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The Sierra Fund is now Indigenous Futures Society.

The Sierra FundLegacyarchive

2015

News and project updates from 2015.

SMARA Reform Bill (SB 209) shelved until 2016 legislative session

The Sierra Fund’s bill being carried by Senator Fran Pavley to amend the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act (SMARA) got all of the way through the Senate and to the floor of the Assembly before being put on a shelf until winter. This bill aims to improve enforcement of SMARA by lead agencies (usually cities and counties). Key elements of SMARA include ensuring regular and expert inspections, adequate financial mechanisms in place to support reclamation, and a good reclamation plan that is implemented when mining ends.

TSF speaks at California Water Commission hearing

Last Wednesday, October 21 The Sierra Fund’s CEO Elizabeth “Izzy” Martin spoke to the California Water Commission (CWC) at their public event in Yuba City. Through this evening event, the Commission was soliciting input on how to implement the water storage section of Proposition 1, including how to invest the more than $2 billion in the bond for increasing water storage in the state. Martin spoke about the potential to improve reservoir operation, increase water storage and enhance water quality and ecosystem resiliency by removing sediment that is clogging reservoirs in the Sierra Nevada.

Two AmeriCorps positions open at TSF – applications due 7/25/15

The Sierra Fund will again be hosting two full time AmeriCorps positions through the Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership (SNAP): one Community Outreach Coordinator, and one Research Assistant. These one-year positions begin in November 2015 and are a fantastic way to gain professional skills and experience while serving important Sierra causes. Application materials for these and other SNAP positions are available here, and are due this Saturday, July 25, 2015.

Thanks to volunteers, fish consumption advisories now posted at 28 local lakes and reservoirs

On July 11, teams of volunteers organized by the South Yuba River Citizens League, The Sierra Fund and the Wolf Creek Community Alliance traveled to popular fishing locations and posted 98 fish consumption advisory signs. This was the first time these state-issued fish consumption guidelines had ever been posted at these water bodies. Anglers now have the information they need to make smart decisions on what fish are safe to eat and feed to their families.

Annual Sierra Water Workgroup Summit to be held August 10, 2015

This year’s Sierra Water Workgroup event is a full-day workshop focused on issues and tools around the theme “Protecting Our Water.” The issues will include: Quantification - how do we figure out how much we actually have; Beneficial and Reasonable Use in the Sierra - What do with what we have; Quality - source protection, legacy mining, forest planning, etc.; and How we interact with the pressures on and interests in the sierra water supply exerted by the needs of the rest of the state - particularly in times of drought and in light of climate change. The event will spend the day framing questions about how these issues can be addressed with specific tools and concrete action, including timelines and assignments, as opposed to simply doing additional planning. We will investigate the trending policies regarding these issues in California and how are dollars expected to follow those policy trends.

Positions open through Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership

Do you love the Sierra? Want to help restore and protect the Range of Light? Do you want to gain valuable environmental professional experience? Apply to become one of the 28 Members of the 2015-2016 Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership (SNAP)! The SNAP program is seeking enthusiastic, conservation-minded people to commit to a year of service to protect Sierra natural resources and sustainable communities. During the year, SNAP members will gain skills and technical training, mentor with outstanding environmental leaders and receive an education award at the successful completion of service. Deadline for applying is July 25, 2015. Interviews will begin in early August.

Volunteer to “Post It!” on July 11 – getting fish consumption advisory information out

Volunteer to post fish consumption advisories at local lakes and reservoirs: Saturday, July 11, 2015, 9am~5pm (Ending times will vary). The Sierra Fund, in collaboration with South Yuba River Citizens League and Wolf Creek Community Alliance, is organizing a community volunteer effort to post state-issued fish consumption advisories at local lakes and reservoirs, and we need your help! Help us post educational signage to give anglers the best information regarding healthy choices on sport fish consumption, specifically which fish caught from these water bodies are best for eating, and feeding their families.

Deer Creek Tribute Trail fundraiser a huge success!

Yesterday, nearly 50 people attended the third annual fundraiser event for the Deer Creek Tribute Trail (DCTT) featuring a live auction and intimate house concert at a private home in Nevada City. The event raised nearly $5,000 to support expenses related to finishing up the newly completed Nisenan Tribute Site, and potentially and paying for a new trail map that reflects all completed trail sections in one place. The event featured “The Consolations” – a fabulous local men’s quartet with accompanist David Blanchard – who performed cover songs like “The Circle of Life,” “Stand by Me,” and the Beach Boys classic “Barbara Ann.” The Consolations had the audience clapping on their feet, performing Doo-Wop and Barbershop music from the past and the present.

TSF receives grant from Cal/EPA Environmental Justice Program

The Sierra Fund is pleased to announce that we have received funding from the Cal/EPA Environmental Justice Small Grants Program to increase awareness of Sierra anglers about mercury in fish. Working with South Yuba River Citizens League, Wolf Creek Community Alliance, and local volunteers, we will lead a community effort that will result in state-issued fish consumption guidelines posted at public access points of popular fishing lakes and reservoirs.

SMARA reform bill (SB 209) passes Senate Floor

SB 209 (Pavley), a bill to improve enforcement of California's Surface Mining and Reclamation Act passed the Senate Floor. A wide range of organizations have worked to support this bill including TSF, Environmental Working Group, CA League of Conservation Voters, Clean Water Action, Wolf Creek Community Alliance, CLAIM-GV, Endangered Habitats League, CA Native Plant Society, San Juan Ridge Taxpayers Association, and Center for Biological Diversity.

Deer Creek Tribute Trail Fundraiser: Sunday June 14

The Deer Creek Tribute Trail's annual fundraiser will again feature a live auction and intimate house concert at a private home in Nevada City. Plan for an afternoon of light refreshments and toe-tapping entertainment on Sunday June 14 starting at 4:00 p.m. Suggested ticket donation for this live concert benefit is $50.00 per person. Space is very limited and this event will sell out soon! To reserve your seat, please click here to complete the online RSVP form. All proceeds will benefit the trail.

Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership seeking host organizations for 2015-16

The Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership, a program of the Sierra Nevada Alliance, is currently accepting applications from California Sierra Nevada conservation organizations and agencies to become a Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership Host Site for the upcoming 2015 – 2016 SNAP Program. Qualifying organizations will receive a full-time AmeriCorps Member or Members to serve 11 months at their organization/agency from October 15, 2015 – September 15, 2016. SNAP Members conduct valuable watershed restoration and assessment projects, as well as watershed education projects, and volunteer recruitment and support.

Conference Brief: Best Available Techniques for Mine Impacted Lands

The Sierra Fund’s third bi-annual conference, Reclaiming the Sierra 2015: The New Gold Rush, will devote an entire conference track to examining the Best Available Techniques for Mine Impacted Lands (BATMIL). BATMILs represent state of the art options for abating contaminants in the environment. Best Available Techniques should be considered when addressing AMLs during mine site assessment, remediation, and post-remediation effectiveness evaluation.

TSF Releases New Technical Report on Malakoff Diggins and the Humbug Creek Watershed

Today, The Sierra Fund is releasing a new report, the result of more than five years of collaborative science-based data collection, research, and analysis at Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park, part of the California State Parks system. The newly released Report outlines an assessment of the various physical and chemical characteristics of this legacy hydraulic mining park, including the pit or “diggins”; tunnels and shafts from the old mining operation; and the discharge from these features into downstream watersheds. The assessment portion of this Report used a variety of methods to learn about the nature of the pit itself as well as the Humbug Creek (into which the “diggins” discharge) including:

Reclaiming the Sierra 2015 opens on April 20 with “The Tonight Show” featuring conference keynotes and the Sacramento State Jazz Quartet

This link between cleaning up our legacy mines and educating consumers about the need for responsible mining practices will be featured in the opening night of The Sierra Fund’s “Reclaiming the Sierra” conference on Monday, April 20 at CSU Sacramento. This talk show-styled panel includes leaders representing completely different perspectives, from international ethical jewelers working to identify “fair mined gold,” to protecting and restoring tribal cultures devastated by the Gold Rush, to state regulators working to clean up the mine-impacted rivers and forests. Monday night’s program takes the format of a television talk show, with Elizabeth “Izzy” Martin, CEO of The Sierra Fund serving as the host. She will kick off the program with a quick outline of The Sierra Fund’s vision for the triple bottom line benefits that mine reclamation will bring to California. Each of the next speakers will get a chance to make a presentation before sitting down with Izzy to discuss with each other their ideas.

Conference Brief: Multiple Benefits of Legacy Mine Reclamation Track

Today’s potential for consumer-driven environmental action has exciting potential to reverse the dire impacts of legacy mining in California, particularly in the context of the State’s reservoirs. The Multiple Benefits Track on April 20 at Reclaiming the Sierra 2015 offers technical experts, regulatory agencies, industry representatives, Tribal entities, and fair-trade jewelry activists a series of three workshops that will examine the many benefits of conscientious sediment removal from reservoirs and the potential market for E3 Gold that is ecologically sourced through reclamation and restoration efforts, including sediment removal activities.

Sierra Fish Consumption Advisory (Poster)

This fish consumption advisory information applies to all lakes and reservoirs in California without site-specific advice, which is the vast majority of lakes in the Sierra. The Sierra Fund worked with agency staff at the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment and Department of Public Health to develop this advisory poster for Sierra anglers, which consists of the state-issued fish consumption advisory for these lakes and reservoirs.

Conference Brief: Prioritization Track at Reclaiming the Sierra 2015

California’s mining history remains with us today. Mercury from mine-scarred landscapes in the State’s headwaters contaminates our watersheds from the Sierra to the Bay, and physical hazards riddle public and private lands. The prioritization track at Reclaiming the Sierra 2015, April 20-21 at Sacramento State University, invites government representatives, researchers, consultants, and more to develop a proactive, collaborative, comprehensive strategy for abating contamination and physical hazards posed by abandoned mine lands across California.

Half Term Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Member positions still available

Do you love the Sierra? Want to help restore and protect the Range of Light? Do you want to gain valuable environmental professional experience? Apply today to become one of the 29 Members of the 2014 - 2015 Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership (SNAP) as a Half Term Member! The Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership is seeking enthusiastic, conservation-minded people to commit to 6 months of service to protect Sierra natural resources and sustainable communities.

Volunteer opportunities available for Reclaiming the Sierra conference

The Sierra Fund's bi-annual Reclaiming the Sierra conference will be held April 20-21, 2015 at Sacramento State University. This event is supported by numerous sponsors, speakers and facilitators who give their time to share their expertise, and volunteers who help with conference logistics. If you are interested in volunteering your time before or during the conference in exchange for reduced registration fees, please contact Kelsey Westfall by April 1, 2015.

Sierra Nevada Conservancy’s 10 Year Anniversary a Huge Success

On March 4th, The Sierra Fund celebrated their Annual Winter Reception by honoring the 10th Year Anniversary of the creation of the Sierra Nevada Conservancy. Over 250 attendees, including leaders of Sierra Nevada organizations, legislators, agency heads, and many more, gathered in Sacramento to support and toast to the momentous occasion. The Sierra Nevada Conservancy's Governing Board, staff and past board members were also in attendance.

Join us as we celebrate the Sierra Nevada Conservancy’s ten-year anniversary, March 4, 2015

For this year’s Annual Winter Reception,The Sierra Fund is celebrating the 10 Year Anniversary of the creation of the Sierra Nevada Conservancy. Over the last decade the Conservancy has invested over $51 million in effective programs aimed at protecting, conserving and restoring the Sierra Nevada Region’s resources. The reception will be held March 4, 2015 from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM, at the Elk's Tower, 921 11th Street, Sacramento,CA 95814.