Welcome to your June updates from Sierra Jobs First.
Read on for highlights from several of our projects, and stay tuned for the September newsletter for more opportunities for in-person engagement around our priority industry sectors!
Thank you for staying involved in forging a community-led, prosperous future for our region.
Thank you,
The Sierra Jobs First Team
Collaborative Sustainable Recreation Assessment in the Eastern and Southern Sierra Measures Impact of Trail Ambassadors on Environmental Outcomes
As outdoor recreation continues to grow across the Sierra Nevada, Sierra Jobs First Catalyst-funded project Collaborative Sustainable Recreation Assessment, led by Sierra Nevada Alliance in partnership with Friends of the Inyo and Winter Wildlands Alliance, is exploring how on-the-ground stewardship can help reduce recreation impacts while improving visitor experiences.
The project has created four new Trail Ambassador positions, filled by a pool of local resident and Tribal applicants, focused on visitor engagement, monitoring recreation use, and collecting data related to key concerns such as dog waste, illegal parking, and trail impacts. Using tools including the CMC RIMS app, AllTrails, and a custom-built data collection platform, the team is gathering information that will help determine whether ambassador presence can measurably improve recreation outcomes and inform future land management strategies.
In addition to creating the Ambassador roles, the team has also developed a custom recreation data collection app, and strengthened its research approach based on lessons learned during a winter pilot study. The team is currently collecting summer-season data and partnering with data science graduate students from Cal Poly Pomona to analyze results, with the long-term vision of creating a scalable model that can be applied to recreation destinations across the Sierra and beyond.
Bryan Anaclerio is part of the Ambassador team working in the Inyo National Forest, and spends his days visiting trailheads, monitoring facilities, tracking visitor use, and helping visitors practice responsible stewardship.
We look forward to hearing more from this project as more in-depth results of the impact study are ready for review!
Training the Next Generation: Catalyst Project Celebrates Achievements of First Class of Outdoor Professionals
This past May, MLTPA, through its Catalyst award for Eastern Sierra Education and Jobs Creation, along with partners Cerro Coso Community College and Columbia College, celebrated a noteworthy project milestone as five students were celebrated for their achievements in the inaugural class of future forest, recreation, climate, and conservation professionals.
What’s more, per Peter Fulks, Department Chair and Professor at Cerro Coso: “All five students have received open job offers, with two accepting positions on the western slope and three considering job placements along the Eastern Sierra!”
Our hearty congratulations go out to the students and project organizations on this milestone achievement! Find more info on the program here.