Current 2024 Support

Cal Trout – GBF supported California Trout with a cash donation. California Trout was formed in 1971 and remains the only organization focused exclusively on protecting and restoring wild trout, salmon, and steelhead in their native waters throughout California. Cal Trout played a pivotal role in establishing the California Wild Trout Program, which resulted in the designation of Hat Creek as the state’s first protected Wild Trout Area. Today, the Wild Trout Program protects over 1,000 miles of trout streams. Other major accomplishments over the course of its history include: winning two landmark court cases in the battle to save Mono Lake and protect the flows in its tributaries such as Rush Creek; crafting the Heritage Trout Program within the California Department of Fish and Game, which protects California’s eleven native trout species; and, on the Klamath River, contributing significantly to the negotiations that led to the decision to remove 4 dams on the river in 2020 and working with PGE to remove 2 dams on the Eel River. https://caltrout.org/

Trout Unlimited (TU) Truckee River Chapter – GBF supported TU with volunteers and a cash donation toward their efforts to improved fish habitat. Their Mission Statement is: Protect, restore, reconnect and sustain our cold-water fisheries for the benefit of future generations. We support projects to rehabilitate the Truckee River and the Tahoe Truckee watershed. We work within the community and partner with local conservation efforts to achieve our sustainability goals. TRTU’s plan contemplates a number of activities from fundraising, membership growth, youth programs and habitat restoration, to regulation changes and stocking programs. We will accomplish this through building our membership, communication and outreach, fundraising, conservation projects, youth engagement, and education and supporting our veterans. https://www.tu.org/chapters/california/truckee-river/

Save the American River Association (SARA) – GBF supported SARA with a cash donation. This is a grass roots nonprofit organization founded in 1961 to spearhead the establishment of the American River Parkway — the “crown jewel” of the Sacramento County Park System. Their mission is to protect and enhance the wildlife habitat, fishery, and recreational resources of the American River Parkway. https://www.sarariverwatch.org/

Friends of Auburn Ravine – GBF supported Friends of Auburn Ravine with a cash donation and volunteers. Friends of Auburn Ravine seeks to engage local residents, community groups, farmers, ranchers, water districts, government agencies, land developers, and Native American Tribal Councils in collaborative efforts to protect and enhance natural habitats in the watersheds of western Placer and Sutter Counties in such a way that human uses of the landscape can continue and grow. We seek to be good stewards of the watersheds for the benefit of all. The natural diversity of plants and animals in watersheds can be supported in a way that will improve property values, reduce fire danger, reduce flood risk, improve agricultural productivity, increase recreational and educational opportunities, and improve the quality of life for area residents and visitors. We partner with the Valley Foothill Watersheds Collaborative, and other watershed organizations. We respect private property rights, and the needs of domestic, agricultural, and recreational water users. We support deliberate and compassionate action to prevent illegal camping. We recognize the Public Trust Doctrine as a guiding principle for the role of public agencies as stewards of the watersheds in which they operate. We apply the concepts of Reconciliation Ecology to advocate projects that take a balanced approach to protecting and enhancing the Auburn Ravine watershed. We work with local governmental agencies and developers to increase property values in residential developments by including a mix of greenbelt lots, and park-view lots, in their designs, and where feasible, by providing public access to waterways via walking/biking trails. Watch the calendar and message board for posted events. https://www.auburnravine.org/

South Yuba River Citizens League – GBF supported SYRCL with a cash donation. The South Yuba River Citizens League was founded in 1983 by grassroots activists determined to protect the South Yuba River from dams. Ultimately, SYRCL won permanent protections for 39 miles of the South Yuba River under California’s Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Today, SYRCL is the central hub of community activism to protect, restore, and celebrate the Yuba River watershed. With decades of achievements, 3,500 members, and 1,300 active volunteers, SYRCL is doing great things for the Yuba watershed. Together, we are extending our powerful coalition from the Sierra to the sea. https://yubariver.org/

Independence lake – GBF supported Independence Lake with a cash donation and volunteers to capture cutthroat samples. In 2010, The Nature Conservancy, in partnership with the Truckee Donner Land Trust, the Northern Sierra Partnership, and several other conservation partners, acquired a large portion of the property surrounding Independence Lake. The property was acquired from NV Energy, which with its predecessor Sierra Pacific Power had held the 2,300-acre property since the late 1930s. This acquisition supplements the nearly 2,000 acre acquisition the Land Trust made in 2006 and completely protects the entire Independence Lake watershed. The area had been used by native Americans for at least 9,000 years but was not discovered by Euro-Americans until 1860, when Augustus Moore visited the lake in connection with building a stage stop business on nearby Henness Pass Road. In the 1970s, the lake and surrounding mountains were targeted for a major four-season resort development, which, fortunately, never came to fruition. Today, the 2.4 mile lake, at an elevation of 6,949 feet, is noted for its pristine location and for being home to one of only two, self-sustaining lacustrine populations of Lahontan cutthroat trout. In addition, the lake is part of the headwaters of the Little Truckee River, a major tributary of the Truckee River, which among other things supplies drinking water to northern Nevada, including Reno and Sparks. NV Energy has committed $1.4 million for investments into the Lahontan cutthroat trout recovery program at the lake.  https://www.truckeedonnerlandtrust.org/independence-lake-preserve

Dry Creek Conservancy – GBF supported Dry Creek Conservancy with a cash donation and volunteers. DCC sustains a durable organization that collaborates with communities to maximize livability by promoting healthy creeks and watersheds.
DCC is a collaborative engine for healthy natural systems in our communities with a focus on watersheds. They promote vibrant communities by –

    • Expanding understanding of our natural world
    • Facilitating collaboration of government, non government organizations, and citizens on watershed projects
    • They have a restorative mindset, are action oriented, and fill unmet needs.
    • They organize projects and processes such as native plantings, salmon barrier removal, and monthly collaborative meetings that provide the community with opportunities to come together as partners.
    • DCC is a first choice of local government when they need a nonprofit partner for resource projects and resource outreach and is a valued partner in all stakeholder processes.

Dry Creek Conservancy is part of the Valley Foothill Watershed Collaborative. https://drycreekconservancy.org/