Land Acknowledgement

SYRCL works throughout the Yuba River watershed on the Ancestral and Traditional homelands of the Nisenan Tribe, and includes shared boundaries with the Mountain Maidu, Konkow, and Washoe peoples. These tribes have lived here for millennia and live here still. We acknowledge and mourn the painful history of genocide and the devastation of lands and waters irreversibly altered.  We are grateful for opportunities to partner with the tribes to create a shared vision and rebalance our relationship to this place.

YFN Updates and News

The Yuba Forest Network will have our next quarterly meeting of 2025 on Friday, May 2 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. This meeting will be hybrid. If you are interesting in presenting at a future quarterly meeting please email Anne Marie at annemarie@yubariver.org or Kat Perlman at kat@yubariver.org to be added to the agenda. The recaps of previous quarterly meetings and discussions held are in the the meeting notes saved in the YFN Google Drive. If you are interested in joining a committee please email the meeting organizer and they will add you to the list.

If you would like to sign up for the YFN bimonthly newsletter on forest health/resiliency related topics you can register here for the listserv.

If you have any shapefiles for me to add to the Stakeholder Mapping Tool please zip them up and send them on over.

Stakeholder Mapping Tool Committee

This committee has identified several areas of focus: data clean up effort, taxonomy of shapefiles, and data sharing and organization.

Meeting Organizer: Anne Marie Holt

Next Stakeholder Mapping Tool Committee Meeting: March 6 from 3:00 – 4:00 pm.

Landscape Prioritization Committee

The aim of this committee is to look at the landscape as a whole to identify gaps and partnership opportunities. Taking the larger view to bring people together, prioritize areas of future work, and assess potential synergies between projects. This committee wants to make sure projects are
identifying priority needs, investigate different tools that are out there, and identify
what other tools other collaboratives are using.

Meeting Organizer: Alecia Weisman

Next Landscape Prioritization Committee Meeting: March 6 from 2:00 – 3:00 pm.

Strategy & Outreach Committee

Previously this committee was the Strategy Subgroup (authored the Resilience Strategy). Now this committee aims to keep connection and identify future opportunities as part of the overall vision. The Short-term vision of this committee is to create a formal structure for YFN and communication, build out a resource library, continue to lead, facilitate, and brainstorm topics for the YFN Quarterly meetings. This committee also wants to move YFN to its own website with the mapping tool. In the long term this committee wants to integrate with the public/private lands in the ROI, as well as the potential for creating a shared NEPA.
Outreach: How can we move forward to increase this communication and include those not already represented at these meetings?

Meeting Organizer: Kat Perlman

Next Steering & Outreach Committee Meeting: TBD

News

Federal Funding Freezes and Staff Layoff Stall Crucial SYRCL Work

In recent weeks, SYRCL has paid close attention to the massive federal government layoffs and funding freezes enacted for public land management agencies across the nation. These actions have been abruptly enforced without due consideration of the far-reaching repercussions to land management, restoration work, and fire resilience projects across the country.

Read more here

California Honors Tribal Sovereignty and Advances Resilience to Wildfire with New Cultural Burning Law and First-Ever Cultural Burning Agreement with the Karuk Tribe

The Karuk Tribe and the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) have entered into a historic agreement as part of CNRA’s and California Environmental Protection Agency’s (CalEPA) announcement that SB 310 (Dodd 2024) is now in effect. This landmark legislation and agreement acknowledge tribal sovereignty and addresses historical injustices while contributing to the mitigation of catastrophic wildfire by enabling CNRA and local air districts to enter into agreements with federally recognized California Native American tribes to support them in conducting cultural burns in their ancestral territories.

An SB 310 FAQ document and more information can be found on their website at https://resources.ca.gov/Cultural-Burn-Agreements or please contact Gita Chandra at gita.chandra@resources.ca.gov for a copy.

The Nevada County Resource Conservation District has provided an update to their program funded by Community Wildfire Protection Grant through the USDA Forest Service funded by the Bi-partisan Infrastructure Bill in lieu of the recent budget cuts:

“The Nevada County Resource Conservation District has been busy in the community helping landowners reduce surface fuels, restore forests and enhance native plants. Land stewardship and fuel reduction maintenance tools are our specialty including prescribed burning and grazing.

Our prescribed fire education and technical support program has been very popular. Since August, we have held 17 workshops/courses, including 6 live prescribed burns. There were 0 injuries, escapes or damage. 332 people have attended our workshops (some people may be double counted for attending multiple workshops). We have conducted 38 site visits in more than 12 different Firewise Communities. We’ve held or participated in 20 Community Outreach events, including the participation of more than 30 Firewise Communities. Our newsletter had more than 350 reads. Last but not least, 5 prospective California Certified Burn Bosses got training opportunities. At this time our program is on pause, since it is a federally funded grant. Meanwhile, there are many information fact sheets we have added to our website www.ncrcd.org .

We have implemented the Fuels Reduction Livestock Grazing Project for Nevada County OES on 158 acres. This included 6 locations including 5 schools and the BYLT Wildflower Ridge Preserve. Grazing occurred at Bear River High School, Magnolia Middle School, Nevada Union High School, Oak Tree Elementary School, and the Yuba River Charter School.

Lack of wood utilization facilities is a critical barrier for landowners managing their lands. We applied for a Biomass Utilization Workforce Development Project designed to create a wood utilization yard and pay for feasibility studies on a biomass generator and small-scale sawmill, as well as a business model study for further stainability design. The Camptonville Community Partnership, who has been successful in this arena, helped us formulate our proposal.”

Truckee Fire is now accepting applications for the Community Wildfire Prevention Grant Program. This funding opportunity, made possible through Measure T, supports local efforts to reduce wildfire risk, improve forest health, and enhance community preparedness. Residents, neighborhood groups, homeowner associations, nonprofits, and other organizations within Truckee Fire Protection District are encouraged to apply for funding to implement projects that strengthen wildfire resilience. Applications are due May 2.

Action Alerts

Are you trying to understand how all of the new executive orders are effecting your organization? The National Council of Nonprofits has created a resource that tracks whether and how Executive Orders issued by the Trump Administration affect nonprofits directly or indirectly.

This is a list of letters or actions to take to make your voice heard in light of federal funding freezes, staff layoffs, and the plans for public lands by the current administration.

Upcoming Events

SYRCL’s Quiz Night

Started in 2002, Quiz Night is the annual fundraiser for SYRCL’s Youth Environmentalist of the Year scholarship and its year-round River Education programs. This year, the event is being held on Wednesday, March 19th at The Wild Eye Pub in Grass Valley. Tickets to Quiz Night are $20.

PURCHASE TICKETS TO QUIZ NIGHT

Mark your Calendars for Power in Nature’s 2025 Advocacy Day! On Wednesday, March 19th in Sacramento. This year has started out strong in the wonderful world of conservation, beginning with a historic victory for nature and Indigenous communities with two new National Monument designations and the second Power in Nature Legislative Reception. They are now in full planning mode for our Power in Nature 30×30 Advocacy Day.

Please RSVP by filling out this form!

California Forest Science Symposium: The California Society of American Foresters and California Fire Science Consortium are partnering to host the first annual California Forest Science Symposium on March 24-25, 2025. This symposium is bringing together researchers, land managers, and practitioners to share new knowledge on forests and their management.

Join them in Sacramento, CA to learn from your peers, grow your network and develop as a forestry professional. This two-day conference will feature presentations and panel sessions across disciplines of forest health, wildlife, fire and fuel management, silviculture, reforestation, and more.

SYRCL is having our annual Scotch Broom Challenge! On Saturday, March 29 from 8:45 am to 1:30 pm SYRCL will be removing the invasive Scotch Broom at the Edwards Crossing Campground. Bring: sturdy shoes, water, lunch, sunscreen, work gloves if you have them. Email Riley riley@yubariver.org to get info and register as a volunteer.

March 31 – April 2, 2025, CCLT’s 2025 Land & Water Conservation Conference at Tenaya Lodge in Yosemite: This conference is sold out! If you are interested in joining the waitlist follow this link.

Register now for a California Forest Stewardship Workshop held online from April 1 – May 27, 2025, and in-person Saturday, April 26th, in Tuolumne County. Join the workshop to better understand and protect your forests by developing a Forest Management Plan. Topics include:

Forest management objectives and planning
Forest health
Forest and fire ecology, wildlife, watersheds
Fuels reduction and forest resource marketing
Mapping, inventory and silviculture
Project development & permitting
Getting professional help and cost-share opportunities

Zoom meetings with all participants and presenters will take place once a week on Tuesdays, 6:00pm-7:30pm. The in-person field day will cover silviculture, forest inventory and mapping activities. Participants who complete the workshop will be eligible for a free site visit with a California Registered Professional Forester, California Certified Burn Boss, or California Certified Range Manager.

All forest landowners across California are welcome to join!

Registration is available at: http://ucanr.edu/forestryworskhopregistration

Registration fee is $60.00. Scholarship funding for registration fee is available. For questions, contact Kim Ingram, kcingram@ucanr.edu.

Sierra Day at the Capitol is an annual event coordinated by Sierra Nevada Alliance, Sierra Business Council, and the League to Save Lake Tahoe to highlight the importance of the Sierra Nevada region to all of California and to share information about the statewide benefits of our region’s watersheds, carbon-storing forests, biodiversity, and premier recreation opportunities.

Participants will hear from key state and regional leaders, network with like-minded individuals and organizations, receive training on sharing key messaging with legislators, and participate in advocacy meetings at the Capitol.

Join them on April 8 from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm at the CNRA Building in Sacramento. Registration is required for attendance, register here.

Salazar Center for North American Conservation: 2025 Symposium on Conservation Impact

Realizing a Nature-Positive Future in North America: No more business as usual: The Salazar Center’s 6th International Symposium on Conservation Impact explores how we can track our progress toward our collective biodiversity goals and how we might evolve the structures and dynamics of our social and economic systems to ensure long-term natural security and socioeconomic stability. We will invite speakers to tackle the difficult questions we must grapple with to build a future that’s fair for everyone on a finite planet. The event is on May 5-7. Registration Deadline is May 2.

Register Agenda

Society for Ecological Restoration’s World Conference

The Society for Ecological Restoration’s World Conference is an exciting and inspiring biennial gathering of global experts in ecological restoration, making the 11th World Conference on Ecological Restoration (SER2025) in Denver, CO, the premier venue for those interested in being active members of the global restoration community. Early bird registration is now available here.

Fish & Fire 2025: Where There Are Fish, There is Fire

42nd Annual Salmonid Restoration Conference from April 29 – May 2: 2024 brought another major fire season to California, and more reminders of the interconnectedness across fire, water, and fish. This workshop will continue the Fish & Fire conversation started over the last two years of SRF conferences, highlighting recent examples like the Park Fire and digging further into the ecology of fish and fire, the impacts of fire exclusion and fire suppression on aquatic habitats, and the potential for restoration practitioners to more meaningfully bring fire into the way they envision and implement their work. The first part of the workshop will focus on relevant research and management examples, and part two will be more hands-on, including dialogue and training on the use of beneficial fire. By the end of the day, participants will have a better understanding of the many connections between fish and fire, more contacts and networks to bridge the two disciplines, and new skills and inspiration that they can bring to their restoration work.

There are also two opportunities, right now, to add your voice to California’s 30×30 implementation and rollout of climate bond funding. We want to hear from you in our 30×30 Halfway Point Survey to help us better understand what is working and where efforts should be focused in the final five years of implementing the Pathways to 30×30 strategy. We are also looking for input from partners through the California Climate Bond: Grant Programs Feedback Survey to help us make this the most effective and inclusive bond process yet.

Take the 30×30 Halfway Point Survey Here

Take the Climate Bond Survey Here

Fuel Management Activity Survey

Penn State and UC Cooperative Extension is conducting a survey on fuel management activities by private landowners, including prescribed burning. Participating in this survey will help support more Rx fire grant opportunities and cultivate a culture of Good Fire in California.

You can learn more about their project here: https://sites.psu.edu/firesurvey/about/

Sierra Streams Institute Survey and Forestry/Land Stewardship Toolkit

Sierra Streams Institute developed a Forestry /Land Stewardship Toolkit which offers assistance for landowners who seek support in caring for their land. They want to improve this resource for folks, and they want to learn from you! What information do you think is missing or should be emphasized? What else would help you understand how you can improve forest health and reduce likelihood of catastrophic wildfire?

Please fill out this survey when complete. You may also Email Erin Andrew at erin@sierrastreamsinstitute.org at e via email with any feedback.

Recurring Meetings and Events

Nevada County OES: The next Quarterly Wildfire Stakeholder Meeting will be on March 7 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. The meeting will be at the Eric Rood Center BOS Chambers 950 Maidu Ave, Nevada City.

Sierra Nevada 30×30 Regional Meeting: Contact Lis Olearts at liesbet@sierranevadaalliance.org for more information. Meetings occur monthly on the second Wednesday from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm, with the next meeting on March 12 on Zoom.

Sierra County Fire Safe Council: The Fire Safe Sierra County Board of Directors meets on the 4th Thursday of the month at 10:00 am at either the Sierraville Ranger Station, Sierraville School, or the Sierra City Community Hall. Meetings are open to the public.

Forest Business Alliance: The FBA provides technical assistance, workshops, and a peer-learning network to increase local and regional capacity for applicants to CAL FIRE’s Business and Workforce Development Program.

CA Wildfire & Forest Resilience Task Force 2025: Marin County March 27-28, Sacramento June 6, Regional Meeting: location TBD September 4-5, Sacramento December 12.

Yuba Forest Network Quarterly Meeting: Email Anne Marie Holt at annemarie@yubariver.org for more details. The next Quarterly Meeting will be May 2 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm hybrid.

Nevada County Coalition of Firewise Communities Meeting: Contact Jeff Peach at jeff@nccoalitionfwc.com for more information. Meetings are held on the first Tuesday in February, May, August, and November at at 5:30 pm.

Yuba Watershed Protection and Fire Safe Council Meeting: The next council meeting will be held on March 8 from 9:30 am – 11:30 am. Meetings are held via Zoom and In-Person at the Alcouffe Center. Contact Sandie Huckins for more information at programs@yubafiresafe.org.

California Biodiversity Network Roundtable Discussions: Stewardship: March 19, 10:00 – 11:30 am. Sentinel Site Network: April 3, 2:00 – 3:30 pm.

California Landscape Stewardship Network: Peer Learning Exchange every first Monday of the month. The next Peer Learning Exchange is on March 4 from 1:00 – 2:00 pm. Email Devin Landry at coordinator@clsn.org for more information.

Webinars

What is The Oath Workshop? The Oath workshop is a free ZERO-BS experience that teaches a model to approach allyship for planet, inclusion, adventure. During the workshop, you’ll reflect and learn a framework to create your unique plan of action for Planet, Inclusion, and Adventure. After the workshop, you’ll have the opportunity to take The Outdoorist Oath and be an extra official part of our (good) Troublemakers community!

JOIN the Workshop on March 4 from 5:00 – 6:15 pm PST

Society for Ecological Restoration Webinar Series: Beyond Assisted Migration: Sourcing seeds that are adapted and adaptable to a shifting climate. On March 21 at 9:00 am. Register here.

CNRA and the Karuk Tribe: Join the Karuk Tribe and the State of California for a public webinar for more information on “Advancing Tribal Stewardship Through Cultural Fire,” scheduled for April 1, 2025, at 1:00 pm.

Redbud Resource Group

Masterclass: Going Beyond Land Acknowledgements on April 8 and 15, 2025. This is a interactive 2.5 hour workshop for individuals seeking to grow their allyship with Native peoples. Participants will learn about their strengths and limitations of land acknowledgements and explore concrete, action-oriented strategies for building connections with Native communities and organizations. Tickets are $75. Register here.

Missoula Fire Lab Seminar Series

Missoula Fire Lab Seminar Series: Their series of manager focused seminars begins in January, 2025:

California Fire Science Consortium

SCIENCEx Fire: Fuels, Smoke and Post-Fire in the West – 2025 Panel Discussion Series:

The Science X Series has been postponed

Community Wildfire Mitigation Best Practices Training

The Community Wildfire Mitigation Best Practices training is designed to increase the skills of the professional mitigation practitioner and individuals who run mitigation programs. Applications are considered on a rolling basis! Learn more and apply.

Research – Best Practices – Methodology: Nature benefits when practitioners have access to science and experience-based information that supports land stewardship. New Content to be publicly available every Friday at 11 am ET. Visit the NAA Programs & Events Calendar to learn more.

Grants

The WCB application portal is now open!

The Council of Western State Foresters Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Grant Program: funds fuel reduction, education, and planning projects that mitigate risk from wildland fire within the WUI.

Rolling applications: paused for 2025

Indian Land Tenure Foundation Cultural Awareness Grants: fund projects that maintain strong cultural and spiritual ties to the land in order to preserve traditional practices and Native American religious beliefs for future generations.

Rolling applications

Urban Streams Restoration Program (USRP): established by Water Code section 7048 which declared that urban creek protection, restoration, and enhancement are best undertaken by local agencies and organizations with assistance from the State. The USRP funds projects and provides technical assistance to restore streams impacted by urban development to a more natural state.

Rolling applications

The Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous People: Land, Water, and Climate Grant Program: supports the traditional land and water stewardship and life systems practices of federally recognized tribal nations and Indigenous-led nonprofit organizations.

Rolling applications

Vadon Foundation Grants support innovative community-based initiatives that sustain healthy, thriving, Indigenous nations in perpetuity, including language revitalization, food insecurity, community leadership, etc.

Rolling applications

Trek Bicycle Corporation: The Trek Foundation Public Trail Development and Land Protection Initiative protects land, develops trail systems for public use, and provides more riders access to great places to ride.

Rolling applications

US FWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program: provides free technical and financial assistance to plan, design, supervise, and monitor customized habitat-restoration projects

Rolling applications

The Headwaters Economics Community Planning Assistance for Wildfire (CPAW) Program is a technical-assistance program that provides support for communities to reduce wildfire risks through improved land-use planning, compelling communication, and applied research.

Rolling applications

The William G. Pomeroy Foundation: National Register Signage Grant Program: provides funds to government entities and nonprofit organizations to defray the costs of plaques or signs for public properties and historic districts that are placed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

Rolling applications

The CA WCB 30×30 Grant Program: Land Acquisition supports high-priority land acquisition projects associated with the implementation of a natural community conservation plan (NCCP) and/or habitat conservation plan (HCP).

Rolling applications

The CA Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) Climate Adaptation and Resilience Program funds projects that provide climate adaptation and resilience on California’s natural and working lands.

Rolling applications

The CDFW Beaver Conflict Resolution Grant Opportunities: Nature Based Solutions: Beaver Restoration Program: supports the implementation and promotion of human-beaver coexistence strategies through funding for technical assistance and implementation of non-lethal beaver damage deterrence.

Rolling applications

The CDFW Restoration Grant Opportunities: Nature-Based Solutions (Part A): Wetlands and Mountain Meadows Restoration: expands nature-based solutions across California that will advance an approach to restoration that works with and enhances nature to help address societal challenges. Up to $2 million of this will be available for non-lethal beaver damage management. More information can be found in the Beaver Conflict Resolution Grant Opportunities Call for Projects.

Rolling applications

The Headwater Economics Community Planning and Assistance for Wildfires (CPAW) Program provides interdisciplinary teams that collaborate with communities to develop site-specific planning recommendations regarding wildfire risks.

Rolling applications

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Sacramento District California In-Lieu Fee Program provides funding for on-the-ground implementation of aquatic-resource restoration, establishment, enhancement, and/or preservation projects in specific Sierra Nevada watersheds. Contact Chris Gurney for the most recent Notice of Funding Availability.

Rolling applications

The USDA Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations Program provides technical and financial assistance to plan and implement authorized watershed project plans for the purposes of flood prevention, watershed protection, public recreation, etc.

Rolling applications

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Landowner Support: Supporting Underserved and Small-Acreage Forest Landowner Participation in Emerging Private Markets Grant Program – Track B: supports the participation of underserved and/or small-acreage landowners in emerging private markets for climate mitigation or forest resilience. Track B is for projects with budgets up to $2 million.

Rolling applications

The Hind Foundation Standard Grants Program: supports community-based projects proposed by nonprofit organizations in several areas, including plant and wildlife protection, historic landmark restoration, and ecosystem conservation.

Rolling applications

The NPS Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program supports community-led natural resource conservation and outdoor recreation projects through the assistance of recreation planning professionals who have a broad range of services and skills.

Due March 1

The Access Fund Climbing Conservation Grant Program: supports projects that preserve or enhance climbing access and opportunities and conserve the climbing environment.

Due March 1

The US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund: Conservation Planning Assistance Grants: support the development of new, or the renewal or amendment of existing, habitat conservation plans (HCPs) and conservation benefit agreements (CBAs).

Due March 14

The USDA Inflation Reduction Act Forest Legacy Program: protects environmentally important forest areas that are threatened by conversion to non-forest uses, with a focus on large landscape projects, state-tribal partnership projects, and strategic small-tract projects.

Due March 14

Tribal Wildfire Resilience Grant Solicitation 2025: Tribal Wildfire Resilience grants is part of CAL FIRE’s Climate and Energy Program and supports California Native American tribes in managing ancestral lands, implementing and promoting Traditional Environmental Knowledges in wildfire resilience, and establishing wildfire safety for tribal communities.

Due March 28

The US BOR Water SMART Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Program: supports the study, design, and construction of aquatic ecosystem restoration projects that are collaboratively developed; have widespread regional benefits; and are for the purpose of improving the health of fisheries, wildlife, and aquatic habitat through restoration and improved fish passage.

Due April 15

Truckee Fire Protection District: Community Wildfire Prevention Grant Program. The grant program is intended to enhance existing forest management and fuel reduction projects/activities, and/or support new projects and programs, with the main objective of reducing the threat and intensity of wildfire in the Truckee and Donner Summit Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) and better preparing communities for wildfire.

Due May 2

Creating Opportunities for Relevant Experience (CORE) Wildland Fire Training Crews: To engage with women, veterans, and youth to begin development of the next generation of the wildland firefighters, managers and scientists contributing to the mission of the National Park Service wildland fire program by offering relevant work experience. Learn more

Due May 24

30×30 Funding Resources: link to an excel Google Document for 30×30 related funding opportunities.

Literature and Resources

UC ANR: Forest Stewardship Mapping Forest Features

Sierra Nevada Regional Group: Sierra Nevada Alliance (SNA) and Pacific Crest Trail hiker/filmmaker Riordan Cicciu are proud to announce the completion of a 30-minute short film about Cicciu’s “Project PCT”. This project was created to share information about the importance of preserving the Sierra Nevada and help raise funding for the Alliance’s conservation programs.

The Race to Restore Nature: Cutting the Green Tape for California’s Environment – In the past, environmental restoration projects have been slowed by permitting requirements designed for very different kinds of development. However, in recent years, state leaders have championed improvements to reduce bureaucracy and delays to complete restoration under the banner of “Cutting Green Tape.” Listen in on the conversation from December 4, 2024, about where we stand in this ambitious effort.

FireForest: a New Film on Forest Management and Wildfire

Distribution and Apparent Decline of Aspen in the Broader Lake Tahoe Area: A Four-Decade Assessment

The Many Elements of Traditional Fire Knowledge: Synthesis, Classification, and Aids to Cross-cultural Problem Solving in Fire-Dependent Systems Around the World

New Global Biodiversity Standard raises bar for biodiversity-positive restoration

Voces del Fuego (Voices of Fire)

The Importance of Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Climate-Smart Solutions

Collaborative Conservation Tools & Resources

Western Collaborative Conservation Network (WCCN) and the Center for Collaborative Conservation (CCC) have put together a collaborative, live document: “Collaborative Conservation Tools and Resources”.

Free and Open-Source Geospatial Tools

A self-published book by Vance Russell (owner of VR Conservation Collective) provides resources and examples of open-source geospatial software and solutions. The book is intended for beginners with some knowledge of desktop tools such as ArcGIS Pro or QGIS and a limited understanding of coding using Javascript or Python.

Stewardship Workforce Training Database

There is now an online database of stewardship workforce development programs across California, designed to support individuals and organizations interested in obtaining training, hiring stewards, and funding environmental workforce education. Share and explore opportunities to take stewardship action!