Sierra Meadows Restoration Program

Sierra Meadows Restoration Program Overview

Geographic Scope: Sierra Nevada region, California

Program Contact: Ryan Burnett, Sierra Nevada Group Director

Program Description

The Sierra Meadows Restoration Program funds and implements meadow restoration projects across the Sierra Nevada. The program prioritizes restoring hydrologic and ecologic function in degraded headwater meadows using low-impact, process-based restoration techniques.

Restoration Objectives

• Restore natural hydrological, biological, and geomorphic processes
• Increase meadow resilience to climate change and other stressors
• Improve habitat for wildlife, fish, and plants
• Increase carbon storage capacity of meadows
• Restore water quality and quantity benefits
• Improve soil health

Project Types Funded

1. Implementation Projects: Direct restoration construction and habitat work
2. Planning Projects: Restoration design, environmental compliance (NEPA/CEQA), and feasibility assessments
3. Technical Assistance: Monitoring, research, and capacity building

Eligible Restoration Methods

• Beaver dam analogs (BDAs)
• Post-assisted log structures (PALS)
• Channel fill and riffle construction
• Road decommissioning and recontouring
• Ditch removal and flow re-dispersal
• Conifer removal
• Revegetation of riparian and fen habitats
• Livestock exclusion fencing
• Culvert modification
• Trail decommissioning

Focus Areas

• Meadow hydrologic function restoration
• Habitat for threatened and endangered species (willow flycatchers, sandhill cranes, Cascades frogs, anadromous salmonids, etc.)
• Peat soil carbon protection and storage
• Climate resilience and adaptation
• Post-fire landscape recovery
• Wetland ecosystem services
• Water quality and quantity improvements

Geographic Priority Watersheds

Projects are funded across multiple California watersheds including:

• Yuba River
• San Joaquin River
• Feather River
• Kings River
• Kern River
• Truckee River
• Cosumnes River
• Pine Creek
• Butte Creek
• Tuolumne River
• South Fork American River

Beneficiary Communities

Projects engage and provide training to:

• Local communities and landowners
• Tribal nations (United Auburn Indian Community, Washoe Tribe, Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk, North Fork Mono Tribe)
• Non-profit conservation organizations
• Government agencies (USFS, CDFW, etc.)

Community Benefits

• Experiential learning and hands-on involvement in restoration
• Capacity building and technical training
• Knowledge sharing across the meadow restoration community
• Reconnection of tribal members to traditional territories

Recent Funded Projects

As of the provided materials, the program has funded implementation and planning at multiple high-priority meadows including:

• Haskell Peak Meadows Restoration Project (229 acres)
• Mountain Meadows Creek Restoration (441 acres meadow + 2,948 acres forest)
• Euer Valley Meadow Restoration (30 acres)
• Kern Plateau Meadow Restoration (13 meadows)
• Rock Creek Meadow Restoration (83 acres)
• Bass Lake 8 Meadows Restoration (91 acres across 8 sites)
• Leek Springs Meadow Restoration (92 acres)
• And numerous others at planning stage