SNC in SC

Auburn — Building consensus on issues surrounding the management of Sierra Nevada forests will be a key topic of discussion when the Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) holds its quarterly Governing Board meeting in Sierra County September 1-2.
“We’re looking forward to having the governing board come to Sierra County and see firsthand the issues facing our communities,” said Sierra County Supervisor and SNC board member Bill Nunes. “The SNC is committed to addressing the risk and consequences of large damaging fires and doing so in a way that is sustainable for our forests and communities. This is a huge issue in our county and I appreciate the SNC providing leadership and support.”
The SNC is sponsoring an Initiative aimed at restoring public forests to ecological health, reducing the threat and consequences of large damaging fires and contributing to sustainable local economies. The Sierra Nevada Forest and Community Initiative is designed to bring a wide range of parties together regionally and locally to identify areas of agreements and initiate actions.
“A century of fire suppression and decades of conflict between multiple stakeholders regarding forest and habitat issues on public lands has resulted in lawsuits, limited forest management and more frequent large damaging fires in the Sierra Nevada,” SNC Executive Officer Jim Branham said. “At the same time, the loss of wood production infrastructure has contributed to forest overgrowth and the suffering of local economies. The status quo is simply unacceptable.”
On Wednesday September 1, the SNC Board and staff will visit a fuel break near Calpine, and discuss the importance of ranching and recreation to the area at various locations in the county. The Conservancy has awarded more than $5 million in grant funds for projects in Sierra County, the most funding awarded within any county in the Sierra Nevada Region.
The public is welcome to attend both events. The tour, which begins in the parking lot across Highway 49 from Herrington’s Sierra Pines at 1:30, includes stops near Sierra Valley, Calpine and Sardine Lake. The Board meeting will begin at 9:00 am September 2 and will be held at the Sierra City Community Hall, 13 Castagna Alley (off Hwy 49).