Events and Activities
South Lake Tahoe Climate Action Plan Kick-Off Meeting
The City of South Lake Tahoe is developing its first Climate Action Plan (CAP). The City is holding this kick-off meeting to inform residents, stakeholders and the general public about what a climate action plan is and why one is being developed. We will also be discussing the results of the greenhouse gas emissions inventory that was completed last year, reviewing the emissions reduction targets set by City Council in 2017, and explaining the process moving forward. There will be time for questions, and we look forward to any feedback or input that anyone may wish to provide.
Date: December 11, 2019
For more info, click here
Tahoe Institute for Natural Science- Christmas Bird Count
Each year, from 14 December through 5 January, tens of thousands of volunteers head out into the winter to count birds for a day. TINS Co-founder Will Richardson has coordinated the South Lake Tahoe CBC since 2004.
Date: December 15, 2019
For more info, click here
Alliance Monthly Webinar "Glaciers in California"
Did you know that there are invisible glaciers up in the Sierra Nevada? California is extremely rich in rock glaciers, oftentimes confused with lateral moraines of remnant glaciers. Yet, there are hundreds of these very active rock glaciers (that have nothing to do with moraines) and thousands of smaller periglacial features that are rich in ice and that are providing continuous water to California’s streams and rivers. Find out more about these obscure but fascinating high mountain hydrological features by joining this webinar! The webinar will be presented by Daniel Taillant and Adam Riffle of the Center for Human Rights and Environment.
Date: December 17, 2019
For more info, click here
California Forest Stewardship Workshops
The workshops will address management objectives and planning, forest restoration, fuels reduction, project development, permitting, and cost-share opportunities. Participants will connect with other landowners and learn how to collect information to develop their own management plans.
Date: Ukiah- January 11, 12, and 25, 2020, or Berkeley- February 1, 2, and 8, 2020, or Redding February 7, 8, and 14, 2020
For more info, click here
18th Annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival
The Wild & Scenic Film Festival has unveiled its full lineup of
over 140 environmental and activist films, including 16 world premieres, to be shown at its
18th annual event happening Jan. 16-20, 2020.
The five-day festival features activist workshops, music, art exhibits, youth programs as well as
opportunities to meet filmmakers and special guests at venues throughout historic Nevada City
and Grass Valley, California. Wild & Scenic brings together top filmmakers, celebrities, activists,
and social innovators to inspire environmental awareness and action.
Festival passes and tickets for this year’s event are now available for purchase. Early Bird pricing
is available through December 14th for festival passes, which allow for entry to all regular festival
programing Friday through Sunday. Additional tickets are also now available for special events
such as Thursday’s 3D Film session, Saturday Morning Kid Films, Wild & Scenic Gala, and Award
Winner screenings.
Date: January 16-20, 2020
For more info, click here
Science of Cocktails
The Science of Cocktails is a unique evening event where mixology and science meet. This event will be held on Friday, January 31 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Tahoe Science Center in Incline Village, NV.
Date: January 31, 2020
For more info, click here
Sierra Streams Institute- California Naturalist Course
Dive into ten weeks of hands-on natural history lessons and citizen
science to become a better steward of the Sierra Nevada ecosystem.
Date: March 4-May 13, 2020
For more info, click here
Job Announcements & Volunteer Opportunities
Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership Member, Tahoe Environmental Research Center
Sierra Nevada Alliance is hiring a SNAP Member to Serve from 1/27/20-9/19/20 at the Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC) in Incline Village as an Education Program Assistant. The Assistant will provide environmental education programs and events for students, residents and visitors through exhibits, tours, field trips, and hands-on science activities and citizen science monitoring.
If interested email SNAP Program Director, Rachel Durben at rachel.durben@sierranevadaalliance.org
Defenders of Wildlife- Director, California Program
The Director is responsible for supervising and providing strategic direction to California Field Conservation staff, ensuring the effective implementation of the programs for which they are responsible and efficiently and effectively managing the office.
For more info, click here.
Tahoe Rim Trail Association- Trail Operations Manager
The TRTA's Trail Operations Manager is responsible for implementing Trail Operations Filed programs while assisting with fundraising project planning. Responsibilities include maintaining TRTA trail building tools gear, managing volunteer registration and related paperwork, assisting with applying, tracking and reporting on grants, and coordinating trainings.
For more info, click here.
Sierra Harvest- Events Producer
The Events Producer is the overall event organizer for the Sustainable Food & Farm Conference, and our farmer events such as soup night, farm potlucks and farmer mixers.
For more info, click here.
Tahoe Institute for Natural Science- Full-Time Education Manager
We are seeking an experienced environmental educator to
coordinate and deliver existing in-school and field trip programs, coordinate and lead
nature-based summer camps, and develop our education programming and strategy as a
whole as the organization grows.
For more info, click here.
Water Education Foundation- Programs Coordinator
An entry-level job with potential for growth, this position plays a key role in supporting the Foundation’s popular programs, such as tours of key watersheds and regions – the Sacramento River, the headwaters of the American and Yuba rivers, the lower Colorado River, the Bay-Delta – and events like our Water 101 Workshop and our annual Water Summit that explores the most pressing issues facing California and the West.
For more info, click here.
Highlights
SNAP Alumni Party
Save the date! January 19th, 2020, join SNAP Alums from over 14 different service years to enjoy a night of food, drinks, and music. RSVP here.
This Giving Season Support the Alliance's Climate Resiliency Program
Donate to the Sierra Nevada Alliance and support our groundbreaking efforts in implementing climate resilience projects throughout the Sierra Nevada!
We are proud of our role in facilitating the 100% Renewable Energy Resolutions in South Lake Tahoe, Truckee, and Nevada City. These communities are now committed to achieving 100% renewable electricity by 2032 and renewable energy by 2050. Our Climate Resiliency team is working to scale up programs and commitments like the 100% Renewable campaigns by providing technical support and capacity building assistance to jurisdictions interested in developing their own emissions reduction initiatives.
This year we have:
-Developed community-wide and government operations greenhouse gas emissions inventories for the City of South Lake Tahoe
-Begun developing a climate action plan for the City of South Lake Tahoe
-Provided outreach and assistance to our civic leaders working on climate resiliency initiatives
-Worked with the Solar Energy and Economic Development (SEED) Fund to empower public agencies to evaluate and participate in regional collaborative procurement of municipal solar projects
Your donations make this work possible! Give today and help ensure climate resilience action is enacted across the Range Of Light.
There are several ways to give:
-Become an Individual Member. Learn more here.
-Donate to our Patagonia Page (Patagonia will be matching donations through December 31st). Donate
here.
-Give to the Alliance while you do your holiday shopping. Click here to visit Amazon Smile.
Host a Half-Term SNAP Member
The Alliance is seeking Host Sites for Half-Term Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership (SNAP) Members. SNAP Members restore and monitor impaired Sierra watersheds, educate and outreach to Sierra residents and visitors on environmental issues, and recruit and manage volunteers for a variety of programs.
Now is the perfect time to apply to be a SNAP Host Site. The Application period for 2020 Half-Term SNAP Member Host Sites is now open. Host Sites will host a Half-Term Member for 5 1/2 months of service April 2020- September 2020. Eligible organizations include environmental nonprofit organizations, state and public agencies, land trusts, and federal agencies who work in the Sierra Nevada.
Are you interested in hosting a SNAP Member for the Spring 2020 Half-Term? Click here to learn more. Applications are due by 5pm on January 10, 2020.
SNA Member Group Spotlight: Sierra Foothills Audubon
Sierra Foothills Audubon Society, a chapter of National
Audubon, is headquartered in Grass Valley, California but our
membership area includes Nevada, Placer, Yuba, Sierra and El
Dorado Counties. It is the mission of our group to educate ourselves
and others to the variety and beauty of our natural environment and
protect our wildlife and natural places. To this end we have
experienced volunteers that lead free birding field trips throughout
our area. There is an Education Committee that visits many schools
with inspirational presentations about birds and their habitat.
Public presentations share info about bird boxes, feeders, native
plants and organize information tables at fairs and other events
throughout the counties we represent. Our Conservation Committee
constantly stays abreast of development both private and public.
We feel it is our duty to especially monitor the large area of
National Forest land in our county to stay abreast of habitat issues.
The chapter holds a bimonthly meeting in which experts present
free programs about habitat conservation, bird behavior, travel
locations, bird identification and current research.
With the help of fund raising efforts and generous donors,
Sierra Foothills Audubon grants funding annually in many different
research areas, including: threatened species, habitat conservation,
bird migration, bird behavior and the effect of climate change and
fire on populations. Among recent recipients are: U C Berkeley/
Black Rail; Institute for Bird Populations/ various species studies
throughout the Sierra Nevada; Gold Country Avian Studies/ bird
banding station; Dan Airola/ Tricolored Blackbird Habitat
Restoration; Tahoe Institute of Natural Sciences/ Swainson’s
Thrush.
Our chapter has coordinated the annual Christmas Bird count
in several counties for many years. This count is over 100 years old
and incorporates citizen scientists to gather bird data used by
researchers across the nation. In addition, we have just completed a
5 year study of all birds that breed in Nevada County, referred to as
a Breeding Bird Atlas project. These results will be published in
book form and be available for purchase in 2020.
Above all, our Audubon chapter is a group of friendly people
that has passion for the outdoors and its life forms. To learn more
about us visit the website sierrafoothillsaudubon.org. Our
bimonthly newsletter, The Phoebe, is mailed free to members and
also can be seen at the website. We also share lots of current bird
information and photos at our Facebook page Sierra Foothills
Audubon. You can find dates and times of our outings and meetings
at both of these locations, come join us soon!
Resources
Visions of The Lost Sierra- Movie and Petition
After touring film festivals in two dozen cities across the country, we’re excited to share our documentary online for all to view!
Learn more here.
Prop 68 Groundwater Treatment and Remediation Grant Program
Proposition 68 was passed by voters in June 2018. The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) will administer $74 million from Chapter 11.1 for grants for treatment and remediation activities that prevent or reduce the contamination of groundwater that serves as a source of drinking water.
Learn more here.
Climate Change Research Program
The Strategic Growth Council was allocated a total of $5 million in California
Climate Investments Program funds in the fiscal year 2019-2020 budget for the Climate Change Research (CCR) Program to administer a third round of grant awards.
Learn more here.
Parasol- Investing to Keep our Basin Fire-Safe!
We are excited to announce a grant to the Tahoe Resource Conservation District (RCD) to expand the strategic and tactical Wildfire Pre Attack plans on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe. “Multiple fire and law enforcement agencies, the Tahoe RCD, and the Tahoe Fire & Fuels Team have been working together for over 2 years developing Wildfire Pre Attack Plans around Lake Tahoe”, said Nicole Cartwright, Tahoe RCD Executive Director. “Through this donation the entire Tahoe Basin will now be covered with Pre Attack Plans for first responders.”
Learn more here.
ACTION ALERT: Tell the EPA – Don’t Revoke Clean Water Act Protections
Stand with SYRCL & other Waterkeepers to Protect Waterways from Irresponsible Dams & Development Projects.
Learn more here.
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 Sara Monson, Education and Communication Director with the Sierra Nevada Alliance.
If you have articles, events or announcements that you would like included in this newsletter or if you have feedback,
please email Sara.
If you would like to support the Sierra Nevada Alliance initiatives,
please click here to contribute to our funding.
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