CAMERON PARK, Calif. March 12, 2019 – The Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) Governing Board recently authorized over $26 million in funds for 35 projects that will reduce wildfire risk, protect water supply, and restore forest and watershed health in the Sierra Nevada region. The projects awarded support the goals and objectives of the Sierra Nevada Watershed Improvement Program, a large-scale restoration program designed to improve ecosystem and community resilience in the Sierra Nevada. This program is coordinated by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy and implemented through a strong network of state and federal agencies, local government, and tribal, private, and nonprofit partners.
“Building resilience in the Sierra Nevada is our primary focus, and the funding authorized by our board demonstrates the SNC’s commitment to increasing the pace and scale of restoration across the region,” says Angela Avery, Executive Officer for the Sierra Nevada Conservancy. “We’re proud to be supporting these projects and the partners who will be implementing them on the ground.”
Funding for these projects come from Proposition 1, The Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014; Proposition 68, The California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection, and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018; the Timber Regulation and Forest Restoration Fund; Fire Settlement Funds; and the California Climate Investments program. Funding awards were made by the SNC Governing Board at the quarterly board meeting on March 7, 2019 in Cameron Park, CA.
Approximately $14.4 million in Proposition 1 and Proposition 68 funds were authorized for 23 projects in Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Fresno, El Dorado, Lassen, Modoc, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sierra, Tehama, and Tuolumne counties. One additional project, funded by Proposition 68 for $163,405, will complete a land conservation assessment across all 22 counties within the Sierra Nevada region.
Four projects were authorized for funding through the Timber Regulation and Forest Restoration Fund for a total of $750,000. These four projects support innovative wood product manufacturing and increase rural economic development around wood product manufacturing across the 22-county Sierra Nevada region. One project was authorized for just over $6 million in funding through Fire Settlement Funds. This project will complete reforestation activities in the Moonlight Fire burn footprint in the Plumas National Forest.
Approximately $4.6 million was authorized for subgrants and contracts to complete components of the Tahoe-Central Sierra Initiative (TCSI) All-Lands Regional Restoration Program Eldorado Projects/French Meadows Project. The TCSI All-Lands Regional Restoration Program is funded by a $10.7 million grant from CAL FIRE’s California Climate Investments grant program and will implement five separate forest health projects, planning and environmental review for six future restoration projects, and three research projects in Placer, El Dorado, Yuba, and Sierra counties. This project is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing GHG emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment – particularly in disadvantaged communities. The Cap-and-Trade program also creates a financial incentive for industries to invest in clean technologies and develop innovative ways to reduce pollution. California Climate Investments projects include affordable housing, renewable energy, public transportation, zero-emission vehicles, environmental restoration, moresustainable agriculture, recycling, and much more. At least 35 percent of these investments are located within and benefit the residents of disadvantaged communities, low-income communities, and low-income households across California. For more information, visit the California Climate Investments website at: www.caclimateinvestments.ca.gov.
Additional information about each of these projects and the programs that fund them can be found at www.sierranevada.ca.gov in the March 2019 Board Meeting materials.