The Sierra Nevada Conservancy will distribute another $17 million in fiscal year 2009, to projects designed to protect or restore “rivers, lakes and streams, their watersheds and associated land, water and other natural resources.” The money was authorized by California voters in 2006 when they passed Proposition 84, the Clean Water, Parks and Coastal Protection Act.

The conservancy established two categories of grants for fiscal year 2009–

• Competitive grants: $7 million for land acquisition, conservation easements, and site restoration; individual grants can range from $250,000 to $1 million;
  Deadline: Sept. 15, 2008.

• Strategic opportunity grants: $10 million, including $1 million for each of the six subregions; individual grants can range from $5,000 to $500,000;
  Deadlines: Sept. 2, 2008 and Feb. 27, 2009.

While the conservancy only gets a pittance of the $5.4 billion authorized by Prop. 84, the funding is having an immediate impact in the 22 counties that comprise the mountain range. In FY 2008, the first year of funding, the conservancy board approved 146 grants, from a Tule River restoration project in the southern Sierras, to a “how to” guide, focusing on the restoration of wetland habitats and re-use abandoned lumber mill or mine sites for recreational purposes, based on the experience at the Robber’s Creek Mill site in Lassen County.

The conservancy allocated a majority of its Prop. 84 funds to four types of projects–site acquisitions, conservation easements, watershed and habitat restoration, and wildfire fuel reduction. However, the board also approved a significant number of [1] tourism and recreation-related projects.

“The grant program has been tremendously successful,” says Steve Frisch, president of the Sierra Business Council. “They implemented grants program quickly, they distributed money equitably within the six regions, and consistent with the mission of the conservancy.”

The business council worked with the conservancy to host a series of public hearings in 2005 and 2006, which helped established the state agency’s first five year strategic plan. The two organizations are also co-sponsoring the [2] Sierra Solutions Conference, October 3 and 4th.

“We’ve made a huge effort to create a straight-forward grant process,” says Bob Kingman, program manager at the conservancy. “We provide a grant application packet, including checklists,” which guides applicants through the process.

More importantly, Kingman says staff consults with potential applicants early in the process. “Applicants are able to refine their proposals ,” which improves the quality of the projects that receive funding.

The conservancy and Prop. 84 established general guidelines for the grant program. Projects must:
(1) Protect or restore rivers, lakes and streams, their watersheds and associated land, water and other natural resources; and
(2) Address one of more of the conservancy’s program areas:

• Provide increased opportunities for tourism and recreation;
• Protect, conserve and restore the region’s natural, cultural, archaeological and living resources;
• Help preserve the range’s working landscapes, ie farm, ranch, and timber lands;
• Reduce the risk of wildfires and other natural disasters;
• Protect and improve water and air quality;
• Assist the regional economy; and
• Enhance the public use and enjoyment of public lands.

Only public agencies, nonprofit organizations and tribal organizations are eligible for funding. The conservancy encourages cooperation among public agencies and nonprofits, and community involvement by giving these grants a higher rating.Contact:

[3] Sierra Nevada Conservancy,

• [4] Grants Awarded FY 2008,
• [5] Grant Guidelines FY 2009

[6] Sierra Business Council