State Legislative Initiative SB 989 Passes to Move on to Assembly Appropriation Committee
Laurel Harkness, board president of the Siskiyou Outdoor Recreation Alliance, testified yesterday before the State Assembly Committee on Natural Resources in support of SB 989, a state legislative initiative to modify the region of the Sierra Nevada Conservancy to include a portion of Siskiyou County. These areas include the Upper Sacramento, McCloud, and Pit watersheds of Siskiyou County. The bill passed without opposition or any "no" votes. Next, it will be heard in the Assembly Appropriation Committee on August 13. Harkness says, "Siskiyou County ranks 55th of 58 of the counties in California in median income, also Siskiyou County ranks 57th of the 58 counties in California in public health outcomes. Our part of the state by every measure could be considered disadvantaged."
The opportunity for this part of Siskiyou County to be included in the Sierra Nevada Conservancy would help leverage technical and fiscal resources for conservation, community vibrancy, and stewardship projects in these areas of Siskiyou County. Projects within the Sierra Nevada Conservancy region are eligible to receive assistance in the form of grants and technical assistance. Grant funds may be authorized for public agencies, qualifying nonprofit organizations, and eligible tribal organizations.
SORA would like to thank Senator Dahle for his leadership, and for sponsoring this important legislation.