Yosemite/Sequoia Resource Conservation & Development Council

09/23/2026

Big news for the Southern Sierra. 🌲🔥

Y/S RC&DC has received a $15,000 grant from the Temper of the Times Foundation to begin developing a documentary exploring tribal stewardship, fire, land renewal, and the landscapes of the Southern Sierra Nevada.

At the heart of the film is one question: What does it mean to truly steward a landscape?

We’re currently seeking tribal voices, organizations, land managers, conservation partners, and projects that can help shape this story.

🎥 Filming led by Josh Levine / J Matthews Creative

📍 Principal photography anticipated in early 2027

Interested in participating or know a story we should explore? We’d love to hear from you. Send us a message!

09/02/2026

One prepared home can help protect an entire neighborhood.

Creating and maintaining defensible space is one of the most effective ways to reduce wildfire risk and help protect your community.

Defensible space tips:

-Zone 0 (0–5 feet): Remove combustible materials such as leaves, mulch, and firewood from around your home.
-Zone 1 (5–30 feet): Trim vegetation, remove dead plants, and keep grass short.
-Zone 2 (30–100 feet): Reduce excess vegetation and create space between trees and shrubs.

Prepared communities recover stronger. Talk with neighbors about emergency plans, evacuation routes, and local resources before disaster strikes.

Learn more about ways to help protect your home from wildfire:
https://www.firefightersonyourside.org/on-your-side-blog/is-your-home-protected

09/02/2026

Thank you to our local responders!

09/02/2026

🍄 There’s still time to enter! 🍄

The Lake Tahoe Mushroom Festival Art Contest deadline is almost here — September 1st!

We’re still looking for more submissions. Every single piece will be displayed at the festival on October 3rd, so your work gets to shine with the whole Tahoe community. 🎨🌲

🏆 Top 3 artists each win 2 tickets

🌿 Open to all ages

🎨 All mediums welcome (painting, drawing, photo, digital — just keep it printable on a 8.5" x 11")

🍄 Celebrate fungi + the spirit of Lake Tahoe

Submit your artwork through the link in our bio

Let’s fill the festival with Tahoe fungi magic! 🍄💚

07/29/2026

🌡️ EXTREME HEAT SAFETY REMINDER 🌡️

As temperatures climb across Madera County and the Central Valley, we urge everyone to take extra precautions to protect themselves, their families, and their pets.

🚗 NEVER leave children or pets unattended in a vehicle, even for a few minutes. Temperatures inside a parked car can rise to deadly levels very quickly, even with the windows cracked.

💧 Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water throughout the day and avoid strenuous outdoor activities during peak afternoon heat.

🏊 Water Safety Matters. As families head to pools, rivers, lakes, and canals to cool off:
• Always supervise children around water.
• Wear life jackets when appropriate.
• Never swim alone.
• Avoid swimming in canals, which have strong currents and hidden dangers.

👵 Check on elderly neighbors, family members, and those with medical conditions who may be more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses.

Know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. If someone is experiencing confusion, loss of consciousness, or a body temperature above 103°F, call 9-1-1 immediately.

❄️ Need Relief from the Heat?

Cooling centers and public facilities are available throughout the county.

Sheriff’s Office Headquarters
2725 Falcon Drive
Madera, CA 93637
559-675-7770
Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm

Madera Ranchos Library
37398 Berkshire Drive
Madera, CA 93636
559-645-1214
Tuesday – 11am to 6pm
Wednesday & Thursday – 11am to 5pm
Friday & Saturday – 11am to 3pm

Sheriff’s Oakhurst Substation
48267 Liberty Drive
Oakhurst, CA 93644
559-658-2555
Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm

****For after-hours and weekend needs, please contact the Madera County Sheriff’s Dispatch Center at
(559)-675-7770****

☀️ A few simple precautions can save lives. Stay cool, stay hydrated, and stay safe.

For more information and resources, please visit:
ReadyMadera.com (link in bio)

Or download the Madera County Sheriff’s Mobile App: MaderaSheriffApp.com

07/29/2026

Looking for ways to prepare your home and community for wildfire season? The Fire Safe Business Directory is here to help 🔥

Now with an all-new look, we’ve updated the directory with:
🔎 a refined keyword search
📝 brand new filters (like Wildfire Risk Assessors to help make the most of your budget)
💡 and a cleaner, easier-to-read format

Finding wildfire safety products and services is easier than ever before!

This online resource is completely free to use and available to anyone looking to prepare themselves and their communities for wildfire.

Get started on your next fire-safe project today at https://cafiresafecouncil.org/fire-safe-business-directory/

07/29/2026

07/28/2026

Today is World Nature Conservation Day.

The work of conservation is not just about protecting places. It is about protecting the systems those places depend on: the water that flows from the mountains, the forests that filter it, the soil that holds it, and the communities that rely on all of it.

YS RC&DC makes this work possible across Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, Tulare, and northern Kern counties.

If you want to be part of it, find out how to volunteer at the link in comments.

07/27/2026

July ends, but fire season does not.

August often brings the driest conditions of the year across the Sierra Nevada and surrounding communities. Some of California’s most significant fire events have occurred in late summer and early fall when vegetation is at its most brittle and temperatures remain high.

The work of maintaining defensible space, building community preparedness, and managing fuel loads does not stop because the calendar turns. YS RC&DC continues this work year-round across five counties. Stay engaged.

Link in comments.

07/23/2026

If a fire comes toward your home, you will not have time to decide what to take.

An evacuation go-bag should be ready before you need it: medications, documents, a change of clothes, water, phone chargers, and pet supplies. Know two evacuation routes out of your area before you need one. Know where your family will meet.

In the wildland communities of Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, Tulare, and northern Kern counties, evacuation preparedness is not optional. It is the difference between a manageable situation and a catastrophe. Build your plan now.

Resources at the link in comments.