March 5, 2013 — The Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) Governing Board will meet Thursday, March 7 to consider approval of $5.2 million in Proposition 84 grant awards to assist 29 Sierra ranchers and farmers in 18 counties with conservation measures designed to protect California’s most important watersheds. There are five Lassen County listings:

• Upper Pete’s Creek Habitat Restoration Project, $198,225 (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Nevada Fish and Wildlife Office; Ted Koch, call (775) 861-6311 or email ted_koch@fws.gov)

• Ash Valley Ranch Native Grassland Restoration, $350,000 (Lassen County Fire Safe Council, Inc; Thomas Esgate, call 310-0146 or email twestgate@sbcglobal.net),

• Butte Creek Meadow Restoration Project, $294,817 (Pit Resource Conservation District; Sharmie Stevenson, call 399-3405 or email pitrcd@frontiernet.net)

• Rush creek Improvement Project, $207,164 (Bureau of Land Management, Eagle Lake field office; Valda Lockie, call 252-5325 or email vlockie@blm.gov)

• Pyle Ranch Conservation Easement, $35,000 (Lassen Land and Trails Trust; Louise Jensen, call 257-3252 or derector@llttweb.org)

The SNC will issue a news release from the board meeting Thursday afternoon with the final decision by the board.

Projects will result in reduced erosion, meadow and stream restoration, conservation easements, infrastructure development, invasive species removal and pre-project environmental work. 

Eligible applicants include public agencies, qualifying nonprofit organizations whose charitable purposes are consistent with the purposes of the SNC and eligible tribal organizations. Where applicants on private land use the funds, Prop. 84 regulations require there must be a demonstrated benefit to the public.