Sierra Watch: Our Mission & Role in Protecting the Sierra Nevada
Mission
Sierra Watch’s mission is to protect the Sierra Nevada by turning development threats into conservation victories.
Inspired by the Sierra’s mountain ridgelines, deep pine forests, rich meadows, and crystal clear waters, we provide innovative strategic leadership to defend the places we love.
Approach
Our own expertise includes campaign strategy, land use law, media relations, and grassroots organizing. We leverage these skills with direct access to the best experts in public interest litigation, habitat conservation, and land-use planning. And we follow through with integrity and discipline to ensure conservation success.

Pictured: Keep Squaw True supporters at Tahoe City SnowFest
Outcomes
Our unique brand of strategic leadership secures conservation outcomes for Sierra landscapes. The lasting result is preservation of irreplaceable Sierra values, permanently protected for generations to come.
Sierra Watch fills a critical need for targeted leadership in Sierra conservation. Region-wide groups help shape broad policies for land use decision-making; Sierra Watch applies a focused approach to landscape-level development decisions. Local grassroots groups often lack the full toolkit necessary to wage effective campaigns; Sierra Watch provides proven, disciplined direction for local efforts. Land trusts can help broker real estate deals and shepherd land into permanent protection; Sierra Watch stands up to irresponsible development projects to protect land and communities.
Results
Our ongoing success is creating a lasting legacy of permanent protection in important places like Martis Valley and Donner Summit and of community involvement in development decision-making in Squaw Valley.
Our campaigns develop and inspire local leadership at our project sites and beyond, ensuring that important, lasting land-use decisions are made for the right reasons, with the best information, and with the timeless values of the Sierra at heart.
Support
Everything we do here at Sierra Watch – from legal briefs to bumper stickers – depends on the hundreds of individuals and families who stand with us to protect our favorite mountain places. Become a part of the proud history of conservation in the Sierra by supporting Sierra Watch’s mission: