Piece Description

Urban development threatens rural communities across America. People who live and work in these beautiful landscapes face some tough decisions about the future. Saving The Sierra's producers traveled California's Sierra Nevada mountain range to explore communities in the midst of struggle against the development pressures closing in on them. In each place, they met unlikely allies who came together to find grassroots solutions for sustaining both the environment and their ways of life. As Roger Adams, Program Director of Wyoming Public Media notes, "The issues examined in Saving the Sierra, while located in the Sierra Mountains of California could as easily be along Wyoming's Wind River Mountain range, in Florida's Everglades, on the shores of the Great Lakes or in any stretch of former farmland now lined with rows of condos." Most rural communities within driving distance of sprawling cities and suburbs face these issues. And most urban dwellers have been to a place just like the communities in these three stories: In a remote mountain valley, both ranchers and environmentalists have begun to use the tool of conservation easements to save wide-open rangelands and preserve the largest wetlands in the mountain range. In a small town north of Lake Tahoe, resort development will blanket the mountain with million-dollar luxury homes. But after a long legal battle, a deal was struck that will provide permanent, on-going funding for affordable housing, public transit, and habitat restoration. The city of Los Angeles was forced to become a leader in water conservation because of a landmark legal ruling that kept them from draining an entire watershed in the pursuit of drinking water. The city now collaborates with environmentalists on restoration and public education programs at Mono Lake. This beautifully designed documentary was produced by 2-time Peabody award winner Catherine Stifter and award-winning community media maker jesikah maria ross. It's available for Earth Day broadcast, but the topic will resonate with listeners any time of year. Saving The Sierra's Dottie award-winning companion website provides photos, podcasts, and a blog. For listeners interested in more information about public participation in conservation, land use, and watershed issues, there's an online toolkit produced by the Sierra Business Council. Project website and storybooth was produced in partnership with The Sierra Fund, the Sierra Nevada Alliance, and the Center for Sierra Nevada Studies at Sierra Community College.