Visitor Spending in the Sierra is making a comeback after 2020’s dismal drop in tourism, but the tourism industry may have to make some fundamental changes in order to build a sustainable recreation-based economy in a post-pandemic world.

…Of particular interest to SBC and our region is, of course, funding for wildfire and climate resilience programs.

California’s already lofty state budget surplus reached a new high of $97.5 billion, and the budget itself grew to a record $300 billion in spending as Governor Newsom released his administration’s revisions to its 2022-23 budget proposal on May 13. What impacts will these big numbers have on the Sierra Nevada? Will there be more funding and opportunity for state investment be coming our way? 

Join our CivicSpark Fellow James Sedlak on a Sierra trail day! Roll-up your sleeves and give back to the community by volunteering for TDLT trail days to help rebuild and maintain public-use trails.

This transition, however, corresponded perfectly with the infamous 5-year California drought we experienced from 2012-2017. It seemed as though the instant I began to truly fall in love with skiing, winter stopped showing up.

We are once again participating in this annual fundraising event… please help us reach our goal of $30,000!

Skilled workers are the linchpin to addressing the economic and climate crises in California’s forested, rural communities. Building the forestry and fire-safety sectors could contribute approximately $39 billion in forestry-products and fire-resiliency industries and add 177,000 jobs to the California workforce.

I’d challenge you to ride the TART on a lazy Sunday or book the TBA Backcountry Shuttle for your next outing; the benefits certainly outweigh the cons! If we are going to be sitting in traffic from the ski resorts, might as well be a passenger on a spacious, emissions-saving, no-cost vehicle!