Sierra Nevada Alliance

Meet the faces of SNA 🌟

Say hello to Alex Lima, Sierra Corps Forestry Fellow with Columbia College 🌲 As the Forestry Instructional Support Specialist, Alex will be helping teach Forestry and Wildland Firefighting.

After entering into the outdoor workforce, Alex was alarmed to experience the rising tree mortality and declining health of Sierra forests. He began to seek out ways to be a part of the movement to conserve our forests and the Sierra Corps offers a chance to do meaningful work while preparing him with skills necessary for landscape-scale forestry projects 🏔️ He’s most looking forward to developing his skills as a prescribed burner, getting good fire on the ground, and supporting students looking to find their place in the Forestry world.

Learn more about Sierra Corps: sierranevadaalliance.org/sierracorps



Funding for Sierra Corps provided by the CAL FIRE California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Business and Workforce Development Grants, and is supported by Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation's Nature Fund and Martis Fund - a collaborative project of Martis Camp landowners, DMB/Highlands Group (the developers of Martis Camp), Mountain Area Preservation Foundation (MAP) and Sierra Watch.

Will you be joining us at the Gambler’s Run Music Festival this weekend? 🎶✴️ We’ve partnered up with some local organizations to bring a sustainable twist to the event, with a Speaker Series about sustainability in Tahoe and interactive conservation activities to win cool prizes 👏 Come say hi this weekend! Learn more here: sierranevadaalliance.org/sustainability-at-cbc/

Crystal Bay Casino Lake Tahoe Keep Tahoe Blue Tahoe Rim Trail Association UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center Take Care Tahoe DRINK TAHOE TAP

We’re accepting proposals for our Conservation Conference! 🏔️ We’ll be hosting sessions on various topics and are looking for presenters to share research, current projects, host a collaborative session around an initiative, and more. This year's theme is Strengthening Conservation Impact Through Partnership. Submit your proposals here: bit.ly/SNAproposals24

Ignite the Olympic torch and build lasting collaborative partnerships through the ⭐1st Annual Nonprofit Games ⭐

Join us for 3 fun events designed to foster collaboration, competitiveness, and community impact. The first event will be the Opening Ceremony Trivia Night Thursday, July 25. We’ll be there, and we need more team members so we can be crowned the winner! To join us, show up or email [email protected] and learn more about the event here: sierranevadaalliance.org/event/nonprofit-games-24

Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation

CANCELLED: We had such a great time at our first plant walk ✨🌱 If you missed it, fear not! We have another one coming up next week, July 18 from 5:30-7:30 pm. Next week’s focus will be “Medicines on the Edge” - we’ll learn about common plants that live on the borders of urban and forested landscapes. Register here: sierranevadaalliance.org/event/snaplantwalkjuly

✨✨✨ We have protected the Habitat Conservation Fund and we have a $10 Billion Climate Bond headed to the November Ballot for voters to decide! ✨✨✨

Thank you Governor Gavin Newsom, Speaker Robert Rivas, and members for giving voters a chance in November to say yes to climate action! 👏 For a budget and climate bond update head to our website: sierranevadaalliance.org/ca-budget-update/

We’re stoked to be partnering with the Gambler’s Run Music Festival this month at the Crystal Bay Casino Lake Tahoe 🎶✴️ With the help of some partner organizations, we’re leading the effort to make the event more sustainable. There’ll be a speaker series about Tahoe conservation, a waste sorting system, booths with local organizations, and our most exciting development: reusable cups to make the event plastic-free! 👏 Learn more: sierranevadaalliance.org/gamblers-run-2024/

Keep Tahoe Blue Tahoe Rim Trail Association Take Care Tahoe UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center DRINK TAHOE TAP

Our Lake Tahoe Ambassadors are back in action! 💙 Every Summer, we hire young people in Lake Tahoe to guide the public on how best to take care of this special place. Last week, our 12 Ambassadors spent several days at orientation to prepare for the busy holiday weekend!

We couldn’t do this without our community here in Tahoe, and want to give a huge thank you to all of our partners that helped make orientation happen: Tahoe Rim Trail Association, Keep Tahoe Blue, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center, Take Care Tahoe, Headwaters Science Institute, and Clean Up The Lake.

We’re also incredibly grateful to our funders for another year of this special program: Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority (Visit Lake Tahoe), U.S. Forest Service - Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, North Tahoe Community Alliance, Parks California, and the Latrobe Fund.

Learn more about our Ambassador program: sierranevadaalliance.org/laketahoeambassadors/

It’s SNAP Takeover Tuesday! 💫

This week, we’re learning about Kaley Arboleda’s AmeriCorps service with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency 🏔️ As the Housing Outreach Coordinator, Kaley has been involved in vital housing amendments focused on affordable and workforce housing developments in the Tahoe region.

Her service addresses the severe shortage of affordable housing in Tahoe by gathering comprehensive input from various stakeholders to shape equitable housing policies. By combining community engagement, including multilingual outreach and public workshops, with data-driven GIS analysis, she’s helping to create targeted strategies for sustainable community development and achieving environmental targets 🏠

Learn more about Kaley’s service: sierranevadaalliance.org/kaley-arboleda



Funding for SNAP is supported by Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation's Nature Fund and Martis Fund - a collaborative project of Martis Camp landowners, DMB/Highlands Group (the developers of Martis Camp), Mountain Area Preservation Foundation (MAP), and Sierra Watch. Sierra Nevada Alliance is a proud grantee of AmeriCorps and California Volunteers, Office of the Governor.

We are in the final days before a climate bond must be passed by the Legislature July 3 in time for the November Ballot! Even in a tight budget year, Californians deserve safe drinking water, extreme weather protection, wildfire resilience, and clean air. We support efforts to put a on the ballot! Gavin Newsom Speaker Robert Rivas Mike McGuire

We're proud to be a sustainability partner for this fun upcoming event!

As part of its ongoing efforts to make Gambler's Run Music Festival a sustainable and environmentally conscious event, the Crystal Bay Casino has partnered with Sierra Nevada Alliance, Keep Tahoe Blue (The League to Save Lake Tahoe), Take Care Tahoe and others. The CBC is committed to a plastic free event featuring GRMF souvenir cups, single use aluminum cups, canned water, and 2 stream-trash receptacles. With the help of our local community, we will make this vision a reality. Stop by the Non-Profit Village and find out more about this partnership.

Take it Slow, Tahoe yard signs are back! 🤩 Pick up a free yard sign from Take Care Tahoe at one of seven locations around the lake to encourage drivers to slow down to protect people and animals. Learn more here: takecaretahoe.org/take-action/take-it-slow/

In an inspiring show of unity and determination, we have fantastic news to celebrate! ✨ Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature have struck a deal that reverses an earlier decision to revert $45 million from the Habitat Conservation Fund. This funding will go towards vital habitat protection and restoration, and the fight against climate change 🏔️

We’re so grateful to all of our supporters who spoke up in defense of the Habitat Conservation Fund. Your voice made the difference! 👏

We also want to thank Gov. Newsom and our supporters in the Legislature who made this decision possible: Sen. Catherine Blakespear, Sen. Josh Becker, Senator Ben Allen, and Senator Brian Dahle. Vital support also came from Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, Senate Leader pro team Mike McGuire, Sen. Scott Wiener, and Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel. Want to learn more? See our post on the Habitat Conservation Fund here: sierranevadaalliance.org/hcf-protected/

It’s SNAP Takeover Tuesday! 💫

Let’s head over to Placerville this week to meet Stephani Smith, one of our AmeriCorps members serving with the U.S. Forest Service Placerville Nursery 🌲 As the Seed Need and Inventory Specialist, Stephani helps maintain the Nursery’s container system, which has the capacity to grow 2.1 million seedlings.

The Placerville Nursery grows conifers for all of CA’s National Forests. Stephani maintains the container system by processing and organizing containers, fixing irrigation components, maintaining data logs, and general clean-up of nursery grounds to improve efficiency and standard operating procedures ✨

Learn more about Stephani’s service: sierranevadaalliance.org/stephani-smith-2



Funding for SNAP is supported by Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation's Nature Fund and Martis Fund - a collaborative project of Martis Camp landowners, DMB/Highlands Group (the developers of Martis Camp), Mountain Area Preservation Foundation (MAP), and Sierra Watch. Sierra Nevada Alliance is a proud grantee of AmeriCorps and California Volunteers, Office of the Governor.

We’re accepting proposals for our Conservation Conference! 🏔️ Do you have a conservation topic you’d like to present on? This year's theme is Strengthening Conservation Impact Through Partnership. Proposals are due by July 20, submit them here: bit.ly/SNAproposals24

Next week! Join us for an educational plant walk 🌱 On June 27 from 5:30-7:30 pm, we’ll get to learn all about native plants and their many uses from Gina Woods, master herbalist and botanist. Register here: sierranevadaalliance.org/event/snaplantwalk/

Gavin Newsom Mike McGuire Speaker Robert Rivas Scott Wiener Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel: Don’t let the ⏰ run out! Place on the ballot a robust, equitable ! CA's climate policies set the standard WHEN ACCOMPANIED BY 💵💵💵 FOR ACTION. bit.ly/4bMTlS9

Dear Speaker Robert Rivas Mike McGuire Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel Scott Wiener: Last year, Gavin Newsom's May Revise said CA needed a bond “to advance the climate and opportunity agenda.” Nothing has changed. Stabilize & boost climate action 💵💵💵 thru the crisis with a !

Meet the faces of SNA 🌟

Say hello to Colleen Laird, Sierra Corps Forestry Fellow with Yosemite/Sequoia Resource Conservation & Development Council (Y/S RC&DC) 🌲 As the Forest Health Project Coordinator, Colleen will help with projects related to forestry capacity, forest health, and fire resilience in the region.

Colleen joined Sierra Corps for the amazing opportunity to contribute to conservation in the Sierra Nevada while gaining project management training. She’s grateful for a program that mentors while encouraging growth and independence. She’s most excited to collaborate with local conservation leaders and extend her skill set across disciplines 🏔️

Learn more about Sierra Corps: sierranevadaalliance.org/sierracorps



Funding for Sierra Corps provided by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s (CAL FIRE) Business and Workforce Development Grants, and is supported by Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation's Nature Fund and Martis Fund - a collaborative project of Martis Camp landowners, DMB/Highlands Group (the developers of Martis Camp), Mountain Area PreservationFoundation (MAP) and Sierra Watch.

❗️The Time to Act is Now❗️ We're making real strides toward building wildfire and water resilience in Sierra Nevada forests and watersheds, but State budget cuts severely threaten this progress. We need a stable funding source for local conservation and restoration projects!

A recent Federal Climate Financial Report shows that over the last decade, wildfire suppression has cost the USFS and the Department of the Interior an average of more than $3 billion per year. Anticipated increased fire suppression costs due to climate change bring additional urgency to the need to invest in wildfire resilience projects and efforts to protect communities ahead of extreme climate events.

We need State investments in restoration and land management programs that:
🌳Protect our health, environment, and way of life
🏔️Preserve irreplaceable landscapes
✨ Maintain California's climate leadership
🔥 Avoid catastrophic impacts due to megafires

Please help us urge our State leaders to keep the momentum going! What can you do?

Like this post or create your own and tag the following representatives: Governor Gavin Newsom, Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, Scott Wiener, Wade Crowfoot, CA Natural Resources Agency, CA Wildlife Conservation Board

Save the date! 🗓️ The Sierra Nevada Alliance Conservation Conference will take place this year on November 7 and 8 at Lake Tahoe Community College. Our Conference is a biannual event that focuses on conservation issues in the region, from sustainable recreation to forest health and much more 🏔️ Stay tuned for more details!

Project PCT update! 🥾 Still in the desert of Southern California, Riordan is enjoying the gorgeous views and collective stewardship and gratitude among hikers on the PCT. Read on for some of his experience, and head to this page to learn more and donate: alchemy-lab.org/project-pct

“One of the most inspiring things that I have witnessed first hand on trail is everyone's commitment to the "Leave No Trace" mindset. I've met countless strangers that have gone out of their way to leave nothing behind so that the natural beauty and ecosystems that we pass through are preserved. Thousands of hikers have hiked the PCT ahead of me this year alone, and the only indication of their passing are the footprints they have left behind.”

Alchemy Lab

It’s SNAP Takeover Tuesday! 💫

This week, we’re heading to the Eastern Sierra, where Maggie Flaherty is serving her 2nd AmeriCorps term as the COSA Education and Outreach Coordinator with the Bishop Paiute Tribe 🏔️ Learn more about Maggie’s service: sierranevadaalliance.org/maggie-flaherty-cosa

On the Bishop Paiute Reservation is a 25-acre wetland, known as the Conservation Open Space Area - COSA. To involve more community members in stewarding this incredible wetland, Maggie helped start a program called Friends of the COSA. Each month, she hosts a Friends of the COSA event and has volunteers assist with projects such as invasive species removal and infrastructure improvements. These events help get conservation projects in the COSA done by inviting community members to take an active role in caring for the space.



Funding for SNAP is supported by Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation's Nature Fund and Martis Fund - a collaborative project of Martis Camp landowners, DMB/Highlands Group (the developers of Martis Camp), Mountain Area Preservation Foundation (MAP), and Sierra Watch. Sierra Nevada Alliance is a proud grantee of AmeriCorps and California Volunteers, Office of the Governor.

Ever wanted to learn more about edible and medicinal plants of the Sierra? 🌱 Join us on Thursday, June 27 or July 18 from 5:30-7:30 pm for a nature walk with Gina Woods, where we’ll learn all about edible and medicinal plants in Lake Tahoe. Register here: sierranevadaalliance.org/event/snaplantwalk/

💥 Take Action! 💥 There’s a serious threat to funding for natural resources and climate resilience as the Legislature and Administration try to reach an agreement on the 24-25 budget by June 15. We need your help! Learn more and take action: sierranevadaalliance.org/conservation-24-25-budget/

CA's final budget agreement would cut at least $1.3 Billion in natural resource and climate resilience funding. The proposal cuts over $484 million from watershed climate resilience programs - including most reductions targeting the Cascade and High Sierra Upper Watershed Climate Resilience Program. These investments are critical for powering forest health in the Sierra and will set back years of work in building wildfire and water resilience in the Sierra landscapes 🏔️

Cutting or delaying spending on programs that help California adapt to climate change will exacerbate natural disasters. Extreme climate events such as wildfires severely impacting Sierra Nevada communities, local economies, and our beloved habitats will not wait.

Gavin Newsom Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel Speaker Robert Rivas