snapshot Day with the League to Save Lake Tahoe!

Join the fun of keeping Tahoe blue, as the league and supporters capture the water quality of the Tahoe and Truckee River Watershed. Lunch will be provided!

Date: Saturday, May 14 from 9 am to noon
Location: There will be several simultaneous events throughout the watershed!

More event info can be found here!

Fishing on the Farm with American Rivers Conservancy!

ARC is partnering with the El Dorado Chapter of Trout Unlimited for a monthly fishing night at the Wakamatsu Colony Farm in Gold Hill. Try your hand at casting techniques, catch a few bass, and enjoy the serenity of the 8-acre lake at the historic farm.

Date: Wednesday, May 4th, 6pm-dark

Location: Wakamatsu Colony Farm in Gold Hill

Details: Catch and keep only, no release. Participants MUST have a valid California fishing license. Adults only, please. Rain or shine (lightning storm cancels). Cost: $10/members, $15/non-members.

Please call to RSVP, email Julie or call (530) 621-1224.

Job Announcements & Volunteer Opportunities

Positions Available with SYRCL!

SYRCL is seeking a River Science Project Manager for the 2016 River Ambassador Program! The River Science Project Manager will be responsible for implementing SYRCL’s River Science Projects as part of SYRCL’s River Science Team. SYRCL is also hiring a Water Program Presenter.

Job descriptions and application info here!

Friends of the Inyo is hiring!

Friends of the Inyo relies on a small staff and volunteers to help care for and protect the Eastern Sierra's public lands. They are currently seeking an Operations Manager, a Forest Wilderness Intern, and Summer Field Positions.

Full job descriptions available here, or for more information please send an email!

Development Director: ESLT!

Eastern Sierra Land Trust is searching for an experienced fundraiser who will help the organization grow to meet new challenges and opportunities.

Please review full job description here, or please email ESLT Executive Director Kay Ogden!

Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center (CSERC) is hiring!

The Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center (CSERC) is seeking a qualified candidate for full-time employment on the CSERC staff. CSERC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to protect water, wildlife, and wild places of the Northern Yosemite region.

For additional information, please click here!

Fish / Wildlife Biologist positions with USFS!

2 vacancy announcements GS-0486-07/09 for a Fish/Wildlife Biologist (Annoucement #16-0503-231897FS-BJ) in Placerville, CA, as well as a Wildlife Biologist Wildlife Biologist (Annoucement #16-0503-239213FS-BJ) located in Georgetown, CA, have just opened, both located in the Eldorado National Forest.

Applicants may apply electronically through the above links to USA Jobs. Applicants should review the announcement carefully and ensure that their application is complete and make sure to include all required documents, filed on or before the closing date of 5/2/16.

Several Vacancies with the Tahoe Resource Conservation District!

Several positions are available with the Tahoe RCD, working with marsh lands, watercraft, or wildlife!

For more information and job descriptions, please review them here!

Resources

Grants Available for National Parks Centennial Celebrations

To honor the National Park Service’s 100th birthday in 2016, the California Wildlands Grassroots Fund (Cal Wildlands) has created a one-time National Parks Centennial Celebration grantmaking program to support community-based celebrations and events across California.

This is a one-time, special program that operates with its own guidelines, criteria, and application process.

More information here!

Rotary Peace Fellowships!

Each year, Rotary selects up to 100 individuals from around the world to receive fully funded academic fellowships at one of our peace centers. These fellowships cover tuition and fees, room and board, round-trip transportation, and all internship and field-study expenses.

For more information, click here!

Wallace Global Fund Grants Available!

The Wallace Global Fund supports activities and movements that are global or national in scope. We will consider significant local or regional initiatives with the potential to leverage broader national or global impact. Proposals can be for either core or project-specific support.

For more information, click here!

Online BA in Public Service!

The University of Colorado Denver is offering an online BA in Public Service. Course work explores public service in governmental, nonprofit, and nongovernmental organizations, and topics such as financial management, fostering human capital, capacity building, program evaluation, change management, collaboration, network analysis, and leadership.

For more information, click here!

Highlight

Sierra Nevada Alliance Announces:

Sierra Fierce Hope Writing Competition

Essay contest inpired by courageous former SNA Executive Director
Jim Ross

Dear Sierra Nevada High School Administrators, Teachers and Students:
The Sierra Nevada Alliance invites regional high school students to submit essays about environmental/conservation issues on the theme of “Fierce Hope.”

Inspired by the example of former Executive Director of the Sierra Nevada Alliance, Jim Ross, who has created a “Fierce Hope” blog while living with cancer, the Sierra Fierce Hope writing competition welcomes essays about people working with deep determination and courage -- fierce hope -- to protect the environment in the face of major challenges and obstacles. Examples include advocates overcoming personal challenges to fight for environmental causes, or those working against major institutional challenges (political or economic powers for example) to protect something they cherish.

All high school students currently enrolled in a school in the Sierra Nevada region are invited to submit essays up to 2000 words. Essays will be judged by the Board of the Sierra Nevada Alliance. Three essayists will be awarded cash prizes -- $500 for first place, $200 for second place, $100 for third place. All essays will be placed on the Sierra Nevada Alliance website.

Essays should describe the person/people involved in the “fierce hope” environmental campaign, as well as how the effort inspires them to take action.

Deadline for submission of essays is Friday, May 27. Essays (and any questions) should be submitted to Jenny Hatch, Executive Director, Sierra Nevada Alliance.

Thank you for sharing this opportunity with students at your school.

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

How Climate Change Dries Up Mountain Streams
Newswise, University of Utah News, 4/12/16

Sierra Link: In a new study, a team of hydrologists including University of Utah professor Paul Brooks, explore how a changing climate may affect snowpack and river runoff in mountain regions, by simulating isolated climate change effects on stream systems, varying the type of precipitation (rain vs. snow) and the amount of energy (temperature) involved.

Is the California drought America's water wake-up call?
Los Angeles Times, Jay Famiglietti, 4/16/2016

Sierra Link: The great hope for major replenishment of California's surface and groundwater supplies — the “Godzilla” El Niño — has failed thus far to live up to its super-sized hype, delivering only average amounts of rain and snow, primarily to the northern half of the state. While average is welcome to us in the Sierra, it is no drought-buster.

Forestry

Wildfires, Once Confined to a Season, Burn Earlier and Longer
The New York Times, Matt Richtel and Fernanda Santos, 4/12/16

Sierra Link: Fires, once largely confined to a single season, have become a continual threat in some places, burning earlier and later in the year, in the United States and abroad. In some areas, “we now have year-round fire seasons, and you can say it couldn’t get worse than that,” said Matt Jolly, a research ecologist for the United States Forest Service. “We expect from the changes that it can get worse.”

Seismic networks can help fight fires. Here's how.
Christian Science Monitor, Ben Thompson, 4/21/16

Sierra Link: The same systems used to detect earthquakes in California and Nevada are now being used to help firefighters detect wildfires faster than ever, with the potential to save both dollars and lives.

Recreation

Squaw Valley chief faces community opposition to expansion
Sacramento Bee, Brad Branan, 4/19/16

Sierra Link: Sierra Watch, Sierra Club and other organizations have opposed Squaw Valley CEO Andy Wirth’s plan to build a gondola next to Granite Chief, a popular spot for hikers that includes a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail. The gondola must be approved by the U.S. Forest Service and Placer County. Wirth claims that the increased tourism will benefit the Squaw community.

Remembering the Buffalo Soldiers
High Country News, Glenn Nelson, 4/22/16

Sierra Link: When Assembly Member Frank Bigelow (R-O’Neals) submitted Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 174, he did so at a fortuitous confluence of history – during National Parks Week, in the centennial year of the Park Service and the sesquicentennial of the Buffalo Soldiers, and, to the day, the 178th birthday of Muir.

Water

Delta pumping to Southern California restricted despite rainy winter
Sacramento Bee, Dale Kasler and Ryan Sabalow, 4/16/16

Sierra Link: For the first time in five years, Northern California’s reservoirs are filled almost to the brim. According to this article, Southern California contractors aren't concerned with our extreme drought, and are instead disappointed that they are not receiving subsequently increased water allocations, claiming that restrictions are based on faulty science and are harming the economy.

Before-and-after photos of California reservoirs show impact of drought, El Niño
SF Gate, Amy Graff, 4/14/16

Sierra Link: After four solid drought years, a series of storms walloped the state and the Sierra Nevada. The El Niño wasn't the "Godzilla" many experts predicted, but it did bring above-average rain fall to the state overall, building up the snow pack and dumping billions of gallons of water into the state's network of over 1,300 reservoirs.

Wildlife

Pacific fisher denied protection under the Endangered Species Act
Los Angeles Times, Louis Sahagun, 4/14/16

Sierra Link: Federal wildlife authorities on April 14th, denied Endangered Species Act protection to small, isolated populations of Pacific fisher weasels. Of particular concern is the fate of the southern Sierra population south of Yosemite National Park, which has been reduced to as few as 300 animals.

Yosemite Area Audubon Society Program Portrays Rim Fire as Wildlife Nursery
Sierra Sun Times, Len McKenzie, 4/12/16

Sierra Link: Mixed-intensity wildfires and native beetles create some of the most productive and critical habitats for endangered birds and other wildlife, comparable or even better than even late-succession, or “old-growth,” forests. A host of plants, insects, mammals and birds, such as black-backed woodpeckers, spotted owls and Pacific fishers, prefer large, dense patches of standing dead trees.