The Sierra provides 60% of California’s developed water, is home to half the animal and plant communities of the state, and sees over 40-50 million visitors each year. At the same time 23 of 24 major watersheds are impaired, there are over 15 endangered and threatened species in the Sierra, and the region faces incredible pressures from growth and climate change. But despite the natural resource value of the region and challenges, the state for years invested less than 2% of state funding in conservation efforts in the Sierra. The new Sierra Conservancy is an opportunity for strong state conservation support and is critical to the future of the region.

In an effort to develop the resources to protect this invaluable national resource, Assembly members Tim Leslie and John Laird joined together with Governor Schwarzenegger in 2004 to create a Sierra Nevada Conservancy. This successful legislation created the largest state conservation effort of its kind in the nation, covering over 25 million acres in 22 counties, from the Oregon border nearly to Bakersfield.