I love this time of the year - the leaves are turning golden, yellow, and red, the days are shorter, and the evenings are cooler. I feel and see the transition happening around me.

While nature changes the form of her glory, ESLT is transitioning in exciting ways too. We are welcoming Amy Sturgill to our team as our new Land Conservation Program Director! Amy brings a wealth of Eastern Sierra conservation experience and a robust skillset to ESLT – read below for more on our talented new team member.

Sara, our past Land Stewardship Manager, has stepped in to help us complete our annual and legally-mandated monitoring during the transition. We are deeply grateful for her expertise and on-the-ground knowledge.

And as we say “Ciao” to Claire, our Education Coordinator and Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership member (SNAP), we can’t thank her enough for how much she has strengthened our Education Program. We won’t let her go too far… she’s part of our ESLT family.

I spent yesterday with over 300 conservation leaders, all gathered in Sacramento as part of California’s effort to collaboratively combat climate change through 30x30. During Sec. Crowfoot’s opening remarks, he said, “we are living in our children’s past.” The room went silent.

I hope that you too find energy in the changes around us. I’m feeling hopeful as I watch nature’s glory.

With a decade of Eastern Sierra conservation experience, Amy joins us with a deep understanding of the region's ecological challenges, and a diverse network of conservation partners. Her prior work spans biology, botany, data management, and communications.

Amy grew up in the Central Valley, graduated from CSU Chico, and has been living in Bishop since 2013.

The Land Trust Accreditation Commission has awarded ESLT renewed accreditation! Accreditation is a national distinction for permanence and excellence in land conservation - this is our second renewal since initially earning accreditation in 2011.

The accreditation process is tough - to receive our renewal the organization underwent a thorough third-party review to ensure sound financial practices, ethical conduct, responsible governance, and lasting land stewardship.

The committee, comprised of 18 environmental leaders from around the state, is tasked with fostering inclusive public communication and statewide coordination to advance California’s 30x30 Initiative.

Kay will represent the Sierra region in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to mitigate climate change through nature-based solutions. In addition to ESLT, Kay will also represent the California Council of Land Trusts, of which she is vice chair, and the Sierra Cascade Land Trust Council, of which she is on the board.

The 30x30 Partnership kicked off this week in Sacramento, and will serve as a model for coordinating 30x30 efforts across the country. As Secretary Crowfoot reminded the attendees yesterday, “audacious ideas are not just possible, they are necessary.”

After an amazing year, we are sad to say that our AmeriCorps Member/Education Coordinator, Claire, has reached the end of her service term. Claire came to us through the Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership (SNAP) and did an outstanding job leading our Community Connections, Sunflower Kids, and Eastside Pollinator Garden programs among other roles.

We sat down with Claire for an interview about her experience at ESLT.

Thank you to the wonderful volunteers and sponsors who came out and made ESLT's contribution to the Great Sierra River Cleanup a success!

The cleanup took place on the Owen's River near Bishop. Fourteen community members came out to clean trash and protect the vital waterway.