Whenever we stand up for the environment, even when we don’t win on an issue, it reinforces the fact that we are going to be present to point out the needs of nature and potential legal challenges. Part of the success is simply showing up relentlessly to be a witness and advocate. But in addition to being a high-profile “watchdog,” CSERC actually succeeds with many of our specific efforts. 
Highlights of CSERC’s Successes in 2015
We visited 69 separate meadows before and after livestock use – Staff monitored impacts to riparian vegetation and stream bank stability, as well as overall grazing use of the meadow grasses.
CSERC staff took more than 100 water quality samples from forest streams – Periodic water quality sampling following strict protocols was done as part of the Center’s efforts to detect sites where fecal coliform contamination posed risk to recreational visitors in the local national forest. Samples were taken to an independent testing laboratory for analysis, and a report of the many identified water quality violations was provided to the State Water Board and to the U.S. Forest Service.
CSERC won a national level award for our highly effective 2014 restoration projects on U.S. Forest Service lands – We not only received the top award in competition with 65 organizations nationwide, but even as we received the award for our 2014 workdays, we set a new record by doing even more restoration projects in 2015.
The Center provided months of new wildlife photo-detection surveys within the Rim Fire area - Following up on previous work requested by USFS biologists over the past two years, CSERC undertook months of photo-detection surveys in the Rim Fire area.
CSERC also did months of remote wildlife surveys high up in the crest zone of the Park to assist Yosemite staff in searching for rare species – Lindsey and Megan backpacked into more remote areas of Yosemite than CSERC has ever surveyed previously to set up camera stations for Sierra Nevada red fox, American marten, and wolverine – even above 11,000 feet.
CSERC discovered a new area with proven evidence of the Sierra Nevada red fox – In a wild roadless area our CSERC infrared-triggered cameras got photos of the rare fox at two different locations where no foxes had been discovered previously.
Our school presentations raised the total number of viewers served to 138,531 students or members of community groups since 1990 – Despite a reduced demand from schools as they adjusted to Common Core curriculum changes, CSERC still reached 195 classes or groups with slide shows or talks in 2015.
CSERC participated as one of the lead environmental groups in three different collaborative group processes affecting the local region – Staff actively engaged in two major forest groups and a regional watershed group. CSERC helped co-chair the YSS group that gained national attention for efforts tied to Rim Fire salvage and recovery efforts.
To raise the effectiveness of local activists, CSERC helped launch the Conservation Work Group – In partnership with the Sierra Club, CSERC organized and has led CWG monthly meetings to increase citizen advocacy in Tuolumne County area environmental issues.
The Center continued to be a key, lead voice for the environment on behalf of the Northern Yosemite region – With over 140 separate media contacts or responses, ranging from radio interviews to TV news features to providing quotes repeatedly for environmental topics, CSERC staff consistently served as the key media contact for the region.
CSERC attended more than 130 meetings/hearings/field sessions in 2015 to represent nature – This relatively unimpressive achievement may be one of the most important contributions that our Center achieved during the year in our mission to defend water, wildlife, and wild places across the Northern Yosemite region. Week after week, CSERC staff drove where needed (Sacramento, Modesto, Yosemite, Jackson, Groveland, Sonora, and other locations) to be a well prepared, highly informed, and articulate voice for the environment. Again and again our testimony or connections to agency officials or decision-makers helped to make a measurable difference for this precious region.
Want to know about what CSERC accomplished in 2014? Link here for our 2014 Successes