Page 7 - Sierra Meadows Strategy

Osa Meadow in the Sequoia National Forest—recently restored—is a long term study meadow. This picture shows the gullying that has degraded the meadow. Photo: M. Drew
This Strategy offers an opportunity to articulate and pursue common goals systematically and at scales ranging from meadow-speci c to Sierra-wide. It is a living document developed by individuals involved in the Partnership and is intended to guide Sierra meadow protection, management, and restoration by describing desired conditions and by providing a roadmap towards these conditions. This roadmap includes a set of Approaches and associated actions, metrics, and outcomes, as well as a decision support framework. The geographic scope
for the Strategy includes all of the Sierra Nevada, the Modoc Plateau, and the Southern Cascades of California. The Strategy has a greater footprint for downstream water users. The value
of water owing from federal, state and private lands has become increasingly important, especially where severe drought continues. More than half the state water supply ows from the Sierra Nevada and Southern Cascades.
This Strategy provides the guidance necessary to achieve an ambitious and effective course of action to increase rates of meadow conservation.
The content presented in the Strategy aims to identify a purpose, set of goals and a series of actions aimed at increasing the pace,
scale and ef cacy of meadow restoration. The three approaches, as described, are intended to address not only how to make positive change with respect to “on-the-ground” restoration,
but also institutional change in terms of permitting, planning, funding and stakeholder involvement and partnership capacity. To achieve the target of restoring and protecting 30,000 acres
in a 15 year period will require an all-hands, all-lands approach involving people, institutional change, improved coordination as well as perseverance. The Strategy is intentionally ambitious. However, a pathway does exist to increase the pace, scale and ef cacy of meadow restoration throughout the broader
Sierra Nevada.
By reaching consensus on a path forward, a diverse group of agencies, scientists, and stakeholders can more effectively leverage necessary resources and the strategic changes required to increase the pace, scale and ef cacy of meadow restoration and protection in the greater Sierra Nevada Region.
We invite all stakeholders to read the Strategy and join the Sierra Meadows Partnership in restoring and conserving meadows and their watersheds to provide and to restore a healthier and more resilient landscape within the next 15 years.
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