Our Story

The Foothill Conservancy was launched with potluck dinners on Amador and Calaveras county residents’ back decks in 1989. We held our first public meeting in October 1989 and incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 1990.

Since then, our community-based, grassroots, regional conservation group has successfully worked for more than 30 years to protect, restore, and sustain the natural and human environment in the Central Sierra for the benefit of current and future generations. What began as a small group of concerned citizens has grown into a resilient, award-winning organization with a strong record of accomplishment.

1989 Founded by local residents

Held first public meeting, October 1989, Senior Center, Jackson. From there to here—One Foothill Conservancy founder’s story  

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1990 Became a nonprofit corporation, elected first board

Planted 52 trees in Sutter Creek for Earth Day. Helped create Amador (now Mother Lode) Land Trust. Won first prize for Amador County Fair window. Published first newsletter, Foothill Focus.

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1990- 2003 Cleaned up Adopt-A-Highway section in Amador County

Highway Cleanup Project Ends

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1993-1994 Hosted presentation by legendary environmentalist David Brower

Gave Environmental Citizenship awards to four girls in Ione who spoke up against clearcutting of local oak woodland, and donated oak trees to Ione Elementary. Helped local citizens with Measure […]

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1998 Focus named among Best in the West small group newsletters by High Country News

Sponsored Calaveras Community Renewal Project with Sierra Nevada Alliance; led to creation of Blue Mountain Community Renewal Council . Protected 7,600 acres in southern El Dorado County (with Plymouth and […]

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2000 Signed historic agreement for PG&E’s hydro license on the Mokelumne

Received, with PG&E and others, the POWER Award for PG&E settlement, from Public Officials for Water and Environmental Reform. Celebrated the opening of the Middle Bar reach of the Mokelumne […]

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2001 Launched NewsNotes e-news service

Received Friends of the River’s Peter H. Behr Award for Mokelumne River Conservation. Held first annual spring fundraising dinner in the Shenandoah Valley.

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2002 Ensured that N. Fork Mokelumne was included in Sen. Boxer’s California Wild Heritage Act

Published Tools for Protecting Open Space in Amador County. Helped revise Amador County cell tower ordinance. Published river and watershed principles. Hosted presentation by former State Senator Patrick Johnston.

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2003 Participated in removal of West Panther Creek Dam

Celebrated the opening of the Middle Bar boating takeout. Published land use and development principles.

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2004 Helped stop latest Middle Bar Dam proposal

Worked to help establish the Sierra Nevada Conservancy.

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2005 Opened first office and hired first executive director, Chris Wright

Entered agreement to help conserve New York Ranch Reservoir.

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2007 Cosponsored CEQA workshops in Sutter Creek

Cosponsored community planning workshops in Valley Springs. Published infrastructure planning and development principles.

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2008 Stopped illegal expansion of Plymouth pipeline

Awarded first Gordon Miller Scholarship to Erik Payton. Congratulated VP Pete Bell on being named Restorationist of the Year by Salmonid Restoration Federation. Cosponsored Williamson Act workshop, Valley Springs. Helped […]

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2009 Fought Home Depot and Wicklow; projects withdrawn

Expanded Mokelumne River Wild and Scenic support list to include 100 businesses and more than 3,000 individuals. Helped plan regional Smart Growth conference held in Tuolumne County. Held first annual […]

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2010 20th Anniversary Celebration

Tim Palmer “Rivers of California” presentation, Jackson.

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2011 Wild and Scenic Wine Release Party

Bluegrass for the Moke! Laurie Lewis and Tom Rozum in concert.

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2012 Over Troubled Waters film showing and panel discussion

More Bluegrass for the Moke! Laurie Lewis and Tom Rozum in concert.

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2013 Reel Paddling Film Festival

Film showing: “Green Fire: Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic for Our Time”.

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2016 Fall Harvest Festival, Feist Wines Tasting Room, Sutter Creek

Laurie Lewis and the Rights Hands concert, Mokelumne Hill.

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2018 Negotiated settlement of Foothill Conservancy’s lawsuit challenging the Amador County General Plan

An Evening with John Muir, Mokelumne Hill. An Afternoon with John Muir, Angels Camp. Celebrate Fall! Volcano Union Inn. Obtained California State Wild and Scenic Designation for 37 miles of […]

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2019 Co-sponsored CEQA Workshop for local agencies staff, attorneys, and planners

John McCutcheon concert, Mokelumne Hill.

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2020 30th Anniversary Celebration

January – John McCutcheon w/ Red Tail Ring benefit concert in Angel’s Camp/Calaveras. March – Shifted to virtual operations due to COVID 19 Pandemic. Launched Virtual Summer Auctions. Launched new […]

October 8, 2020

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Board President