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

We had our third quarterly meeting of 2024 on Friday, August 2. In this meeting we had updates from the new YFN Committees as well as YFN’s next steps. The recap of this meeting and the discussion held is in the the meeting notes saved in the YFN Google Drive. Linked here is the meeting recording. If you are interested in joining a committee please email Anne Marie and she 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.

Our next quarterly meeting will be held on November 1^st, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. Please email me if you have an agenda request or would like to present on a forest health topic.

Stakeholder Mapping Tool Committee

With the Stakeholder Mapping Tool this committee has identified several areas of focus:

Scope of Work: SYRCL has created a Scope of Work for YFN grant applications specific to
the tool. This includes the creation of a dashboard, streamlining the shapefile submission process,
and the creation of a YFN website to house this tool. This Scope of Work still needs to be examined
by the Committee and refined. This document will be used as a roadmap to guide us in our own
update process for the Mapping Tool.
Data Clean Up Effort: YFN has many project shapefiles with information available online,
however there is need to clean up this data on the back end so that it can be more streamlined and
useable moving forward. This includes updating project from active to completed or editing
boundaries.
Taxonomy: currently the taxonomy we have for the tool is useable but may not be exhibiting
the most relevant information moving forward. Therefore, as a committee we are revisiting the
taxonomy to see if we need to add/remove fields or change the formatting to streamline the upload
process.

Next Stakeholder Mapping Tool Committee Meeting: September 9 at 10:00 am

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.

Next Landscape Prioritization Committee Meeting: September 5 at 3:00 pm

Strategy & Outreach Committee

Previously this committee was the Strategy Subgroup (authored the Resilience Strategy). Now this committee wants 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?

Next Steering & Outreach Committee Meeting: September 17 at 2:00 pm

Upcoming Events

California Forest Stewardship Workshop

The workshop will be held online from October 9 – December 11, 2024, and in-person Saturday, November 2 in Humboldt County. Join the workshop to better understand and protect your forests by developing a Forest Management Plan. Zoom meetings with all participants and presenters will take place once a week on Wednesdays, 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. Registration fee is $60.00. Scholarship funding for registration fee is available. For questions, contact Kim Ingram, kcingram@ucanr.edu.

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

Post-Fire Resilience Workshop

Registration for UCANR’s next Post-Fire Resilience Workshop series is OPEN! This workshop will focus on post-fire landscapes that were impacted 3+ years ago. The in-person field trip will be held on Saturday, October 19 in Lake County. The workshop will take place on Thursday nights from 6-7:30 PM on Zoom, September 19-October 17th, and includes an in-person field trip on October 19th. Questions can be directed to the Post-Fire Academic Coordinator, Katie Reidy: kkreidy@ucanr.edu.

Community Wildfire Mitigation Best Practices Virtual Course

Community Wildfire Mitigation Best Practices (Mitigation Best Practices) is required training for the Wildfire Mitigation Specialist Team Member (WMTM) and Wildfire Mitigation Specialist Team Lead (WMTL) positions with the USFS. This national-level training from Coalitions & Collaboratives, Inc. and the USDA Forest Service is designed for current or future mitigation specialists, wildfire program leads, and others who work with residents and their communities to reduce wildfire risk. The Mitigation Best Practices training concentrates on science, methods, and tools that will help you engage communities/residents while also helping you to eliminate ineffective practices. The next course will take place September 15, 2024, please click below to apply in order to be notified of the upcoming course start date. The training takes place over the course of nine weeks, with three to five hours of estimated work per week. While the work is at your own pace, you are required to meet the weekly deadlines.

Click HERE to apply.
You may view a previous class syllabus HERE.

Apply to the Preeminent Certification Program for Ecological Restoration Practitioners

SER’s Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner (CERP) program is the only international certification program for ecological restoration practitioners, having certified over 500 individuals from 16 countries and five continents to date. Certification with the CERP program provides practitioners with a variety of professional benefits and recognition as experts in the field of ecological restoration, and can complement other professional certifications or credentials you already have.

YFN Field Tour: Sugar Bowl

On October 16 the Katya Christian from Sugar Bowl will host a Yuba Forest Network Field Tour to talk about forest health projects on leased Forest Service land. Linked here is a waiver to sign if you are interested in joining the event.

Loney Aspen Fencing Day

SYRCL has been involved in aspen restoration for over 10 years now, and is planning additional aspen restoration projects in the Yuba River watershed. To involve our community with the work we do, we are hosting an Aspen Volunteer Day on October 5 at Loney Meadow. Register to join Forest Conservation Project Manger, Anne Marie Holt, to help take down cattle exclusion fencing this fall. The meadow should be beautiful this time of year – a spectacular sight you don’t want to miss!

Latino Conservation Week

Sierra Nevada Regional Group: The Sierra Nevada Alliance, in partnership with the Hispanic Access Foundation, is facilitating a collaborative region-wide effort to make recreation accessible to all – Sierra Latino Conservation Week is happening this September 14-22. The Sierra Nevada Alliance is also hosting the Sierra Nevada Conservation Conference on November 7-8 in South Lake Tahoe. This year the theme is Strengthening Conservation Impact Through Partnership.

California Biodiversity Day

September 7-15, California Biodiversity Day (CABD): Events centered around the celebration of California’s biodiversity will be held all week from September 7th through the 15th. Check them out here! If you would like to host your own nature discovery event for California Biodiversity Week, you can submit them here.

30×30 Partnership 2024 Summit

On October 3, 2024 from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm in the California Natural Resources Headquarters Building, Sacramento, CA the 30×30 Partnership 2024 Summit will cover themes of inspire, innovate, and integrate are a launching point for engaging presentations, rich discussion, and time with colleagues to connect and learn about how 30×30 is being made real across California. Additional 30×30 events on October 2 and October 4 will be announced with registration. Register here.

BYLT Conservation Awards 2024

Nominations are now open for the following awards: the William Nickerl Award for Conservation Leadership, the John Skinner Sierra Outdoors Recreation Award, and the Young Leader Award. Awardees will be recognized on November 16. Deadline to submit a nomination is September 2, 2024.

The leaders we work with tell us they long for meetings that support progress, create new thinking and momentum, and use everyone’s time well. Do you want to learn how to lead more productive and engaging meetings? Check out our virtual series Facilitating Engaging Meetings and learn facilitation skills alongside a group of your peers. You’ll walk away with a new set of facilitation tools, plus a plan to apply what you learned in your own context. Fall Session: Co-led by Senior Associates Pri Ekanayake and Sarah Clark: September 17, 10:30 am – 1:00 pm, September 19, 10:30 am – 3:00 pm, September 24, 10:30 am – 3:00 pm

Registration: Please visit our virtual programming home page to learn more and register. Registration closes on September 9 or when the program reaches capacity. If you have questions about this 3-part virtual workshop, please reach out to info@icl.org.

Wood Utilization Policy Call Join the Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network, RVCC, and others for a Wood Policy call on September 26th. RVCC staff will be leading a meeting of the FACNet Wood Utilization Community of Practice in a session focused on wood utilization legislation, rulemaking, and programs that we’re watching, RVCC’s theory of change around wood utilization, and our policy strategies related to that theory of change. A sneak peak of some of the included topics: Farm Bill, NOGA, Wood Innovations, Rural Forest Markets Act, EMBER Act, Timber Innovation for Building Rural Communities Act, supporting community scale small diameter processing capacity, finding a balanced mix of community scale and conventional infrastructure, and supporting regional and local wood products markets. As with all RVCC policy calls, after the initial presentation we’ll open up into a group discussion about what folks are following, strategizing about, and advocating for. Please reach out to Cole Jenson (cole@ruralvoicescoalition.org) to be added to the call.

SYRCL’s 27th Annual Yuba River Cleanup September 28, 2024

SYRCL invites you to participate in this year’s Annual Yuba River Cleanup on Saturday, September 28, 2024. The community-wide cleanup returns stronger than ever. With nearly 30 sites to clean, SYRCL is hoping for the participation of more than 500 river-loving, community-minded volunteers.

From 9am to 12pm on September 28, individual volunteers, families, groups, and organizations gather at sites with experienced leaders who will provide guidance and supplies. Afterwards, volunteers are invited to come together as a community and celebrate!

2024 Tribal Summit on Sierra Nevada Indigenous Guardianship

On October 7-9 in Shingle Springs, CA. This summit will focus on awareness, amplification, and actioned support for Indigenous land tenure rights.

2024 Natural Areas Conference

2024 Natural Areas Conference (NAC24): Where Science Meets Stewardship

Join Natural Areas Association (NAA) for the 2024 Natural Areas Conference (NAC24): Where Science Meets Stewardship October 7 – 10, 2024, in Manhattan, Kansas. This conference gathers more than 350 natural areas practitioners in one location. Why? Because access to quality science, new knowledge, best practices, and emerging methodologies in the hands of practitioners = IMPACT on the ground.

RVCC Annual Meeting

REGISTER NOW FOR THE 20TH RVCC ANNUAL MEETING, OCTOBER 16-18, 2024!

The 2024 RVCC Annual Meeting will be held at the beautiful Stanford Sierra Conference Center at Fallen Leaf Lake in South Lake Tahoe, California. We look forward to hosting a wide variety of practitioners, coordinators, funders, regulators, policy advocates, and more, working for the benefit of rural communities and landscapes across the West. RVCC’s Annual Meetings are open to anyone.

Annual Meeting Registration: $750, includes lodging (two nights) and all on-site meals.

REGISTER This year’s Annual Meeting will build upon the exciting work undertaken during RVCC’s 19th Annual Meeting, which explored the emerging vision for rural western communities rooted in the stewardship economy – an economy shaped by the need, and responsibility, to manage for the sustainability of both land and communities. What practices, strategies, investments and policies will lead to thriving landscapes and people in the face of shifting economic drivers and population trends, environmental challenges such as catastrophic wildfire and climate change, and historic levels of funding for conservation and rural communities.

Society for Ecological Restoration North American Conference

The SER 2024 North American Conference is being planned in cooperation with SER Northwest, SER Western Canada and other partners in North America, the home of many histories, heritages, backgrounds and Indigenous communities. The Society embraces the principle that ecological restoration is an engaging and inclusive process that succeeds with full participation of all sectors of society wherever it is implemented across the world. To reduce the cost barrier of attending the conference, we offer an Equity rate option. The Equity rate is for SER members who could not otherwise afford to register at the Standard rate. These opportunities are provided on the honor system, and the overall number of Equity rate registrations is limited.

Sierra Nevada Alliance Conservation Conference

Save the Date for the Sierra Nevada Alliance Conservation Conference: On November 7-8, 2024 at Lake Tahoe Community College in South Lake Tahoe, CA. The theme is Strengthening Conservation Impact Through Partnership. A friendly reminder that we have an open call for presenters and strategic sessions for the Sierra Nevada Conservation Conference taking place this year from November 7-8 in South Lake Tahoe.

Wilderness & Beyond Conference

Great Old Broads for Wilderness (Broads) is hosting the national Wilderness & Beyond Conference, October 14 – 17, 2024. The conference will focus on education to strengthen attendees’ skills to successfully advocate for expanded public land protections. You can read more about the organization and the conference on their linked website. They are seeking session speakers and panel hosts for the conference. If you are interested in presenting on your own OR coordinating a panel about public lands, advocacy, or collaboration, they encourage you to submit a speaker/session proposal application. Conference sessions are 1 hour and 15 minutes and will be scheduled for Tuesday, October 15, and Wednesday, October 16. You can find session criteria, anticipated timeline, and speaker application here.

The Society for Ecological Restoration World Conference

The Society for Ecological Restoration is pleased to announce the 11th World Conference on Ecological Restoration (SER2025) to be held 30 September – 4 October 2025 in Denver, United States. You are invited to present your restoration research and projects, make connections, and learn from a wide diversity of restorationists who are at the global forefront of scientific, technical, socioeconomic, and policy dimensions of restoring damaged and degraded ecosystems. Conference participants will include scientists, practitioners, Indigenous and traditional owners, resource managers, policymakers, and other restorationists.

General News and Press Releases

Last Call for Landowners to Sign-Up for Woodpecker Ravine Project

Landowners in the Woodpecker Ravine Phase 1 Shaded Fuel Break Project area are urged to submit Right-of-Entry (ROE) permissions to the Office of Emergency Services by the end of August to take advantage of this free hazardous fuels reduction project. A ROE must be signed by the landowner for consultants to enter private property to design treatment, conduct cultural assessments, and collect the necessary botanical and wildlife surveys to meet California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements.

Tahoe-Central Sierra Project Tracker

The Tahoe-Central Sierra (TCS) Project Tracker will go live at the end of August. The tracker is a dynamic tool designed to enhance planning, monitoring, and reporting of projects across the TCSI landscape. The TCS Project Tracker will be accessible to all users, allowing for real-time project tracking and data management.

Tahoe-Central Sierra Initiative Capacity Report

The Tahoe-Central Sierra Initiative (TCSI) recently released a capacity report highlighting the individual and collective capacity needed to foster resilience in the face of climate change, wildfire intensity, drought, and tree mortality in the Tahoe-Central Sierra region.

The report, informed by existing literature, extensive regional partner engagement, and a twenty-six-question survey, highlights the critical capacity needs, barriers, and opportunities of entities working within the Tahoe-Central Sierra watersheds. This assessment serves as a roadmap for TCSI to address these needs, emphasizing the importance of biomass utilization, enhanced regional coordination, advocacy and funding support, and long-term monitoring and adaptive management.

Supervisors Select Red Dog Road as Preferred Site for PG&E to Move Electrical Wires Underground

The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday identified Red Dog Road in the unincorporated area of Nevada City as a preferred site for PG&E to move electrical wires underground. The Board would like to use $5.8 million in PG&E Rule 20A work credits for the project. The credits come from a portion of customer payments that the utility company has set aside for years for undergrounding projects.

Commissioner Lara Invites Public Input on Final Phase of New Wildfire Modeling Regulation

Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara is inviting public input as he begins the final phase of approving a “first of its kind” catastrophe modeling and ratemaking regulation that will help restore options for all Californians and prepare for the reality of climate change. Today, the Office of Administrative Law published the regulation online, marking the beginning of a public comment period that will conclude with a hearing convened by Commissioner Lara on Sept. 17. The regulation has received strong public support in two previous public meetings the department has held.

Read More

Update from their Sierra Foothills Forest and Climate Resilience Project

This project aims to treat fire fuel on private and adjoining public lands at a “landscape scale” to reduce the likelihood of catastrophic fires occurring while ensuring understory habitat and climate resilience in the treated areas. Portions of the final landscape look like the picture on the right, which contains the least amount of excess vegetation possible while still preserving mature trees. However, the project also focuses on leaving clumps of vegetation for habitat, as well as incorporating where trees can be left in more climate-resilient areas.

Sierra Streams Institute secures new National Science Foundation funding to examine how tribal and western scientific views of ecology inform regional ecological understanding

SSI received confirmation of funding from the Alternatives in Informal Science Learning (AISL) program within the National Science Foundation (NSF). This Partnership Development and Planning project (Phase 1 of a two phase project) will cultivate a trusting and mutually beneficial partnership between Sierra Streams Institute (SSI), California Heritage: Indigenous Research Project (CHIRP), Bear Yuba Land Trust (BYLT), and SRI Education (SRI). The goal of the partnership is to generate knowledge synergies to inform informal STEM learning experiences focused on socio-ecological issues such as human-caused climate change and its local impacts.

Draft EIS from USFS for Land Management Plan Direction for Old-Growth Forest Conditions

The U.S. Forest Service released their Draft Environmental Impact Statement for their Land Management Plan Direction for Old-Growth Forest Conditions Across the National Forest System. The U.S. The Forest Service must fulfill the direction of President Biden’s Executive Order to protect mature and old-growth forests for the climate, clean water and imperiled species.

Public comment period is open and comments are due on September 20, 2024.

See this helpful comment period toolkit here.

Nevada County Office of Emergency Services Kicks-Off Youth Emergency Preparedness Week

PG&E Announcement: PG&E Repairs Powerhouse, Flows Resume to Water Agencies in Nevada, Placer Counties

There is a new chapter of the Forest Business Alliance guide focused on program design at https://forestbiz.info/chapters/program.html. They will be rolling out chapters on project/proposals, measuring success, and scaling in the next few months. Feedback welcome.

Sign Up For The North Yuba Forest Partnership Newsletter

Formed in 2019, the North Yuba Forest Partnership is comprised of a diverse group of nine organizations passionate about forest health and the resilience of the North Yuba watershed. The North Yuba Forest Partnership has recently started publishing a newsletter. The newsletter aims to provide updates on wildfire risk reduction work happening on the North Yuba landscape and serve as a starting point for those interested in learning more about the partnership.

SIGN UP FOR THE NEWSLETTER

TCSI Newsletter

The Tahoe-Central Sierra Initiative (TCSI) is a partnership advancing restoration to 2.4 million acres of Sierra Nevada forested watersheds through innovation and collaboration across landownerships. Every quarter, they will send news, updates, and regional highlights big and small.

Recurring Meetings and Events

CDFW Conservation Lecture Series: The series is geared towards a public-facing audience and will deliver stories from the California conservation community related to science and stewardship of our fish and wildlife. The next meeting will be on September 11 from 10:30 am – 12:00. Register here: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Lectures

Nevada County OES: The next Quarterly Wildfire Stakeholder Meeting will be on on September 13 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm in Truckee, CA . Nevada County Office of Emergency Services and Nevada County Resource Conservation District will be co-hosting a Land Management Plan workshop. RSVP using this link: https://forms.office.com/g/7JbsLAVBd6

Sierra Nevada 30×30 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 September 11 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. The next meeting will be on September 26 at 10:00 am.

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. Peer Learning Network sessions on Zoom at noon.

CA Wildfire & Forest Resilience Task Force: South Lake Tahoe: October 10 – 11 Tahoe Blue Event Center. Sacramento: CNRA Auditorium December 13, 9:00-12:00 pm.

Yuba Forest Network Quarterly Meeting: Email Anne Marie Holt at annemarie@yubariver.org for more details. The next Quarterly Meeting will be November 1 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm on Microsoft Teams.

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 September 11. 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: September 25, 10:00 – 11:30 am. Biodiversity Informatics and Community Science: September 24, 11:00 am. Sentinel Site Network: October 3.

Webinars

UC ANR Fire Network: Smoke exposure from wildfires is an increasingly common public health hazard to communities throughout California. Knowing where to find accurate information and being prepared to act can help you protect your family. On September 4, join the UC ANR Fire Network to learn about the health impacts of wildfire smoke, how to monitor the Air Quality Index (AQI) and interpret AQI measurements, and low-cost ways to protect yourself. Register by Sept. 2.

Progress on 30×30: Creative Conservation Across California that is Leading a Global Movement – Join this special Secretary Speaker Series webinar on September 9 from 12:00 –1:00 pm for a special update on 30×30 progress over the last year.

Local Roots, Global Impact: Celebrating Biodiversity Together – On September 10 from 9:00–10:30 am, be a part of the conversation with biodiversity leaders from around the globe who will share how their work connects to 30×30 efforts in California and abroad.

Future Webinars (with Confirmed Dates)

September 5: Future of Facilitated Recreation
September 19: How to Be Successful When Applying for the Legacy Trails Grant Program (registration coming soon)
September 26: Assessing and Advancing Belonging: Overcoming Roadblocks to Inclusion
October 24: Making Organizations Inclusive: Stories of Deaf Gain in the Outdoors
November 14: Building a Trail-Friendly Community: Three Things You Can Start Today

November 14: Trail Towns (registration coming soon)

The Map of Biodiversity Importance: Enhancing Local Conservation Strategies: On September 24 from 9:00 am the Natural Areas Association will host a webinar on the NatureServe update to the Map of Biodiversity Importance – a portfolio of maps that identify areas critical to sustaining our nation’s rich biodiversity. In this webinar, we will explore the Map of Biodiversity Importance (MoBI) and its critical role in guiding conservation efforts by offering a comprehensive view of biodiversity across different regions, serving as an invaluable tool for conservation organizations and land managers. By integrating MoBI and other NatureServe Network datasets, stakeholders can make informed decisions that enhance local conservation strategies.

Prescribed Fire for Forest Management Webinar Series: 6:30- 8:00 am.

September 4: Case Studies: Prescribed Fire and Interfering Vegetation
October 2: Prescribed Fire Workforce Development

Post-Fire Emergency Assessment Processes

In the first of two webinars, After the Flames (ATF) will discuss the post-fire assessment process used for the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) program and how it has been adapted to help rapidly determine post-fire emergency situations using case studies from the United States, Greece, Portugal, and Canada. The second webinar is intended to be a more interactive session to discuss ways in which the process can be used or adapted to meet a wide range of needs outside of federal government.

Part 1: Post-Fire Emergency Assessment Processes: September 11 at 1:00 pm

Part 2: Post-Fire Emergency Assessment Processes: September 12 at 1:00 pm

CAL FIRE’s Vegetation Management Program (VMP): a case study of the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center’s VMP

On September 26 from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm this webinar is an opportunity for participants to increase their understanding of CAL FIRE’s Vegetation Management Program (VMP) process through a case study of the UC Hopland Research & Extension Center’s VMP.

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 will remain closed until further notice.

Grant applications received to date currently exceed available funds for almost all programs. Once additional funds become available, WCB will notify partners at https://wcb.ca.gov/ and through their email subscriber list that the application portal has reopened.

There is some funding available in the following areas: Habitat Conservation Plan Land Acquisition and Recovery Land Acquisition projects associated with Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund that have been selected, processed, and approved for funding by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that need non-federal matching funds. Planning project proposals for Regional Conservation Investment Strategies and in Aspen Restoration in the Sierra/Cascades also has funding available.

American Indian Education Center Request for Applications: This Request for Applications is to solicit applications from eligible Tribal Groups or Incorporated American Indian Associations for grants to Tribal Groups or Incorporated American Indian Associations for grants to operate American Indian Education Centers authorized by sections 33370 and 33380–33385 of the California Education Code (EC).

Due September 3

The BOR Cooperative Watershed Management Program provides funding for watershed group development, watershed planning, and watershed-implementation projects.

Due September 3

USDA WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program Phase I: to develop a watershed group, complete watershed restoration planning activities, and design watershed management projects.

Due September 3

Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program: For projects that seek to achieve a reduction in the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions; and improve habitat connectivity for terrestrial and aquatic species.

Due: September 4

Department of Fish and Wildlife Environmental Enhancement Fund: The objective of this grant program is support environmental enhancement projects located within or immediately adjacent to waters of the state.

Due September 11

Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance (HFTA) Grant Program: The HFTA Grant Program facilitates the transportation of hazardous fuels from National Forests or adjacent lands to utilization facilities.

Due September 5

Joint Fire Science Program: The interagency Joint Fire Science Program is soliciting proposals from both government and non-government entities through several formal Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) announcements.

Due September 29

Department of Pesticide Regulation: To promote safer, more sustainable pest management practices in California, the Department of Pesticide Regulation’s (DPR) Research Grants Program provides funding to advance integrated pest management (IPM) knowledge in agricultural, urban, or wildland settings. Projects should focus on reducing impacts to public health or the environment from pesticides of high regulatory interest.

Due September 19

California Council of Land Trusts Capacity Grant

Due September 20

The US Forest Service (USFS) Forest Legacy Program: s a conservation program administered by the U.S. Forest Service in partnership with State agencies to encourage the protection of privately owned forest lands through conservation easements or land purchases.

Due September 23

The US Dept. of Transportation National Culvert Removal, Replacement, and Restoration Grant Program: Culvert Aquatic Organism Passage Program: funds the replacement, removal, and repair of culverts or weirs that would meaningfully improve or restore fish passage for anadromous fish.

Due September 23

Federal Grants for Forest Landowner Support – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has several funding programs offering technical and financial assistance to private forest landowners including: 1) Support for underserved and small-acreage landowner participation in emerging private markets due August 21; 2) Support for tribal access to emerging private markets for climate mitigation or forest resilience, landowner cost-share for climate mitigation and forest resilience practices, and landowner programs for carbon stewardship practices are due September 30.

The USDA Forest Service Inflation Reduction Act Forest Landowner Support: Landowner Cost Share Payment Programs for Climate Mitigation and/or Forest Resilience Practices: funds state or state-sponsored programs issuing cost-share payments to landowners for climate mitigation and/or forest-resilience practices.

Due September 30

The Arbor Day Foundation Community Roots Program for Tribes funds urban forestry projects by federally recognized tribes.

Due September 30

The Fund for Wild Nature Foundation Grants supports campaigns proposed by nonprofit organizations to save native species and wild ecosystems in North America, with particular emphasis on actions designed to defend threatened wilderness and biological diversity.

Due October 1

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tribal Wetland Program Grants assist tribal governments and intertribal consortia to develop or refine tribal programs that protect, manage, and restore wetlands.

Due October 1

The CalRecycle Solid Waste Cleanup and Abatement Program: funds the cleanup of illegally dumped material on farm and/or ranch property, including on public forestlands

Due October 8

The US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) Small Grants Program supports small-scale, long-term, on-the-ground projects that protect, restore, and enhance wetlands and associated uplands habitats for the benefit of wetlands-associated migratory birds.

Due October 10

California Council of Land Trusts: Project Advancement Grants

Due October 18

The NDN Collective Community Action Fund: supports tribes, tribal nonprofit organizations, and other Indigenous communities and organizations most impacted by local challenges – ensuring that resources and decision-making ability lies with those who are best equipped to solve pressing issues and address imminent threats.

Rolling application until October 31

Rooting Resilience: Funding and Technical Assistance for Urban and Community Forestry Projects River Network will soon release a funding opportunity for urban and community forestry projects led by federally recognized Tribes, Alaska Native Corporations/villages, Tribal organizations, organizations working in Tribal communities, and community-based non-profits. The Rooting Resilience Program, with funding provided by the Inflation Reduction Act and the USDA Forest Service, Urban and Community Forestry Program, will provide funding and technical assistance to community-based projects that build resilience and capacity for the planning and implementation of forestry projects.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program (CCGP) (Part A): Community-Driven Investments for Change supports community-driven projects that enable disadvantaged communities and their partners to overcome longstanding environmental challenges and implement meaningful solutions to meet community needs.

Due November 21

Department of Pesticide Regulation: To promote safer, more sustainable pest management practices in California, the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) annually funds Alliance projects that promote or increase the implementation, expansion, and/or adoption of effective, proven, and affordable integrated pest management (IPM) systems or practices that reduce risks to human health and the environment in agricultural, urban, or wildland settings.

Due November 21

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Community Change Program supports community-driven projects that build capacity for communities to tackle environmental and climate justice challenges, strengthen their climate resilience, and advance clean energy.

Rolling applications until November 21

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 (rolling) 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

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.

Due: May 24, 2025 Learn more

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

Literature and Resources

Introduction to Homeowner Prescribed Burning Video

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!