What is happening?

• As part of the federal government’s ongoing staff cuts, the U.S. Forest Service may lay off one of the three Sierra Avalanche Center forecasters.
• If that happens, the Sierra Avalanche Center (SAC) would be forced to cut its daily avalanche forecast, and only issue 4 forecasts per week instead of 7, due to coverage and operational safety.
• SAC is working with the U.S. Forest Service and elected officials to prevent this, but we need your help.

What can I do?

• Call your Congressperson. If you live in California in the Tahoe area, Kevin Kiley’s Rocklin office is (916) 724-2575. If you live in northern Nevada, Mark Amodei’s Reno office is (775) 686-5760. Find your Congressperson HERE
• (1) Share your concerns about cuts to avalanche forecasting; and (2) ask for their help to ensure that Sierra Avalanche Center forecasters remain essential public safety employees exempt from Forest Service staffing cuts.
• Share this information with your backcountry partners and ask them to call too!

Key Point 1: This decision puts lives at risk.

• Over 200,000 individuals rely on the Sierra Avalanche Center’s forecast to avoid avalanches and stay alive in the backcountry each winter. Firing an avalanche forecaster in the middle of winter, during the biggest storm cycle of the year puts lives at risk.
• During past government shutdowns, avalanche forecasters were categorized as essential public safety employees and exempt from furloughs due to the critical nature of their work.
• Local sheriffs departments and their search and rescue teams rely on the Sierra Avalanche Center forecast to conduct safe rescue operations during the winter.
• Ski patrollers at Tahoe-area ski resorts rely on the Sierra Avalanche Center’s forecast to support their mountain safety operations.

Key Point 2: This decision has NO fiscal benefit to the government. This layoff will actually cost the government money.

• The Sierra Avalanche Center operates as a partnership between the U.S. Forest Service and a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The nonprofit pays 75% of the forecasters’ salaries and had already funded all three forecaster positions this season. Laying off a forecaster would require the government to pay the nonprofit back!
• The avalanche forecasting program is a model of government efficiency because it operates as a public/private partnership, with the majority of funding coming from a local nonprofit organization.

Questions can be directed to SAC Executive Director, David Reichel

davidr@sierraavalanchecenter.org