Events and Activities
Work Party at Independence Trail
Please join us for a work party on Independence Trail on one or more of the April and May dates. Arrive at least 15 minutes before the start time to fill out liability forms. We will be meeting at the trailhead off of HWY 49, and will continue to replace boards, clean off structures, clean culverts, brush the trail corridor, and improve the overall quality of the trail.
Date: Saturday, May 18th
Please
click here for more information.
Wilder Than Wild: Fire, Forests, and the Future Film & Panel Discussion
Join North Tahoe Fire, Tahoe Network of Fire Adapted Communities, and UC Davis TERC for the award-winning documentary "Wilder than Wild: Fire, Forests, and the Future" on Friday, May 10 starting at 5:30 p.m. followed by a panel discussion at 6:30 p.m.
Date: Thursday, May 30th
Please click here for more information.
American River Conservancy Invites The Public To Celebrate
The 150th Anniversary Of The First Japanese Colony In America.
WakamatsuFest150 is a celebration of 150 years of Japanese-American heritage, arts, and cuisine. The festival will feature Japanese and Japanese-American food, art, music, performances, demonstrations, discussions, competitions, and more. Booths will offer Asian and other foods, information, and merchandise. Entertainment will showcase traditional and modern Japanese-American culture. Docents will guide tours and tell stories about the first Japanese colonists who established their tea and silk farm on this Placerville property. Locals, farmers, historians, and naturalists will share knowledge and experience honoring the past, present, and future of Wakamatsu Farm and surrounding El Dorado County.
Date: June 6th-9th
Please click here for more information.
Teacher Development Workshop in Joshua Tree National Park
The Desert Institute at Joshua Tree National Park, in partnership with the education division of JTNP, is offering the second of two Teacher Development Workshops on June 7-9, 2019. This program is "STEAM Creativity Inspired by Joshua Tree National Park" moderated by Mary Borobia Walls, founder of Action Driven Inquiry and Linda Braatz Brown, retired San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, Science & Environmental Education Coordinator.
Date: June 7th-9th
Please click here for more information.
Resources
Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership Host Site Applications
The Request for Applications is open for 2019-20 SNAP Host Sites! We are looking for supportive, enthusiastic conservation organizations that would like to have SNAP members on their team from October 2019 through September 2020. Please visit the Alliance website for more information! Contact Rachel Durben, SNAP Program Director, with any questions.
Learn more here.
SWEP Junior Explorers Summer Camp
SWEP summer camps promote environmental stewardship by connecting children to the natural environment through science, games, art and outdoor adventures. Based out of our 30-foot yurt at the trailhead at Tahoe Cross Country our days will be spent exploring the local forests, creeks, and streams learning, exploring and having lots of summer fun!
Learn more here.
Wetlands Restoration for Greenhouse Gas Reduction Program
CDFW is preparing a 2019 Proposal Solicitation Notice (PSN), which will include a pre-application phase and a full application phase. Complete details and timeline for the 2019 grant cycle can be found in the following Project Area Fact Sheets.
Learn more here.
Climate Change Research Program
SPRING 2019 RESEARCH ROUNDTABLES
The Strategic Growth Council (SGC) invites you to join us at one of six roundtables
focusing on future funding opportunities for the SGC’s Climate Change Research
program. SGC will release the Round 3 Solicitation in November of this year,
describing Council priorities for directing $10 million in pending budget
appropriations. We seek your input to inform these climate change research
priorities. In various locations throughout California on various dates in May 2019.
Learn more here.
Climate Change Research Program
SPRING 2019 LISTENING SESSIONS
The Strategic Growth Council (SGC) invites you to join us at one of six listening sessions focused
on understanding how to better integrate non-traditional research partners and stakeholders into
the research funded by the Climate Change Research (CCR) Program. In various locations throughout California on various dates in May 2019.
Learn more here.
Strategic Land Conservation Grant
The Sierra Nevada Conservancy recognizes land conservation as an important tool for achieving holistic watershed health. The Strategic Lands Conserved goal in the Plan focuses on protection of high-risk and/or high-priority lands. These lands provide a range of benefits including working landscapes; recreation opportunities; and protection of unique cultural and natural areas, as well as key wildlife habitat. Additionally, climate change is likely to have impacts yet unseen on the Region and strategically conserving land will become increasingly important as the Region adapts to further changes in the future.
Learn more here.
Sierra Camp Grant and Funding Opportunities
This page features climate-related funding databases and funding opportunities that are ongoing or accepting applications on a rolling basis. Updates on one-time or irregular, non-rolling grant opportunities, such as cap-and-trade grant program notices of funding availability, as well as opportunities to provide feedback on state funding guidelines, are provided to Sierra CAMP members on a monthly basis. For more updates, follow us on social media.
Learn more here.
Clean Trails Project
This program will provide eligible groups the opportunity to apply for a grant to fund their next trail improvement related project, which could range from trail clean-up, trail restoration, trail expansion, to name a few.
Learn more here.
Job Announcements & Volunteer Opportunities
The Conservation Alliance- Executive Director Position
The Executive Director works closely with staff and Board of Directors to implement all aspects of grant making, membership recruitment and retention, fundraising, advocacy, communications, and outreach. As the organization’s strategic and operational leader, the Executive Director is responsible for ensuring sound strategic positioning and the execution of The Conservation Alliance’s mission.
For more info, click here.
Volunteer Opportunity: Hammon Bar Monitoring
Join us for our seventh year of monitoring this habitat restoration project on the Lower Yuba River. Together we'll venture down to the Yuba Goldfields and measure the survivorship and growth of the riparian vegetation.
Please click here for more information.
Summer River Ambassadors Volunteers Needed
We are needing more help from our community this summer to keep the River Ambassador program going strong. SYRCL and State Parks are seeking 40 volunteers to join the program for the 2019 summer season.
For more info, click here.
Local Farms Now Hiring - Sierra Harvest Farm Crew
Are you interested in a new career path? Do you love working the land? Local farms are recruiting employees through the Sierra Harvest Farm Crew program! Apply now to be connected to a farm job on a Nevada County area farm. Hone your skills with the Ag Skills Course- farming skill classes taught on local farms by successful farmers.
For more info, click here.
Tahoe Regional Planning Agency- Long Range and Transportation Planning/ Research Analysis Internships
The primary focus will be to provide support for both the Long Range Planning and Transportation Planning
teams, implementing policies and programs of the Shoreline Plan and Regional Transportation Plan, as well as
new state housing mandates. The position will lead the administration of a lake wide boater recreation
planning survey that collects data on user interactions at recreation sites along the shoreline and on the lake.
For more info, click here.
Water Education Foundation-Programs and Communications Specialist
Join the team at the Water Education Foundation, a nonprofit in Sacramento that has been a trusted source of water news and educational programs in California and across the West for more than 40 years. The ideal candidate is knowledgeable about water issues and keenly interested in keeping up with water news, enjoys a fast-paced environment and possesses strong communication skills, both verbal and written.
For more info, click here.
Highlights
Sierra Nevada Alliance Membership Drive
Please click here to become a member today!
Sierra Nevada Alliance Celebrate Earth Day
Climate March
Wild and Scenic Film Festival
Sierra Nevada Alliance celebrated Earth Day last Saturday in South Lake Tahoe by hosting a Climate March, tabling at the South Lake Tahoe Earth Day Celebration at Bijou Park, and hosting both a "Wild Child Screening" and a "Feature Film Screening" of the Wild and Scenic Film Festival On Tour. Thank you to everyone who came out to show your support.
Thank you to our partners:
South Lake Earth Day Committee, and Patagonia.
Thank you to our event sponsors:
League to Save Lake Tahoe, California Wildlife Foundation, Sierra Club Tahoe Group, Grace Anderson, South Tahoe Refuse, FNCTN, Biggest Little City Entertainment.
Thank you to our silent auction donors:
Blue Granite Climbing Gym, Midkiff & Associates, FlyLow Gear Bag, Sorenson's Resort, Tahoe Sports Fishing, Kids Zone Museum, Heavenly Patagonia, Raley's Stateline, Rocket Fizz, 10 Crows BBQ, Montbleu Casino & Resort, Sierra Nevada Brewing, Raft California, South Shore Bikes, Tahoe Fly Fishing Outfitters, Riva Lakefront Grill, South Tahoe Brewing Company, Zephyr Cove Resort, Off The Hook, Wildwood Makers Market, Marcus Ashley, Tahoe Kids Trading Company, Tot Spot.
Thank you to our Wild and Scenic Film Festival National Partners: Peak Design, Clif Bar, Earth Justice, Kleen Canteen, and Sierra Nevada Brewing Company.
Sierra Nevada Alliance's Legislative Priorities
One crucial element of the Sierra Nevada Alliance’s work is advocating for laws and bills that support and advance the protection and restoration of the Sierra’s natural resources. The Sierra Nevada Alliance partners with the Sierra Consortium, the California Watershed Coalition, Green California, and the Sierra Fund to strengthen the voice for the Sierra. The Alliance contributes financially to support paid lobbyist and sponsor legislative events. In addition, the Alliance supports the legislative priorities of these groups by sending Alliance representatives to meet with lawmakers at the capitol, supporting lobbyists that help advance Sierra causes, and by sharing information about important measures and bonds with our network. Below you can find the Alliance’s current legislative priorities.
SB 45- This bill would enact the Wildfire, Drought, and Flood Protection Bond Act of 2020, which, if approved by the voters, would authorize the issuance of bonds in an unspecified amount pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law to finance projects to restore fire damaged areas, reduce wildfire risk, create healthy forest and watersheds, reduce climate impacts on urban areas and vulnerable populations, protect water supply and water quality, protect rivers, lakes, and streams, reduce flood risk, protect fish and wildlife from climate impacts, improve climate resilience of agricultural lands, and protect coastal lands and resources.
• SB 54- This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would significantly reduce the amount of single-use plastic waste entering California’s waste stream, polluting our oceans, littering our local communities and beaches, and costing local governments millions of dollars in cleanup costs.
• SB 73- This bill would make appropriations for the support of state government for the 2019–20 fiscal year.
• SB 307- This bill would prohibit a transferor of water from using a water conveyance facility that has unused capacity to transfer water from a groundwater basin underlying desert lands, as defined, that is in the vicinity of specified federal lands or state lands to outside of the groundwater basin unless the State Lands Commission, in consultation with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, finds that the transfer of the water will not adversely affect the natural or cultural resources of those federal and state lands.
• AB 1111- This bill would establish an Office of Sustainable Outdoor
Recreation to build capacity for recreation-oriented
small businesses, expand access to the outdoors for
all, and grow rural economies.
• AB 168- This bill would require the objective planning standards include a requirement that the development not be located on a site that is a tribal cultural resource.
• AB 190- This bill would make appropriations for the support of state government for the 2019–20 fiscal year.
• AB 209- This bill would require the Director of Parks and Recreation to establish the Outdoor Equity Grants Program, to increase the ability of underserved and at-risk populations to participate in outdoor environmental educational experiences at state parks and other public lands where outdoor environmental education programs take place. The bill would require the director to, among other things, give priority for funding to outdoor environmental education programs that primarily provide outreach to and serve students who are eligible for free or reduced-price meals, foster youth, or pupils of limited English proficiency, as provided. The bill would authorize the director to accept private funds to support the program. The bill would establish the California Outdoor Equity Account in the State Parks and Recreation Fund and would require any private funds donated for the program and any funds appropriated by the Legislature for purposes of the program to be deposited into the account.
• AB 231- This bill would exempt from CEQA a project to construct or expand a recycled water pipeline for the purpose of mitigating drought conditions for which a state of emergency was proclaimed by the Governor if the project meets specified criteria. Because a lead agency would be required to determine if a project qualifies for this exemption, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would also exempt from CEQA the development and approval of building standards by state agencies for recycled water systems.
• AB 352- This bill would ensure that rural regions have equitable access to GGRF funding and that co-benefits like improving resilience of water supply, reducing wildfire risk, and planning for drought and extreme weather events are taken into account for projects applying for GGRF funding.
• AB 933- This bill would authorize the department, to the extent funds are available, to establish and administer the Ecosystem Resilience Program to fund watershed coordinator positions, and other necessary costs, throughout the state for the purpose of achieving specified goals, including the goal of developing and implementing watershed improvement plans aligned with multiple statewide and regional objectives across distinct bioregions. The bill would authorize the department to develop performance measures and accountability controls to track progress and outcomes. The bill would require, on or before January 31, 2022, and every 3 years thereafter, the department to track and report outcomes to the relevant fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature.
• AB 1788- This bill would expand this prohibition [of the use of anticoagulant pesticides] to the entire state. The bill would also authorize the use of a pesticide containing a specified anticoagulant if the State Department of Public Health determines that there is a public health emergency due to a pest infestation and the Department of Pesticide Regulation determines that controlling or eradicating the pest infestation requires the use of a pesticide containing an anticoagulant, or if the California Environmental Protection Agency determines that there is an environmental emergency due to a pest infestation and the Department of Pesticide Regulation determines that controlling or eradicating the pest infestation requires the use of a pesticide that contains an anticoagulant. The bill would also prohibit the use of any pesticide that contains one or more specifically identified anticoagulants on state-owned property. The bill would provide that this provision does not apply to the use of pesticides for agricultural activities, as defined.
Please click here to view the CA Legislation website.
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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