"Nature is always lovely, invincible, glad, whatever is done and suffered by her creatures." John Muir

Eastern Sierra

Programs

The Sierra Nevada region faces many challenges. Twenty-three of twenty-four major watersheds in the Sierra are listed as polluted or impaired. Over seventeen species are listed as threatened and endangered. Climate change is predicted to reduce the snowpack by 36% in 50 years. The Sierra is the third fastest growing region of the state of California. The Sierra Nevada Alliance is a leading organization committed to raising statewide and national awareness of these issues and determined to make a difference on protecting Sierra lands, water, wildlife and communities. The Sierra Nevada Alliance acts as a unified regional voice focusing attention on the entire Sierra Nevada region. At the same time the Alliance works to strengthen individual conservation efforts throughout the region.

Sierra Community and Resource Protection Programs

• Sustainable Sierra Communities
  The Sustainable Sierra Communities program encourages actions and local planning processes to increase the sustainability of vibrant rural Sierra communities. Through on-the-ground projects, model programs, publications, events and workshops, the Sustainable Sierra Communities Program focuses on local actions toward a sustainable future.
   
• Regional Climate Change Program
  The Regional Climate Change Program works to ensure a resilient, thriving and self-reliant Sierra region that will successfully face future economic, environmental and societal challenges and changes, particularly climate change. By supporting and fostering innovation through existing planning processes, the program will assist local organizations and leaders to protect the historic town-centered communities of the Sierra, preserve working landscapes and open space, incorporate sustainable water management practices, reduce greenhouse gases and adapt to climate change to ensure resilience of Sierra communities, watersheds, and wildlife. By 2013, the Regional Climate Change Program, working with our member groups and local partners, will help develop and implement at least seven model resource plans.
   

Community Group Support Programs

This program strengthens the individual efforts of our member groups to protect and restore Sierra special places, wildlife, resources and communities.

• Community Group Support
  Keeping our member groups and allies abreast of issues, successful strategies and resources important to Sierra conservation efforts.
   
• Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership
  Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership places 27 AmeriCorps members with conservation agencies/non-profits to conduct watershed restoration and monitoring, watershed education, and volunteer recruitment and support in the Sierra. We will be accepting applications in September 2011 for positions beginning January 23, 2012 .