Sierra Streams Institute

10/16/2026

That feeling when you're doing a forest survey and then you look up.

Taking advantage of these last few warm days before the cold comes in.

10/12/2026

It has been a while since we last discussed our 7 principles of sound science. As a reminder, we’re putting out this series in an effort to shine more light on what science is and isn’t in an era of increasing misuse of science or misinformation about science.

In these interesting times of politicization of science, we’ve decided we can’t sit idly by, taking a quiet backseat to public discourse as we often do at SSI, but instead speak up against what we see as the erosion of public understanding and trust in science. While recent analyses point to continued public trust, that trust doesn’t “trickle up”.

Today is really significant one for me; Science doesn’t make decisions or tell you how to live your life, it only provides information.

Read more using the blog link in our bio, or click here:
https://sierrastreamsinstitute.org/science-doesnt-make-decisions-or-tell-you-how-to-live-your-life-it-only-provides-information/

10/09/2026

Photo of the Week - Pond Play

Our volunteer, Susan Brandt, took this photo from the Placer Nature Center's 35th Anniversary Event on September 26th. She perfectly captured our Community Science Manager, Sam, and a visitor fully engaged in pond science. Visitors had an opportunity to take some samples from the pond and observe all the tiny life they could find through a microscope.

10/08/2026

We have a few Spots left in our Stream Ecology Advanced Training! Click this link to register: https://sierrastreamsinstitute.org/calnat/

Registration for our California Naturalist Advanced Training is now open! We have very limited availability so sign up today!

Click the link in our bio or here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfgo8ahH-g_T6844LxQbMmidt7STaRaK7o1kUBJShWV9XnnTw/viewform?usp=header

10/07/2026

Thanks to everyone who came out to last week's Underwater Archaeology Sci Pub!

We are back at it this month with two speakers who will be talking about everything bats! Did you know free-tailed bats can fly up to 100 mph? We didn't either.

Mark your calendars and remember to bring your burning bat questions!

Thank you Gold Vibe Kombuchary for hosting us. Be sure to arrive early to grab a pint.

Read more about Sci Pub using the link in our bio, or by clicking here:
https://sierrastreamsinstitute.org/sci-pub/

10/02/2026

Just a little creek ASMR for your Friday. Courtesy of our river technician, Grace.

09/30/2026

Himalayan blackberry is a highly invasive, perennial, vining shrub with reddish stems, white to pink flowers, and big, mean thorns along the stems. Its fruits begin green, turn red as they plump, and mature to large, sweet black berries. For many of us, Himalayan blackberry is an ever present specter that haunts our dreams of enjoying a day unscathed along any body of water in western Nevada County. It grows very fast, spreading quickly through seed dispersal (birds like to eat the fruits) and adventitious rooting. Make sure not to confuse Himalayan blackberry with native blackberries like R. ursinus and R. leucodermis, each of which have leaflets in groups of three (Himalayan blackberry has groups of leaflets in groups of 3 to 5), whitish stems, and are generally smaller than their invasive cousin.

Learn more about about this resilient plant and best practices for its removal using the blog link in our bio, or by clicking here:
https://sierrastreamsinstitute.org/in-the-weeds-himalayan-blackberry/