A Funding Boost
Sacramento, CA — The Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) Governing Board has approved $5.2 million in Proposition 84 grant awards. Those grants will help Sierra ranchers and farmers in 18 counties with conservation measures designed to protect California’s most important watersheds. The Board approved the grants at its quarterly meeting in Sacramento on Thursday.
The SNC says it has handed out $52 million to nearly 300 projects in the Sierra in the past five years. That money has funded projects to reduce the risk of catastrophic fire, protect important landscapes and improve watershed health.
“These working landscapes have a rich and important place in our region, so preserving that heritage is critical to our future,” said SNC Executive Officer Jim Branham. “These lands provide not only economic benefits, but substantial natural resource benefits as well. These projects will help conserve or restore land and water resources valuable to those living downstream.”
Two projects in Tuolumne County got nearly $82,000. The American Rivers Organization got $62,000 for its Integrated Meadow Restoration and Grazing in Shell Meadow. Also the Tuolumne County Land Trust, Inc. got $19,650.00 for its Ratto Ranch Conservation Easement – Appraisal and Planning.
The SNC says these new projects will result in reduced erosion, meadow and stream restoration, conservation easements, ranch infrastructure development, invasive species removal and pre-project environmental work.
