The Sierra Fund

THE SIERRA FUND (TSF) IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WITH A MISSION TO RESTORE ECOSYSTEM AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCY IN THE SIERRA NEVADA. WE RELY ON THE PRINCIPLES OF SCIENCE, STEWARDSHIP, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, AND POLICY ADVOCACY TO PROMOTE HEADWATER RESILIENCY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY THE CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH. WE IDENTIFY, ARTICULATE, ASSESS AND IMPLEMENT WAYS TO ADDRESS THESE LASTING IMPACTS AS DEMONSTRATED IN THE BODY OF WORK THAT WE HAVE DEVELOPED SINCE OUR FOUNDING IN 2001.

ENVIRONMENTALLY HEALTHY COMMUNITIES PROGRAM (EHCP): PROTECTING PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE FROM TOXICS PRESENT IN THE SIERRA NEW REPORT IN 2021:THE SIERRA IS RIDDLED WITH ABANDONED MINES. RESIDENTS AND VISITORS CAN UNKNOWINGLY BE EXPOSED TO HAZARDS WHILE RECREATING OR LIVING ON THESE LANDS. IN ADDITION, MINE WASTE CAN CONTRIBUTE POLLUTANTS TO OUR RIVERS AND WATERWAYS MAKING THEIR WAY ALL THE WAY TO THE BAY-DELTA. TO PREVENT EXPOSURE TO LEGACY MINING TOXICS, THE SIERRA FUND CREATED THE FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND REPORT, REVITALIZATION OF MINE-IMPACTED LANDS, OUTLINING A COMPREHENSIVE SET OF BEST-PRACTICES TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH FOR CITIES, COUNTIES, AND OTHER LAND OWNERS PURCHASING OR DEVELOPING LANDS IN THE SIERRA. THIS NEW REPORT HELPS THOSE ACQUIRING AS WELL AS MANAGING LANDS IN THE SIERRA TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT, AS WELL AS LIMIT LANDOWNER LIABILITY. IN MAY, WE HELD MINING MONDAYS WORKSHOPS REVIEWING THESE KEY FINDINGS WITH OVER ONE HUNDRED LEADING LAND-MANAGERS AND EXPERTS. INNOVATIVE FOREST RESTORATION WITH MINING REMEDIATION TO EXPEDITE FOREST RESILIENCY!: THE SIERRA NEVADA WAS GROUND ZERO TO THE CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH AND TODAY, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF HYDRAULIC MINES THAT CONTINUE TO RELEASE SEDIMENT AND MERCURY DOWNSTREAM DURING STORM EVENTS. EATING FISH HIGH IN MERCURY CAN RESULT IN NEUROLOGICAL IMPAIRMENT AND DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS IN PEOPLE AND IN WILDLIFE. THE GOOD NEWS IS THERE IS AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY TO REDUCE MERCURY IN OUR RIVERS FROM ABANDONED MINES! WITH CLIMATE CHANGE INCREASING FIRE SEVERITY, FOREST RESTORATION EFFORTS HAVE INCREASED TO REDUCE WILDFIRE THREAT. MINING REMEDIATION USES SIMILAR ON-THE-GROUND ACTIVITIES AS SOME FOREST RESTORATION WORK. CONDUCTING HYDRAULIC MINE REMEDIATION IN TANDEM WITH FOREST RESTORATION CREATES AN EFFICIENCY OF WORK AND SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES TOTAL COSTS FOR LAND-MANAGERS AND TAXPAYERS COMPARED TO DOING THE PROJECTS SEPARATELY. THE SIERRA FUND LAUNCHED A NEW PILOT PROJECT IN 2021 WITH THE TAHOE NATIONAL FOREST. THE PROJECT WILL USE FUELS REMOVED TO REDUCE WILDFIRE RISK TO CREATE WOODCHIPS AND BIOCHAR, A CHARCOAL-LIKE SUBSTANCE THAT CAN BE MADE FROM FORESTRY WASTES. THIS BIOCHAR CAN BE PUT BACK ON THE FORESTS TO IMPROVE SOIL HEALTH AND FILTER RUNOFF OF MERCURY-CONTAMINATED STORM WATER. BIOCHAR ALSO STORES CARBON TO BENEFIT OUR CLIMATE. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE RESULTS THIS NEXT YEAR AND SCOPING FOR THE POTENTIAL TO MORE EFFICIENTLY AND COST-EFFECTIVELY REMEDIATE HYDRAULIC MINES AS PART OF MORE COMPREHENSIVE, HOLISTIC AND LONG-LASTING BENEFITS TO FOREST HEALTH ACROSS THE REGION. HELPING LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS PROTECT THEIR HEALTH FROM WILDFIRE AND SMOKE: A CENTURY OF FIRE SUPPRESSION COMBINED WITH A WARMING CLIMATE IS RESULTING IN DANGEROUS WILDFIRES AND HAZARDOUS SMOKE THREATENING COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE SIERRA. FINE PARTICLES IN WILDFIRE SMOKE CAN CAUSE A RANGE OF HEALTH PROBLEMS, FROM BURNING EYES TO AGGRAVATED CHRONIC HEART AND LUNG DISEASES, AND EVEN PREMATURE DEATH. MANY LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS IN THE SIERRA LIVE IN RENTAL PROPERTIES WHOSE OWNERS DO NOT INVEST IN FIRE-PREPAREDNESS. IN ADDITION, MANY RESIDENTS HAVE NOT BEEN PROVIDED EVACUATION RESOURCES WHICH OFTEN TARGET HOMEOWNERS OR ARE ONLY IN ENGLISH. WHEN IT COMES TO INDOOR AIR QUALITY, LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS OFTEN HAVE UNSEALED HOMES AND CANNOT AFFORD HVAC SYSTEMS AND OTHER EXPENSIVE AIR FILTRATION DEVICES TO FILTER HAZARDOUS WILDFIRE SMOKE. IN 2021, THE SIERRA FUND PILOTED A PROGRAM TO EDUCATE LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS IN NEVADA COUNTY ABOUT FIRE-PREPAREDNESS AND IMPROVING INDOOR AIR QUALITY AFFORDABLY. OUR COMMUNITY ORGANIZER DID MULTILINGUAL (ENGLISH/SPANISH) OUTREACH TO OVER 3,000 PEOPLE. HE SHARED INFORMATION ON HOW TO BUILD INEXPENSIVE AIR FILTERS USING BOX FANS AND FILTERS. HE ALSO SHARED HOW TO REDUCE WILDFIRE RISK AROUND HOMES AND OFFERED LOCAL EVACUATION RESOURCES. WE PLAN TO BUILD ON LESSONS LEARNED TO DEVELOP A REGION-WIDE SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOW CITIES AND COUNTIES CAN MORE EFFECTIVELY SUPPORT UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITY MEMBERS.PARTNERING WITH TRIBAL GROUPS TO SUPPORT WATER ACCESS AND WATER QUALITY:FUND IS COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING TRIBAL RESTORATION WORK AND CULTURAL PERPETUATION. TRIBAL LEADERS HAVE BEGUN TO COME FORWARD, INVITING PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SIERRA FUND TO REPAIR THE ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE THAT HAS CHANGED NOT ONLY THE LANDSCAPE BUT THE VERY ESSENCE OF THEIR COMMUNITIES.THE COSUMNES, AMERICAN, BEAR, AND YUBA (CABY) INTEGRATED REGIONAL WATER MANAGEMENT PLANNING GROUP SERVES COMMUNITIES LIVING IN THEIR WATERSHEDS. THE SIERRA FUND HAS PRIORITIZED EQUITABLE INCLUSION OF TRIBES IN CABYS DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES, ENSURING THAT THE REGIONAL PLAN INCLUDES PRIORITY PROJECTS THAT TRIBES REQUEST TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY AND MEET THEIR WATER ACCESS NEEDS. DURING 2021, THE SIERRA FUND CONVENED A SERIES OF LISTENING SESSIONS AND HELPED SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT AND SUBMISSION OF FIVE TRIBAL-LED PROJECTS INTO THE PLAN.

TSFS CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAM(CBP) WHICH PROVIDES PHILANTHROPIC SERVICES AND STRATEGIC ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE SIERRA REGION. THE PROGRAM ALSO SERVES TO INCREASE AND ORGANIZE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT TO PROTECT AND RESTORE THE NATURAL RESOURCES AND COMMUNITIES OF THE SIERRA NEVADA THROUGH ADVOCATING DIRECTLY FOR FUNDING AND BY BUILDING THE VISIBILITY OF THE REGION WHILE COORDINATING EFFECTIVE COLLABORATION AMONG SIERRA STAKEHOLDERS.

ECOSYSTEM RESILIENCY PROGRAM: INNOVATIVE FOREST RESTORATION WITH MINING REMEDIATION TO EXPEDITE FOREST RESILIENCY!THE SIERRA NEVADA WAS GROUND ZERO TO THE CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH AND TODAY, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF HYDRAULIC MINES THAT CONTINUE TO RELEASE SEDIMENT AND MERCURY DOWNSTREAM DURING STORM EVENTS. EATING FISH HIGH IN MERCURY CAN RESULT IN NEUROLOGICAL IMPAIRMENT AND DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS IN PEOPLE AND IN WILDLIFE. THE GOOD NEWS IS THERE IS AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY TO REDUCE MERCURY IN OUR RIVERS FROM ABANDONED MINES! WITH CLIMATE CHANGE INCREASING FIRE SEVERITY, FOREST RESTORATION EFFORTS HAVE INCREASED TO REDUCE WILDFIRE THREAT. MINING REMEDIATION USES SIMILAR ON-THE-GROUND ACTIVITIES AS SOME FOREST RESTORATION WORK. CONDUCTING HYDRAULIC MINE REMEDIATION IN TANDEM WITH FOREST RESTORATION CREATES AN EFFICIENCY OF WORK AND SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES TOTAL COSTS FOR LAND-MANAGERS AND TAXPAYERS COMPARED TO DOING THE PROJECTS SEPARATELY. THE SIERRA FUND LAUNCHED A NEW PILOT PROJECT IN 2021 WITH THE TAHOE NATIONAL FOREST. THE PROJECT WILL USE FUELS REMOVED TO REDUCE WILDFIRE RISK TO CREATE WOODCHIPS AND BIOCHAR, A CHARCOAL-LIKE SUBSTANCE THAT CAN BE MADE FROM FORESTRY WASTES. THIS BIOCHAR CAN BE PUT BACK ON THE FORESTS TO IMPROVE SOIL HEALTH AND FILTER RUNOFF OF MERCURY-CONTAMINATED STORM WATER. BIOCHAR ALSO STORES CARBON TO BENEFIT OUR CLIMATE. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE RESULTS THIS NEXT YEAR AND SCOPING FOR THE POTENTIAL TO MORE EFFICIENTLY AND COST-EFFECTIVELY REMEDIATE HYDRAULIC MINES AS PART OF MORE COMPREHENSIVE, HOLISTIC AND LONG-LASTING BENEFITS TO FOREST HEALTH ACROSS THE REGION. HELPING LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS PROTECT THEIR HEALTH FROM WILDFIRE AND SMOKE: A CENTURY OF FIRE SUPPRESSION COMBINED WITH A WARMING CLIMATE IS RESULTING IN DANGEROUS WILDFIRES AND HAZARDOUS SMOKE THREATENING COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE SIERRA. FINE PARTICLES IN WILDFIRE SMOKE CAN CAUSE A RANGE OF HEALTH PROBLEMS, FROM BURNING EYES TO AGGRAVATED CHRONIC HEART AND LUNG DISEASES, AND EVEN PREMATURE DEATH. MANY LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS IN THE SIERRA LIVE IN RENTAL PROPERTIES WHOSE OWNERS DO NOT INVEST IN FIRE-PREPAREDNESS. IN ADDITION, MANY RESIDENTS HAVE NOT BEEN PROVIDED EVACUATION RESOURCES WHICH OFTEN TARGET HOMEOWNERS OR ARE ONLY IN ENGLISH. WHEN IT COMES TO INDOOR AIR QUALITY, LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS OFTEN HAVE UNSEALED HOMES AND CANNOT AFFORD HVAC SYSTEMS AND OTHER EXPENSIVE AIR FILTRATION DEVICES TO FILTER HAZARDOUS WILDFIRE SMOKE. IN 2021, THE SIERRA FUND PILOTED A PROGRAM TO EDUCATE LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS IN NEVADA COUNTY ABOUT FIRE-PREPAREDNESS AND IMPROVING INDOOR AIR QUALITY AFFORDABLY. OUR COMMUNITY ORGANIZER DID MULTILINGUAL (ENGLISH/SPANISH) OUTREACH TO OVER 3,000 PEOPLE. HE SHARED INFORMATION ON HOW TO BUILD INEXPENSIVE AIR FILTERS USING BOX FANS AND FILTERS. HE ALSO SHARED HOW TO REDUCE WILDFIRE RISK AROUND HOMES AND OFFERED LOCAL EVACUATION RESOURCES. WE PLAN TO BUILD ON LESSONS LEARNED TO DEVELOP A REGION-WIDE SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOW CITIES AND COUNTIES CAN MORE EFFECTIVELY SUPPORT UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITY MEMBERS.PARTNERING WITH TRIBAL GROUPS TO SUPPORT WATER ACCESS AND WATER QUALITY:FUND IS COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING TRIBAL RESTORATION WORK AND CULTURAL PERPETUATION. TRIBAL LEADERS HAVE BEGUN TO COME FORWARD, INVITING PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SIERRA FUND TO REPAIR THE ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE THAT HAS CHANGED NOT ONLY THE LANDSCAPE BUT THE VERY ESSENCE OF THEIR COMMUNITIES.THE COSUMNES, AMERICAN, BEAR, AND YUBA (CABY) INTEGRATED REGIONAL WATER MANAGEMENT PLANNING GROUP SERVES COMMUNITIES LIVING IN THEIR WATERSHEDS. THE SIERRA FUND HAS PRIORITIZED EQUITABLE INCLUSION OF TRIBES IN CABYS DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES, ENSURING THAT THE REGIONAL PLAN INCLUDES PRIORITY PROJECTS THAT TRIBES REQUEST TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY AND MEET THEIR WATER ACCESS NEEDS. DURING 2021, THE SIERRA FUND CONVENED A SERIES OF LISTENING SESSIONS AND HELPED SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT AND SUBMISSION OF FIVE TRIBAL-LED PROJECTS INTO THE PLAN.