The purpose of the Gold Country Coalition EPA Brownfields Assessment meeting is to share the results of an assessment of properties impacted by historic mining activities, and to review plans to cleanup sites where contamination was identified. Assessment was conducted on eleven properties in Nevada County totaling 386 acres; all of these sites were close […]
The Sierra Fund
Joan Clayburgh announced as new Director of The Sierra Fund
The Sierra Fund is pleased to announce the board of directors has hired seasoned conservation leader and long-time friend of the Sierra Nevada, Joan Clayburgh, as their new Executive Director. Her first day in the office is today, November 8th, 2021. Joan brings three decades of conservation leadership experience, having served as The Sierra Nevada […]
Izzy Martin announces her intention to retire as CEO of The Sierra Fund
The Sierra Fund’s long-time CEO, Elizabeth “Izzy” Martin, has announced her intention to retire from the station she has held for nearly 20 years. A search is underway for the Executive Director position, guided by The Sierra Fund (TSF) Board of Directors and assisted by Cook Silverman Search. “TSF is emerging from the COVID pandemic […]
Spring Has Sprung at the Nisenan Cultural Reclamation Corridor
Spring has sprung at the Nisenan Cultural Reclamation Corridor (NCRC) in Nevada City and exciting planning is underway for the new segment of the Deer Creek Tribute Trail (DCTT)! With funding from the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA), local non-profit The Sierra Fund (TSF) has been working in coordination with the owner of the NCRC, […]
Addressing the Impact of the Gold Rush during Earth Week
The footprint of California’s 19th century Gold Rush stretches from the Sierra Nevada to the sea. More than a century ago entire communities and ecosystems were destroyed in the hunt for gold. As a result, today’s residents of the Gold Country – the state’s headwaters – are living on top of and surrounded by physically […]
Sierra Fund: President’s Executive Order on Climate Change is Good News for the Gold Country
January 29, 2021 – President Biden issued an Executive Order on January 27, 2021 on “Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad.” This sweeping new order directs that, going forward, “climate considerations shall be an essential element of United States foreign policy and national security.” The Sierra Fund applauds this bold move. “Among other […]
Governor Makes Strides in Promoting Equity for California First Nations and in Combatting Climate Change
NEVADA CITY, CA October 15, 2020 – Nevada City based nonprofit, The Sierra Fund, is pleased to report that last Wednesday, October 7, 2020, Governor Newsom signed an Executive Order that acknowledges the interconnectedness of California’s communities and economic sustainability with our natural and cultural resources. The executive order aims to address the biodiversity and […]
Community Input Needed to Address Public Health
NEVADA CITY, CA February 13, 2020 – Did you know that residents in our region are at risk of exposure to pollutants and contaminants as a result of historic land-use practices dating to the Gold Rush era? Local nonprofit, The Sierra Fund, has recently released an anonymous online survey, in English and Spanish, designed to […]
Humbug Creek partially responsible for Yuba River plume – Learn more about the legacy of mining impacts on our watersheds this Wednesday
October 15, 2019 – Nearly three weeks after a major discharge event on the South Yuba River resulted in water quality impairment and a no-swim advisory issued by Nevada County Public Health, the exact cause has yet to be determined. This now infamous photo was taken Friday September 20, 2019 at the Highway 49 crossing. […]
Reclaiming the Sierra conference Oct. 16-18
October 3, 2019 – The Reclaiming the Sierra conference returns to Grass Valley October 16-18, 2019 – the first time in nearly a decade that the West’s primary venue for showcasing innovation in assessment and reclamation of mine-impacted landscapes has been held in the Gold Country. Reclaiming the Sierra was launched by local non-profit, The […]
Fifth annual Post It Day event this Saturday improves access to guidelines for eating fish safely
NEVADA CITY, CA April 12, 2019 – Thanks to the significant rainfall during the month of March, Sierra reservoirs are primed for the summer fishing season. As anglers head to local water bodies, The Sierra Fund is making sure they have access to important information about which fish are safe to eat. On Saturday, April […]
April shoppers bring May dollars for local nonprofit, The Sierra Fund
NEVADA CITY, Calif. April 3, 2019 – When visiting BriarPatch Food Co-op this month opt to round up your haul of Spring-time produce and organic goods to the nearest dollar in support of local non-profit, The Sierra Fund (TSF). The Sierra Fund, based in Nevada City, has been selected by BriarPatch Food Co-op as their […]
Help CSU Chico Students affected by the Camp Fire
November 12, 2018 – Chico State University has established the Wildcats Rise Fire Recovery Fund to allocate financial resources to students and faculty who were directly impacted by the Camp Fire, which struck Butte County on Thursday, November 8. Some students have lost everything as a result of the fast-moving and devastating Camp Fire. Donations […]
Free Public Discussion about Environmental Health in the Gold Country on Nov. 13
NEVADA CITY, Calif.October 30, 2018 – The Sierra Fund (TSF) is excited to invite those who live, work or play in Nevada County to attend a free evening of discussion about the unique environmental health challenges that impact Gold Country communities. The Environmental Health Summit will take place on Tuesday, November 13 from 6:00 – […]
Public Invited to Informational Meeting about US EPA Brownfields Funding Awarded to City of Grass Valley
June 21, 2018 – The Cities of Grass Valley and Nevada City have been extremely successful in attracting federal funding to investigate underutilized properties for the presence of contaminants as a step in moving these lands toward sustainable reuse and redevelopment. Now they are teaming up with Nevada County under a new Brownfields Assessment Grant, […]
Climate Change: Fire and Rain in California
NEVADA CITY, Calif. June 19, 2018 – The state’s headwaters are ground-zero for the impact of global climate change on California’s water and air. This policy paper by The Sierra Fund discusses the need for significant investment to address the forecasted impacts of climate change on forest fire and watershed health in the state. Introduction […]
Volunteers post fish consumption advisories at popular fishing locations, with new permanent signage
NEVADA CITY, CA May 10, 2018 – On Sunday, May 6, sixteen volunteers, organized by nonprofit The Sierra Fund, traveled to popular fishing locations in the Sierra to post information about which locally caught fish are safe to eat, and which fish should be avoided because of mercury. Mercury is a persistent and pervasive remnant […]
Annual Legislative Reception a Celebration of 10 Years for the Sierra
May 1, 2018 – On April 18, 2018, The Sierra Fund (TSF) Board and staff welcomed over 100 influential guests to the Citizen Hotel in downtown Sacramento for their 10th Annual Legislative Reception. This year’s event was a special celebration commemorating the release of TSF’s first report ten years ago, Mining’s Toxic Legacy, to a […]
Local efforts to reduce human exposure to mercury timely with statewide rulemaking
July 20, 2017 – This week, the US EPA approved new statewide water quality objectives for mercury in California. The objectives were developed by the State Water Resources Control Board and aim to limit mercury in fish tissue to protect human health and that of fish-consuming wildlife. These rules call attention to the public health […]
Governor Enacts Budget with Millions for Remediation Projects at Mine-Impacted Sites
NEVADA CITY, Calif. July 6, 2017 – California’s 2017/2018 budget, recently signed by Governor Jerry Brown, includes funding for two projects in the Sierra that will help protect water quality and abate mercury contamination resulting from historic mining activities. TSF CEO Elizabeth “Izzy” Martin commends the investments by the Governor and state departments, saying “this […]