Sierra Nevada Conservancy

10/29/2026

What does a healthier Wildland-Urban Interface look like?

In the Arnold-Avery area of Calaveras County, partners are reducing tree density, hazardous fuels, and tree mortality while improving an existing fuelbreak near the communities of Arnold and Avery.

This work is helping build forest resilience to drought, bark beetles, and high-intensity wildfire while supporting public and firefighter safety. It’s also an example of how shared stewardship can connect forest health and community wildfire resilience.

10/28/2026

A flock of crows is poetically known as a "murder" - a title reinforced by how they occasionally kill an outsider or a sick member of their own kind to protect their territory and family food supply.

Crows have impressive memories, and they can recognize individual human faces for years. If a person poses a threat, crows may remember that face and warn other crows about it.

So, if you’re out this Halloween, remember: the neighborhood crow may be paying closer attention than you think 🐦‍⬛

10/28/2026

California’s mountain meadows are a small part of the landscape, but these high-elevation quietly store remarkable amounts of carbon. They also filter, store, and slowly release water into the state’s water supply systems, making clean water available for people and nature in the warm, dry months when it’s needed most.

10/27/2026

What does it mean to build a deeper relationship with the Sierra? Join conservation partners, Tribal leaders, and community members on November 5 in Nevada City for the Sierra Nevada Alliance Conservation Conference.

SNC is proud to sponsor this gathering. The program includes a keynote by Kat Anderson, breakout sessions, emerging research, community-based case studies, and opportunities to connect with others working to care for the region.

Learn more and register: https://sierranevadaalliance.org/sierra-nevada-alliance-conference/

10/27/2026

🔥𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐁𝐄𝐃 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐄: 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧 - 𝟏𝟖𝟓 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐬🔥

Tahoe National Forest is planning to conduct a 185-acre prescribed fire off Madrone Springs Road near Nevada City, Calif. starting tomorrow Oct. 28, 2026. Ignitions may continue for several days, conditions permitting.

Smoke will be visible from Highway 20, Madrone Springs Rd., Washington Ridge and the greater Nevada City area.

Project: Madrone Springs Underburn
Units: L-85 acres, N-20 acres, I-25 acres, B-57 acres
Type of burn: Underburn
Total acreage possible: 185
Ignition dates: Oct. 28 through Nov. 1, conditions permitting

Why Are We Burning?
The goal of this prescribed burn is to decrease the existing fire hazard and to prevent and reduce the impact of future fires in the area. Other benefits include enhancing wildlife habitat and reintroducing fire into a fire-adapted ecosystem.

Why Now?
Current conditions allow for prescribed burning. Each prescribed fire operation follows a prescribed fire burn plan, which considers temperature, humidity, wind, moisture of the vegetation, and conditions for the dispersal of smoke. This information is used to decide when and where to burn. The Tahoe National Forest strives to give as much advance notice as possible before burning, but some operations may be conducted on short notice.

Smoke
Smoke from prescribed fire operations is normal and may continue for several days after an ignition depending on the project size and environmental conditions. Smoke may settle into the valleys in the evening and lift in the morning. The Tahoe National Forest coordinates with state and local county air pollution control districts and monitors weather conditions closely prior to prescribed fire ignition. Crews also conduct test burns before igniting a larger area, to verify how effectively fuels are consumed and how smoke will travel.

View current and upcoming Tahoe National Forest prescribed fire projects here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/tahoe/alerts

10/27/2026

Bats may be associated with Halloween, but their biology is even more interesting than their spooky reputation! Their wings are made from a thin membrane of skin stretched across elongated finger bones, allowing them to maneuver with remarkable control.

The common vampire bat (desmodus rotundus) saliva contains an anticoagulant compound called Draculin, which scientists have turned into medications to help stroke victims.

Bats all around the world play important roles in ecosystems, from eating insects to pollinating plants.

10/27/2026

Covering more than a quarter of the state’s landscape, most of California’s are found across the Sierra Nevada, Cascade, and North Coast regions. When healthy, forests absorb and store carbon and help regulate our climate.

10/23/2026

What does it take to restore a landscape after a devastating ?

In Concow, partners are working to restore the fire-affected landscape by supporting the return of oak-dominated forest. The goal is a healthier, more resilient landscape that looks more like it did historically and that can support both people and wildlife.

Watch the full Nature-Based Solutions video to learn more about the Concow Resilience Project and the partners helping restore this important landscape. https://youtu.be/_MJslwUGabw

10/22/2026

Some of California’s most powerful climate solutions are found in the state’s forests, oak woodlands, and mountain meadows. When these landscapes are restored, they durably store carbon and so much more.

They also reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire, improve air and water quality, provide opportunities for tribal stewardship, protect wildlife habitat and water supply, create economic and recreation opportunities, and strengthen the resilience of communities across the state.

California’s forests, oak woodlands, and mountain meadows are more ...

10/21/2026

Keep an eye out for one of the Sierra Nevada’s most adaptable predators: Coyotes are a familiar part of Yosemite’s wildlife, helping regulate small mammal populations and playing an important role in the food web!

Healthy ecosystems need predators, too. Protecting the diverse habitats of the Sierra Nevada helps support the wildlife and natural relationships that make this region unique.