The California Biodiversity Council (CBC) and the Regional Council of Rural Counties (RCRC) were joint sponsors of a two-day meeting at the Granlibakken Conference Center in Lake Tahoe on October 6 and 7, 1999. This session combined the RCRC annual conference with the CBC semiannual regional meeting. The result of this joint venture was lively presentations and discussions and ample time for rural county supervisors and CBC members to discuss topics of mutual interest and concern.

The major topics of the meeting were learning and understanding the accomplishments and challenges of Lake Tahoe restoration, an update on the Sierra Nevada Framework, and a discussion of a statewide strategy to restore California’s watersheds. The RCRC conference included speakers and discussions on the many issues that face rural counties, including changing demographics, water, technology, education, fire/fuels, and politics.

Lake Tahoe Restoration
Secretary Nichols and El Dorado Supervisor Dave Solaro began the Lake Tahoe segment by introducing a diverse panel that spoke about the challenges and opportunities that have faced the effort to restore the Lake Tahoe to a healthy and sustainable state. The first speaker was Dennis Machida, the Executive Officer for the Tahoe Conservancy. Dennis reviewed the history of the effort that spans at least 25 years. The bioregion is enormously complicated both biologically and politically, and its progress could be used as a model for other bioregions that are just beginning this work. A key message was that the true collaboration needed to create a healthy and sustainable ecosystem and economy takes enormous time and energy. The road has been bumpy, long and rewarding.

Dennis reviewed the biophysical character of the lake, the history of development, and the consequent loss of ecosystem diversity. Issues include loss of water quality, declining forest health and transportation impacts. Dennis focused on the three strategies that the bioregion has used: research and monitoring; which has provided all the foundation for all the work to date; establishment of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency in 1969; and acquisition and restoration activities. Lessons they have learned about sustainability along the way have included:

• The role of consensus building and how its value shows up over time when agreement on projects is needed
• A value shift is required for people to realize that there was a need to honor both sustainable environment and a sustainable economy
• Public/private collaboration and local government participation in environmental initiatives was essential
• This is not about a project but a way of interacting with a ecosystem process
• With public and private investment it is critical to achieve ecosystem sustainability.

Over $350 million has been invested to date, and it will take much more to complete the Tahoe Bioregion’s goals. How to fit funding needs into existing decision-making structures and other statewide demands is a real dilemma.

A panel of community leaders from the Lake Tahoe Basin gave presentations from their diverse points of view. Each represented a different group of stakeholders and interests. Although their remarks illustrated many varying perspectives, their conclusions were cohesive and reinforced Dennis’s key messages. The speakers included Carl Hasty with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency; Ed Gee, Acting Forest Supervisor for the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit; Rochelle Nason, Executive Director of the League to Save Lake Tahoe (and with the Tahoe Transportation and Water Quality Coalition); Kerry Miller, City Manager of South Lake Tahoe; Irene Itamura, District 3 Director, CALTRANS; Tim Steward, Director of Environmental Planning for the Washoe Tribe; and John Upton, citizen and former president of California State Association of Counties.

Supervisor Solaro closed the discussion with a request to the Council that they designate Lake Tahoe as an area of interest. He defined this as having a Tahoe representative give updates to the Council at future meetings so that the progress, opportunities and challenges of this complex effort could stay in front of the Council. Secretary Nichols endorsed this concept and committed to an on-going, long-term relationship with the Tahoe Bioregion.

UPDATE: Since the October Biodiversity Council meeting the Lake Tahoe Interagency Council has been formed. The Council brings together all state resource agencies so that they can provide a coordinated response to planning and project implementation in the Lake Tahoe Basin. In addition, as of press time, the Forest Service planned to release the Lake Tahoe Basin Watershed Assessment on February 16, 2000. This precedent-setting document will compile all known scientific data about Lake Tahoe Basin so that resource managers can establish better-informed policies, programs, and priorities. The Assessment will offer recommendations for research and monitoring and an adaptive management strategy.

Sierra Nevada Framework for Conservation and Collaboration
In January 1998, the Forest Service Pacific Southwest (PSW) Region and the PSW Research Station initiated a collaborative effort to incorporate new information into the management of Sierra Nevada national forests. This effort, known as the Sierra Nevada Framework for Conservation and Collaboration, incorporates the latest scientific information into national forest management through broad public and interagency participation in natural resource planning. Regional Forester Brad Powell and Research Station Director Hal Salwasser lead a discussion on the current status and goals of the Framework. Brad began the presentation by emphasizing that the 'Framework' is much bigger than just the current EIS project the Forest Service has undertaken. He reminded the audience that the original vision was for the Framework to explore ways for all agencies to come together to work with the public on the critical issues that the face the Sierra Nevada Range. It is a framework of shared leadership and collaboration to help solve the complex problems that transcend administrative boundaries. Brad asked that we not lose sight of the bigger Framework as the Forest Service continues its current focus on the completion of the EIS.

Brad and Hal gave a quick overview of the Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment EIS, which will amend forest plans on 11 national forests in the Sierra Nevada. The Sierra Nevada Ecosystem Project (SNEP) and the Sierra Nevada Science Review are the foundation of the document, which focuses on five problem areas. These include old forest ecosystems and associated species; aquatic, riparian, and meadow ecosystems and associated species; fire and fuels; noxious weeds; and lower Westside hardwood forest ecosystems. The EIS is plowing new ground in trying different, more open ways to engage the public in the process. The Forest Service has invited other agencies to the table throughout the development of the document. Brad and Hal asked that everyone stay engaged and help provide the valuable input needed from outside the agency to make this the best plan possible for the national forests in the Sierra Nevada.

UPDATE: As of newsletter press time, the draft EIS is planned for release in February. You may request a copy of the printed summary, the entire printed draft EIS, or an electronic compact disk of the draft EIS from USDA Forest Service – CAET, Sierra Nevada Framework, PO Box 7669, Missoula, MT 59807.

Watershed Forum
Secretary Nichols opened the forum with remarks on where we are in the state and where we want to be in terms of healthy, sustainable watersheds. She reaffirmed the state's commitment to support efforts that restore California’s watersheds. The focus of the afternoon forum was a discussion of draft legislation that had been developed to restore watersheds around the state. Secretary Nichols stated that she was excited to explore the hard work that had been done by the Regional Council of Rural Counties and the Sierra Nevada Alliance to create this draft legislation. She said good efforts were going on around California in many diverse watersheds. The challenge will be to figure out how to best support these efforts and help generate new watershed coalitions.

Plumas County Supervisor Robert Meacher said that much emphasis had been put on declining infrastructure in California, while the natural infrastructure has been overlooked and needs critical attention and funding now. Martha Davis added that the draft legislation is a bold move toward supporting and initiating collaborative watershed planning and bringing in the resources needed to accomplish the plans, and that it's time to reinvest in our primary resources. The speakers emphasized that the draft legislation is truly a draft, and now is the time to discuss, critique, and provide feedback.

"Hands-on" watershed practitioners from around the state gave presentations on their accomplishments and what was needed to continue the good work that was started. They all agreed that the proposed legislation would be a tremendous resource for continued planning and implementation. Panelists included Supervisor Ralph Modine, Trinity River; Nettie Drake, Panoche/Silver Creek Resource Conservation District; John Schramel, Feather River Resource Conservation District; and Richard Atwater, Inland Empire Utility District (Santa Ana River).

A lively discussion followed about some of the specifics of the proposed legislation. Topics of discussion included funding mechanisms, organization, how the fund would be administered, and the role of county, state, and federal government. All agreed that the dialog needs to continue and all interests need to be brought to the table.

UPDATE: The proposed legislation has been put on a slower tract than initially envisioned. The original proposal has been pulled from this year’s legislative agenda. New legislation may be introduced this session, which will focus on assessing the funding and resources currently available, where and how are they being used, and what additional needs exist. The interested parties hope to use this year to build broader coalitions and support for the major themes of the proposal. This spring, the Regional Council of Rural Counties and the Sierra Nevada Alliance will be hosting stakeholder meetings throughout the state.