Brittany Covich

The Board held a meeting where they administered oaths of office for new members. Discussions included reports from the Board Chair and Executive Officer, an annual budget report, updates on the State Water Project Headwaters Investment Pilot, and the Tribal Capacity Building Pilot Program. The Board took action to approve various grant awards for wildfire and forest resilience projects, including the Eldorado Community Defense Project, the Round Mountain Landscape Resilience Project, the Lily Gap Vegetative Maintenance project, the Plumas Community Resilience Project, the Mount Crossman Community Fuel Break, the Sly Park Fuels Reduction Project, the Town of Washington Wildfire Defense project, the Protecting Highway 108's Communities project, the Manton WUI Protection Project, and the Fresno County Wildfire Defense Accelerator project. Additionally, the Board authorized an amendment for the South Yuba Rim Hazardous Fuel Reduction Project and approved the transfer of funds for the Alpenglow Timber Sawmill Project.

The meeting featured a presentation on the Executive Officer's report detailing agency successes over the past year, including investments, grant programs, and budget expectations. A legislative panel discussion was held with representatives regarding policy priorities such as wildfire resilience, insurance affordability, and rural investment. The Board conducted elections for the positions of Board Chair and Vice-Chair for the 2026 calendar year and adopted the 2026 meeting schedule. Significant actions included the approval of the 2025-2026 Action Plan, the authorization of funding and CEQA determinations for several wildfire and forest resilience projects, and the amendment of existing grant agreements.

The board meeting agenda covered several informational and action items over March 4 and 5, 2026. Key discussion topics included an Oath of Office for new Boardmembers, the Executive Officer's Report, and the Annual Budget Report for 2026-27. Action items focused on grant awards under the Proposition 4 Early Action Wildfire and Forest Resilience Directed Grant Program, including recommendations for ten specific projects across various counties totaling significant funding amounts. The board also considered an amendment for the South Yuba Rim Hazardous Fuel Reduction Project and an authorization for the Alpenglow Timber Sawmill Project. The informational segments detailed updates on the State Water Project Headwaters Investment Pilot and the Tribal Capacity Building Pilot Program, alongside a comprehensive review of SNC's funding sources, staffing workload, and projected five-year support budget.

The key discussions and actions taken during the meeting included the approval of the June 5, 2025, Meeting Minutes. A resolution was adopted honoring a Boardmember for 16 years of service. The Executive Officer provided updates on administrative and policy/outreach matters, followed by a Legislative Perspectives Panel Discussion. The Board elected Nathan Voegeli as Board Chair and Ric Leutwyler as Vice-Chair for calendar year 2026. The 2026 Board Meeting Schedule was approved, along with the 2025-2026 Action Plan. Significant actions were taken regarding grant award recommendations under the Proposition 4 Early Action Wildfire and Forest Resilience Directed Grant Program, including funding for the Musty Buck Ridge Fuel Break project, the White Fir Ridge Fuels Reduction and Forest Health project, and the Goat Mountain Fuel Break Reconstruction project. Additionally, the Board authorized an increase of $5 million for the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Directed Grant Program. Grant Agreement Amendments were also addressed, involving CEQA certification for the Paradise Fuels Reduction Programmatic Initial Study and amendments for the Magalia Forest and Wildfire Resilience Project and the Veater / Ekarnas Hemman Conservation Easement Project.

This document is the Sierra Nevada Conservancy's 2025-2026 Action Plan, serving as the second plan of its 2024-2029 Strategic Plan. It outlines specific actions to be taken from September 2025 through June 2026 to advance key Regional Goals and organizational objectives. The plan focuses on four primary Regional Goals: Healthy Forests and Watersheds, Resilient Sierra-Cascade Communities, Sustainable Recreation, Tourism, and Equitable Outdoor Access, and Conservation and Stewardship of Natural & Working Lands, alongside internal Organizational Goals aimed at securing funding, fostering equity, and maintaining strong operations.