Sierra Nevada region needs Proposition 68

In just a few weeks on June 5, California voters have an opportunity to support a ballot measure that will protect the parts of our state and region we love and need the most — our parks, trails, forests and coast.

Proposition 68 is an unprecedented opportunity to inject $4.1 billion to help California prepare for a changing climate, support outdoor recreation and safeguard the Sierra Nevada for future generations.

Similar bonds have funded some of the Tahoe-Truckee area’s most coveted outdoor spaces. The acquisition of Carpenter Valley and Waddle Ranch, sections of the Truckee River Legacy Trail, Tahoe Vista Beach, and Lakeview Commons in South Lake Tahoe are examples of the types of local treasures funded by past natural resources and water bonds.

As someone who has traveled the world and seen the effects of climate change firsthand, I’m proud that Prop. 68 would take steps to make sure that our state is prepared for wildfires, drought, a changing snowpack and extreme weather events. In the Sierra Nevada region alone, Prop. 68 would invest $142 million into projects that reduce wildfire risk, improve water quality by restoring wetlands and protect sensitive wildlife habitat in a region especially susceptible to climate change.

In addition, Prop. 68 would fund major upgrades to California’s outdoor recreation infrastructure. In a state where 56 percent of Californians participate in some form of outdoor recreation annually and the outdoor recreation industry generates 691,000 jobs, it’s time to make sure our trails, parks and wild spaces are ready for the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts.

Join me in supporting the place we love most by voting yes on Proposition 68 on June 5.

Douglas Stoup

Ice Axe Expeditions president