Navigating Uncertainty: Follow Us to Climate Resilience
A research crew surveys damage to the Tuolumne River after the Rim Fire.
The impact of this week’s election will reverberate through our shared ecosystems and communities for years to come. This is a challenging time for our planet, for those living on the frontlines of climate collapse, and for all of us working tirelessly to create climate resilience. But when we orient towards life, so much is possible. Through this lens, we are bolstered in our work.
The Tuolumne River watershed and the Greater Yosemite Region make our state a livable one. At TRT, we are proficient at navigating the uncertainty of climate risk and we spend our everyday, mitigating the real dangers of catastrophic fire, flood, and species loss. By restoring our rivers, forests, and meadows back to full functionality we bring resilience to our lives and communities.
Everyone has a stake in building a climate resilient future. Our work moves across boundaries to build coalitions with people of all backgrounds because without water there is no life. Without healthy forests, wildfires overtake our towns. Without functioning rivers and floodplains irregular flooding picks up downstream.
However, we know that this election marked a decisive victory that will dismantle critical environmental protections, starting at the federal level. This is where 50% of our funding comes from to protect the Greater Yosemite Region from the devastating effects of climate change. Without the federal funding we’ve depended on, the threats to this region will grow: devastating wildfires, prolonged droughts, polluted waters, and the loss of critical habitats.
To go back to our rafting roots, here is our line through the turbulence of this moment. We will continue to:
Steward healthy river ecosystems for endangered keystone species like Chinook salmon.
Create functioning floodplains that bring climate resilience to flood-prone human communities.
Conduct massive, landscape-scale firebreaks that protect human communities from megafires, while supporting forest biodiversity and creating good climate jobs.
Advocate for water policy that is good for people and fish, not just profits.
Inspire the next generation of river stewards through recreation, science-based learning, and connection with nature.
These are our commitments to you because we know that the responsibility to protect our region and resources lies with us—and with dedicated community members like you. Your commitment to conservation inspires our work every day. Community-funded resilience ensures the vitality of our shared home throughout the watershed.
Please continue to join us, whether through volunteering, becoming a member, or participating in our upcoming events & advocacy actions.
Our work is supported and bolstered by our generous community of donors. If you have a heart for salmon, connected rivers, and healthy ecosystems throughout the Tuolumne Watershed and the Greater Yosemite Region, become a member today!
