Publications - Reports, Toolkits & Guides

I. Resource Reports
II. Toolkits
III. Guides
IV. Event Materials

The purpose of this paper is to introduce new Sierra Nevada Conservancy board members, staff, and others interested in the Sierra Nevada to the subregions of the Sierra. The Sierra Nevada Conservancy has divided the Sierra Nevada into six subregions. Each subregion shares common needs and opportunities with the other subregions. At the same time, each subregion has unique characteristics, assets, and challenges.

This report chronicles that California now has 5.1 million homes in wildfire-hazard areas, more than any other state.

The South Lake Tahoe Monitoring Project is a volunteer water quality monitoring group. This report is a summary of the data collected in 2008. An attachment in the PDF file includes all 2008 raw data.

Six of the native frogs and toads of the Sierra Nevada and California Cascade ranges are experiencing dramatic declines in population. For example, the California red-legged frog, the largest native frog in the western United States, can no longer be found across 70 percent of its historic range in California and has almost completely disappeared from the Sierra foothills. These hard hit critters are part of a larger Global Amphibian Crisis; 40% of the world's 6000 labeled amphibian species have declined recently and nearly one third are facing extinction. This latest publication of the Alliance is meant to raise awareness of and public concern for the plight of Sierra frogs and toads.

The Report covers a number of issues including:

The Sierra Climate Change Toolkit, 3rd Edition is the newest publication from the Sierra Nevada Alliance. This one-of-a-kind resource is designed specifically for Sierra resource managers, local governments, planners, non-profits, activists, and concerned citizens looking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change in order to save money, enhance local economies, and protect our unique rural communities. As the only Sierra-specific climate change resource, the cutting-edge Sierra Climate Change Toolkit, 3rd Edition is a comprehensive starting point for those interested in addressing climate change in Sierra watersheds and communities. It is greatly expanded from previous editions, with more detail, new resources, and an expanded focus on both reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change within existing planning processes throughout the Sierra. The Toolkit covers a wide range of topics, including: the science of climate change and impacts at the global, national, state, and regional levels; the national, state, and regional context in which climate change emission reduction and adaptation efforts are occurring; frameworks, specific strategies, and case studies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change impacts through existing planning processes in the Sierra; tools to help communicate climate change and build support for local action; additional resources to help specific planning processes or projects address climate change.

Want to know how CEQA works? Or how to get people to show up to an important hearing? Saving Sierra Places: An Activist’s Toolkit for Winning Land Use Campaigns is designed to assist community activists in developing effective campaigns to prevent sprawl and foster smart growth. Whether you are contemplating a new land use campaign or deep in a years-long battle, this toolkit is intended to help you organize the most effective campaign and develop new strategies for achieving your goal. For a complete description or to download individual chapters, Click Here

Poorly planned development has become a chief threat to the region’s waters. But what is good growth, from a watershed perspective? This guide provides local conservation groups, local government and the public useful information about the connection between development and water – water quality, water supplies and the health of the Sierra’s watersheds.

First of its kind guide helps homeowners create defensible space and a beautiful, Sierra friendly yard and garden.

2009 Land Use Summit

2009 Land Use Summit

2009 Sierra Land Use Summit Presentation

This report showed that of the 24 Sierra Nevada watersheds sampled, three-quarters had stretches that were not swimmable, fishable, drinkable or open for recreation at some point in the last five years. These watersheds are major river systems that include rivers, lakes and streams.

New study showing the Sierra at-risk for development. This study details threats to the Sierra Nevada from sprawling development, including specific information for Sierra counties.

This report, authored by Kerri Timmer for the Sierra Nevada Alliance, challenges California and Nevada to respond quickly and substantively to threats to future water supply from Sierra climate change and growth in the region. The report documents

• How the Sierra supplies 65% of California's and almost all of Northern Nevada's developed water supply,
• Current stresses to the Sierra Nevada's 24 major watersheds,
• Climate Change impacts to the Sierra,
• Population Growth in the region,
• Opportunities to Plan Ahead to Protect Sierra Water, and
• Recommendations for individuals, grassroots groups, agriculture & businesses, and local, state and elected officials.

In keeping with the Alliance's goal of helping to create watershed groups throughout the Sierra, we have produced a basic "how-to" guide for people interested in starting new groups or strengthening existing ones.