2006 Wealth Index
Financial Capital
A Summary of Findings
O v e ra ll, th e S ie rra N e v a d a is p ro s p e rin g fin a n c ia lly . H o w e v e r, th a t
p ro s p e rity is c o n c e n tra te d la rg e ly in th e N o rth C e n tra l c o u n tie s , w h e re
jo b c re a tio n h a s o u tp a c e d p o p u la tio n g ro w th , a n d u n e m p lo ym e n t is lo w e r
th a n in C a lifo rn ia a s a w h o le . In a d d itio n , p e r c a p ita in c o m e in th e N o rth
C e n tra l S ie rra e x c e e d s th e C a lifo rn ia a v e ra g e a n d in v e s tm e n t in h ig h
s p e e d In te rn e t is s u b s ta n tia l.
B y c o n tra s t, tre n d s in th e o th e r S ie rra re g io n s— S o u th C e n tra l, E a s t, a n d
N o rth — a re m o re m ix e d . In th e S o u th C e n tra l S ie rra , p o p u la tio n is
g ro w in g fa s te r th a n jo b s . In a ll th re e re g io n s , u n e m p lo y m e n t h a s c lim b e d
s in c e th e re c e s s io n in 2 0 0 1 . S e a s o n a l u n e m p lo y m e n t c o n tin u e s to b e a
p ro b le m in th e N o rth a n d th e E a s t, a s w e ll a s in p a rts o f th e S o u th
C e n tra l. P e r c a p ita in c o m e s in th e s e th re e re g io n s h a v e fa lle n b e h in d th e
N o rth C e n tra l a s th e in c o m e g a p c o n tin u e s to w id e n . A ls o , th e n u m b e r o f
lo w p a y in g jo b s e x c e e d s th e n u m b e r o f h ig h e r s k ille d , h ig h e r p a y in g jo b s ,
re s u ltin g in u n a ffo rd a b le h o u s in g fo r m a n y .
R e g io n -w id e , to u ris m — h e a v ily d e p e n d e n t o n th e n a tu ra l b e a u ty a n d
la n d s c a p e o f th e S ie rra — n o w a c c o u n ts fo r 1 5 p e rc e n t o f th e re g io n ’s to ta l
p a y ro ll. In a n u m b e r o f c o u n tie s , it is th e s in g le m o s t im p o rta n t e c o n o m ic
a c tiv ity .
Sierra Nevada Wealth Index
Understanding and Tracking our Region's Wealth
T h e S ie rra B u s in e s s C o u n c il (S B C ) d e v e lo p e d th e S ie rra N e v a d a W e a lth
In d e x to h e lp b u s in e s s le a d e rs a n d p o lic y m a k e rs u n d e rs ta n d th e a s s e ts
th a t s u s ta in o u r re g io n . T h e In d e x d e s c ri b e s th e s o c ia l, n a tu ra l a n d
fin a n c ia l c a p ita l, w h ic h a re th e fo u n d a tio n o f th e S ie rra N e v a d a ’s
e c o n o m y a n d th e re b y p ro v id e s a n in te g ra te d u n d e rs ta n d in g o f o u r
re g io n ’s w e a lth .
A g ro w in g n u m b e r o f d e c is io n m a k e rs n a tio n w id e re c o g n iz e th e n e e d to
d e v e lo p n e w , m o re in c lu s iv e m e a s u re s o f w e a lth . T h e S ie rra N e v a d a
W e a lth In d e x is ju s t s u c h a m e a s u re . B y e x a m in in g th e S ie rra N e v a d a ’s
s o c ia l a n d n a tu ra l c a p ita l, in a d d itio n to o u r fin a n c ia l c a p ita l, th e In d e x
g iv e s p riv a te a n d p u b lic in v e s to rs a m o re c o m p le te a n d u s e fu l p ic tu re o f
c u rre n t c o n d itio n s a n d tre n d s in o u r re g io n .
W h y d o w e n e e d a m o re c o m p le te p ic tu re o f o u r a s s e ts ? Q u ite s im p ly
b e c a u s e th e S ie rra N e v a d a ’s e c o n o m ic w e ll-b e in g d e p e n d s o n m o re th a n
ju s t fin a n c ia l c a p ita l. In th e la s t d e c a d e , ra p id im p ro v em e n ts in
c o m m u n ic a tio n s a n d tra n s p o rta tio n , a n d th e e x p lo s iv e g ro w th o f
k n o w le d g e -b a s e d in d u s trie s , h a v e tra n s fo rm e d th e fu n d a m e n ta l
re la tio n s h ip b e tw e e n c u s to m e r, p ro d u c t, p ro d u c e r, a n d p la c e in o u r
e c o n o m y . T h e In te rn e t, F e d e ra l E x p re s s , U P S , a n d fa x m a ch in e s h a v e
fre e d m a n y b u s in e s s e s fro m th e n e e d to lo c a te a d ja c e n t to s u p p lie rs a n d
c u s to m e rs , g iv in g b u s in e s s o w n e rs g re a te r fle x ib ility w h e n s e le c tin g
lo c a tio n s fo r th e ir o p e ra tio n s . A n d to d a y ’s b u s in e s s o w n e rs a re ta k in g fu ll
a d v a n ta g e o f th e ir n e w fo u n d fle x ib ility . E v e ry y e a r h u n d re d s o f
in d iv id u a ls m o v e th e ir b u s in e s s e s , th e ir fin a n c ia l re s o u rc e s , a n d th e ir
fa m ilie s to th e S ie rra N e v a d a to e n jo y o u r s u p e rb q u a lity o f life . A t th e
s a m e tim e , lo c a l b u s in e s s o w n e rs w h o o n c e m ig h t h a v e b e e n fo rc e d to
le a v e th e re g io n to e x p a n d th e ir o p e ra tio n s a re fin d in g it p o s s ib le to g ro w
th e ir b u s in e s s e s fro m w ith in th e S ie rra .
S ie rra N e v a d a ’s e x c e p tio n a lly h ig h n a tu ra l a n d s o c ia l c a p ita l a re th e
m a g n e ts th a t h o ld a n d a ttra c t fin a n c ia l c a p ita l to o u r re g io n . O u r
o u ts ta n d in g e n v iro n m e n ta l q u a lity , a ttra c tiv e to w n s , a n d g o o d s c h o o ls a re
n o lo n g e r s im p ly n ic e a m e n itie s ; th e y a re e s s e n tia l e le m e n ts fo r b u s in e s s
re te n tio n a n d in v e s tm e n t. In to d a y ’s e c o n o m y , ta le n te d p e o p le d o n o t
m o v e to , o r s ta y in , c o m m u n itie s w h e re th e ir c h ild re n c a n n o t re c e iv e a n
e x c e lle n t e d u c a tio n o r w h e re th e ir a ir is c o n ta m in a te d w ith to x ic
c h e m ic a ls . In fa c t, th e o p p o s ite is tru e . B u s in e s s o w n e rs a n d s k ille d
w o rk e rs m o v e to th e c o m m u n itie s w ith th e m o s t o u ts ta n d in g s c h o o ls , th e
b e s t h e a lth c a re , th e m o s t v ib ra n t a rtis tic c u ltu re , th e lo w e s t le v e ls o f
c rim e a n d p o v e rty , a n d th e v e ry h ig h e s t e n v iro n m e n ta l q u a lity .
T h e S ie rra N e v a d a ’s n a tu ra l c a p ita l a ls o p la y s a n o th e r, e v e n m o re
fu n d a m e n ta l ro le in o u r re g io n ’s e c o n o m y : It is th e life s u p p o rt s y s te m
th a t m a k e s o u r v e ry e x is te n c e a s a s o c ie ty p o s s ib le . H e a lth y n a tu ra l
s y s te m s p ro v id e , fre e o f c h a rg e , a v a rie ty o f e c o s y s te m s e rv ic e s
e s s e n tia l to life in th is re g io n a n d w o rld w id e , s e rv ic e s s u c h a s a ir
p u rific a tio n , s o il fo rm a tio n , n itro g e n fix a tio n , w a te r filtra tio n a n d s to ra g e ,
b io lo g ic a l p e s t c o n tro l, a n d p la n t p o llin a tio n , to n a m e ju s t a fe w .
R e s e a rc h e rs re c e n tly e s tim a te d th a t th e g lo b a l v a lu e o f th e s e e c o s y s te m
s e rv ic e s is a t le a s t $ 3 3 trillio n a y e a r, c lo s e to th e g ro s s w o rld p ro d u c t.1
F o r m o s t o f th e s e s e rv ic e s , h o w e v e r, th e re is n o k n o w n s u b s titu te a t a n y
p ric e .
T h e S ie rra N e v a d a W e a lth In d e x h e lp s d e c is io n m a k e rs in th e S ie rra
N e v a d a k e e p fo c u s e d o n th e s e im p o rta n t re a litie s . It re m in d s u s o f th e
n e e d to tra c k a ll o f th e fa c to rs e s s e n tia l to m a in ta in in g a n d e n h a n c in g o u r
w e a lth . It re m in d s u s o f th e n e e d to d e v e lo p a n d im p le m e n t in te g ra te d
in v e s tm e n t s tra te g ie s to b u ild th e s o c ia l, n a tu ra l, a n d fin a n c ia l c a p ita l o f
o u r c o m m u n itie s . F in a lly , it re m in d s u s th a t o u r re g io n ’s p ro s p e rity
d e p e n d s d ire c tly o n o u r w illin g n e s s to m a k e w is e u s e o f o u r a s s e ts a n d to
a c t s w iftly to p re v e n t th e ir d im in is h m e n t.
T h e 2 0 0 5 -2 0 0 6 e d itio n o f th e S ie rra N e v a d a W e a lth In d e x is a m o re
c o n c is e , w e b -b a s e d u p d a te o f th e 1 9 9 9 -2 0 0 0 e d itio n . T h is e d itio n
in c lu d e s a n u m b e r o f n e w in d ic a to rs , a s w e ll a s d a ta a d d itio n s to s o m e
p re v io u s ly p u b lis h e d in d ic a to rs . W e w e lc o m e y o u r c o m m e n ts .
1 C o s ta n z a , R .; d ’A rg e , R .; d e G ro o t, R . e t. a l. T h e V a lu e o f th e W o rld ’s
E c o s y s te m S e rv ic e s a n d N a tu ra l C a p ita l. N a tu re . 3 8 7 :2 5 3 -2 6 0
A More Complete Definition of Wealth
R e c e n t e c o n o m ic re s e a rc h h a s le d to n e w , m o re in c lu s iv e a n d u s e fu l
d e fin itio n s o f w e a lth . W e a lth is n o t ju s t m o n e ta ry w o rth , b u t th e d iffe re n t
ty p e s o f c a p ita l th a t, ta k e n to g e th e r, s u s ta in a re g io n .
T o u n d e rs ta n d th e e c o n o m y o f th e S ie rr a N e v a d a , it is im p o rta n t to
a s s e s s a n d tra c k th re e ty p e s o f w e a lth :
1 ) S o c ia l o r h u m a n c a p ita l 2 ) N a tu r a l o r n a tu r a l r e s o u r c e c a p ita l 3 )
F in a n c ia l c a p ita l
E a c h m u s t b e c o n s e rv e d a n d in c re a s e d if th e S ie rra N e v a d a e c o n o m y is
to b e p ro s p e ro u s , s ta b le , a n d s u s ta in a b le . E a c h fo rm o f c a p ita l s u p p o rts
th e e c o n o m y , a n d th e d im in is h m e n t o f o n e u n d e rm in e s t h e o th e rs .
N e g le c t o f s o c ia l c a p ita l, s u c h a s a fa ilu re to p ro v id e firs t-ra te e d u c a tio n
o r to re d u c e p o v e rty , m e a n s fe w e r o p p o rtu n itie s fo r b u s in e s s e s a n d
re s id e n ts to m u ltip ly fin a n c ia l a s s e ts . D e te rio ra tin g n a tu ra l a s s e ts , s u c h
a s p o llu te d s tre a m s o r m a rre d s c e n e ry , re d u c e p ro p e rty v a lu e s , d riv e
a w a y n e w b u s in e s s e s , a n d u n d e rm in e th e q u a lity o f life fo r c u rre n t
re s id e n ts . L o w fin a n c ia l c a p ita l, s u c h a s in s u ffic ie n t d iv e rs ific a tio n o r
h ig h u n e m p lo y m e n t, le a d s to s o c ia l in s ta b ility a n d a v u ln e ra b ility to
e c o n o m ic c y c le s . B y u n d e rs ta n d in g a n d tra c k in g a ll th re e fo rm s o f
c a p ita l— s o c ia l, n a tu ra l a n d fin a n c ia l— th e S ie rra N e v a d a W e a lth In d e x
p re s e n ts a m o re in te g ra te d , a c c u ra te a n d u s e fu l p o rtra it o f o u r re g io n ’s
economy.
How the Sierra Nevada Wealth Index
is Used
T h e S ie rra N e v a d a W e a lth In d e x d e s c rib e s th e s o c ia l, n a tu ra l, a n d
fin a n c ia l a s s e ts th a t c o m p ris e th e w e a lth o f o u r re g io n . B u t m e a s u re m e n t
a lo n e w ill n o t e x p a n d w e a lth . T h e S ie rra N e v a d a ’s w e a lth w ill g ro w o n ly
to th e e x te n t th a t p u b lic a n d p riv a te d e c is io n m a k e rs in v e s t re s o u rc e s
c a re fu lly a n d w is e ly to e x p a n d th a t w e a lth , p a rtic u la rly to d a y w h e n
p re s s u re s fo r d e v e lo p m e n t a re in fu ll fo rc e . W is e r d e c is io n s a re m a d e
w h e n lo c a l le a d e rs u n d e rs ta n d a n d a c t o n lo n g te rm tre n d s . T h e
re s p o n s ib ility to u s e th is in fo rm a tio n re s ts w h e re it a lw a y s h a s , w ith
in d iv id u a l b u s in e s s o w n e rs , c iv ic le a d e rs , a n d o th e r w h o w a n t to s e e o u r
c o m m u n itie s p ro s p e r.
T h e S ie rra N e v a d a W e a lth In d e x is a p o w e rfu l to o l fo r d e c is io n -m a k in g .
T h e C a p ita l In v e s tm e n t D ia g ra m p ic tu re d in th is s e c tio n s h o w s th e
re la tio n s h ip b e tw e e n s o c ia l, n a tu ra l, a n d fin a n c ia l c a p ita l. T h e c ritic a l
c h a lle n g e fo r d e c is io n m a k e rs is to d e s ig n a n d im p le m e n t in v e s tm e n t
s tra te g ie s fo r S ie rra N e v a d a c o m m u n itie s th a t w ill in c re a s e a t le a s t tw o
fo rm s o f c a p it a l w ith o u t d im in is h in g th e th ird . In v e s tm e n ts lo c a te d in th e
in te rs e c tio n o f th e th re e c irc le s o ffe r th e g re a te s t re tu rn fo r S ie rra
re s id e n ts . In v e s tm e n ts th a t e x p a n d o n e fo rm o f c a p ita l, a t th e e x p e n s e o f
o n e o r b o th o f th e o th e r fo rm s o f c a p ita l, d im inis h th e S ie rra N e v a d a ’s
o v e ra ll w e a lth a n d m u s t b e a v o id e d .
F o r e x a m p le , a b u s in e s s o w n e r w h o d e c id e s to b u y a n d re m o d e l a v a c a n t
b u ild in g d o w n to w n , ra th e r th a n b u ild a n e w fa c ility o n fa rm la n d o u ts id e o f
to w n :
• B u ild s fin a n c ia l c a p ita l b y tu rn in g a n u n d e rp e rfo rm in g p h y s ic a l a s s e t
in to a b u s in e s s th a t c re a te s fin a n c ia l c a p ita l fo r th e p riv a te a n d th e
p u b lic s e c to rs
• B u ild s s o c ia l c a p ita l b y e n h a n c in g th e v ita lity o f th e d o w n to w n a n d
re d u c in g c o m m u te tim e s fo r e m p lo y e e s
• M a in ta in s n a tu ra l c a p ita l b y n o t d im in is h in g th e s iz e a n d p ro d u c tiv ity
o f th e w o rk in g a g ric u ltu ra l la n d s c a p e a n d b y re d u c in g p o llu tio n
fro m u n n e c e s s a ry c a r trip s
T h e C a p ita l In v e s tm e n t D ia g ra m is u s e fu l fo r d e c is io n m a k e rs o f a ll ty p e s
w h e th e r b u s in e s s e s , in d iv id u a ls , fa m ilie s , o r p u b lic a g e n c ie s . T h e m o re
q u ic k ly , w id e ly a n d fre q u e n tly p e o p le in th e S ie rra N e v a d a b e g in to
e v a lu a te a n d m a k e d e c is io n s o n th is in te g ra te d b a s is , th e m o re ra p id ly
w e w ill s e e o u r re g io n ’s w e a lth g ro w a n d o u r c o m m u n itie s p ro s p e r. H o w
w e ll w e p la n fo r th e fu tu re d ic ta t e s th e fu tu re w e a lth o f th e S ie rra
Nevada.
Indicators
In d ic a to rs a re m e a s u re m e n ts th a t in fo rm u s a b o u t th e c o n d itio n o f th e k e y
a s s e ts th a t c o m p ris e o u r w e a lth . B y m e a s u rin g c h a n g e o v e r tim e ,
in d ic a to rs te ll u s w h e th e r th e c o n d itio n o f o u r a s s e ts is im p ro v in g ,
d e c lin in g , o r re m a in in g c o n s ta n t, a n d p ro v id e in s ig h ts in to th e lin k a g e s
b e tw e e n v a rio u s fo rm s o f c a p ita l.
N o s e t o f in d ic a to rs c a n b e a ll-in c lu s iv e . T h e D o w J o n e s In d u s tria l
A v e ra g e , a w id e ly re s p e c te d in d ic a to r o f s to c k m a rk e t p e rfo rm a n c e , d o e s
n o t in c lu d e e v e ry s to c k tra d e d o n th e N e w Y o rk S to c k E x c h a n g e . N o r
d o e s th e C o n s u m e r P ric e In d e x m e a s u re th e p ric e s o f a ll c o n s u m e r
g o o d s . B o th in d ic e s , lik e th e S ie rra N e v a d a W e a lth In d e x , a re b a s e d o n
d e v e lo p in g a n d m o n ito rin g a s a m p le o f in d ic a to rs w h ic h , v ie w e d to g e th e r,
p ro v id e a b a ro m e te r o f o v e ra ll p e rfo rm a n c e .
T h e 6 0 in d ic a to rs in c lu d e d in th is w e b -b a s e d v e rs io n o f th e In d e x w e re
s e le c te d b e c a u s e :
• T h e y a re m e a s u ra b le a n d c a n b e u p d a te d w ith e x is tin g a n d o b je c tiv e
d a ta s o u rc e s .
• T h e y m e a s u re th e c o n d itio n o f a s s e ts o f m a te ria l im p o rta n c e to th e
S ie rra N e v a d a ’s w e a lth .
• T h e y m e a s u re th e c o n d itio n o f a s s e ts w h e re a c tiv e p u b lic in te re s t
e x is ts .
Social Capital
A Summary of Findings
S o c ia l c a p ita l in th e S ie rra N e v a d a is g e n e ra lly s tro n g . T h e q u a lity o f
e d u c a tio n is g e n e ra lly h ig h , d e m o n s tra te d b y h ig h s c h o o l s e n io rs
c o n s is te n tly o u tp e rfo rm in g th e C a lifo rn ia a v e ra g e o n th e S A T , th e
s ta n d a rd c o lle g e e n tra n c e e x a m . R e s id e n ts ’ c o m m itm e n t to c o m m u n ity is
e x e m p lifie d th ro u g h h ig h v o te r p a rtic ip a tio n a n d v e s te d in te re s t in fu n d in g
fo r th e a rts a n d in lo c a l c u ltu ra l a c tiv itie s .
O th e r in d ic a to rs o f s o c ia l c a p ita l s tre n g th a re a s fo llo w s :
• T h e n u m b e r o f p e o p le w ith h e a lth in s u ra n c e is h ig h e r th a n in th e s ta te
o f C a lifo rn ia
• A s te a d y d e c re a s e in v io le n t c rim e s th ro u g h o u t th e re g io n
• A h ig h e r p e rc e n ta g e o f h o m e o w n e rs h ip th a n in C a lifo rn ia
• T h e a v a ila b ility , a lth o u g h s o m e w h a t lim ite d , o f d iffe re n t h o u s in g s to c k
fo r d iffe re n t in c o m e le v e ls th ro u g h o u t th e re g io n
S o m e in d ic a to rs , h o w e v e r, p o in t to th e n e e d fo r a d d itio n a l in v e s tm e n t.
T h e re is c u rre n tly a s h o rta g e o f s ta ffe d h o s p ita l b e d s in th e e n tire ty o f
th e S ie rra N e v a d a , e x c e p t in th e N o rth . M o re c h ild re n a re b e in g
d ia g n o s e d w ith a s th m a a n d a re e x p e rie n c in g m o re s e rio u s s y m p to m s d u e
to th e in c re a s e in a ir p o llu tio n fro m c o m m u te rs to a n d fro m th e re g io n .
S c h o o l e n ro llm e n t is o n th e d e c lin e b e c a u s e o f th e d e c re a s in g n u m b e r o f
y o u n g fa m ilie s in th e re g io n . H o m e p ric e s c o n tin u e to in c re a s e ,
d is p la c in g lo w e r in c o m e h o u s e h o ld s , fo rc in g p e o p le to liv e in
u n a ffo rd a b le h o u s in g , a n d in h ib itin g m a n y fro m p u rc h a s in g a h o m e .
Health Insurance
Many Rural Residents Lack Coverage
Why is it important?
R u ra l re s id e n ts h a v e p o o re r h e a lth c a re th a n th e ir u rb a n c o u n te rp a rts ,
a n d th e g a p is w id e n in g .1 W h ile ju s t a b o u t e v e ry p a rt o f th e h e a lth ca re
s y s te m c o n trib u te s to th is g a p – d o c to rs , in s u ra n c e , g o v e rn m e n t, a n d
p h a rm a c e u tic a l c o m p a n ie s – d e m o g ra p h ic c h a ra c te ris tic s o f th e p e o p le
w h o liv e in ru ra l a re a s a re a n o th e r fa c to r. T h e y te n d to b e o ld e r, h a v e
le s s a c c e s s to p re v e n tiv e h e a lth c a re a n d te n d to a v o id s e e k in g m e d ic a l
a d v ic e u n til th e ir illn e s s e s c a la te s to a n e m e rg e n c y .
Y e t s ta tis tic a lly , ru ra l re s id e n ts a ls o h a v e le s s h e a lth c a re c o v e ra g e th a n
u rb a n re s id e n ts . A s th e c o s ts o f h e a lth c a re s o a r, h e a lth m a in te n a n c e
o rg a n iz a tio n s (H M O s ) a n d in s u ra n c e c o m p a n ie s h a v e c a n c e le d s e rv ic e in
ru ra l a re a s , w h ic h fu rth e r d is c o u ra g e s e n tre p re n e u rs , re tire e s , a n d s k ille d
p ro fe s s io n a ls fro m liv in g th e re . W ith o u t h e a lth in s u ra n c e c o v e ra g e ,
p e o p le la c k a c c e s s to g o o d h e a lth c a re , a n d th is c o n s tra in s ru ra l a re a s
fro m b u ild in g fin a n c ia l c a p ita l.
How are we doing?
In 2 0 0 1 , th e S ie rra N e v a d a a v e ra g e d o n e in fiv e n o n -e ld e rly re s id e n ts
w h o la c k e d h e a lth c o v e ra g e fo r a ll o r p a rt o f th e y e a r.2 P la c e r C o u n ty
h a d th e h ig h e s t p e rc e n ta g e o f re s id e n ts w ith h e a lth c o v e ra g e in 2 0 0 1 a t
9 6 p e rc e n t, a p p ro x im a te ly 1 0 p e rc e n t h ig h e r th a n th e s ta te . T h e o v e ra ll
S ie rra N e v a d a re g io n is d o in g b e tte r in te rm s o f n u m b e rs in s u re d th a n th e
s ta te . H o w e v e r, b e c a u s e th is in d ic a to r is a s u rv e y , it is d iffic u lt to
a c c u ra te ly m e a s u re . N u m e ro u s v a ria b le s , s u c h a s th e n u m b e r o f p e o p le
c o n ta c te d o r in te rv ie w e d v e rs u s h o w m a n y p e o p le a re a c tu a lly in s u re d
b u t n o t a c c o u n te d , c o n trib u te to th e d iffic u lty o f th is a s s e s s m e n t.
1 T h is d e s c rip tio n o f th e p ro b le m s w ith ru ra l h e a lth c a re is b a s e d o n
E m e ly n R o d rig u e z , "R u ra l H e a lth C a re : Is T h e re a D o c to r in th e H o u s e ? "
C a lifo rn ia J o u rn a l, A p ril 2 0 0 1 , 1 0 -1 6 .
2 h ttp ://w w w .h e a lth p o lic y .u c la .e d u /p u b s /file s /S H IC _ re p o rt_ 1 1 1 4 2 0 0 3 .p d f
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a r ts .
Hospital Capacity
Many Rural Residents Use Urban Facilities
Why is it important?
M o s t ru ra l h o s p ita ls a re o n th e v e rg e o f b a n k ru p tc y . B e c a u s e th e y s e rv e
fe w e r p e o p le , th e c o s t o f p ro v id in g h e a lth c a re p e r p e rs o n is h ig h e r th a n
in u rb a n h o s p ita ls . Y e t th e ir p a tie n ts a re g e n e ra lly le s s re lia b le s o u rc e s
o f in c o m e th a n u rb a n p a tie n ts . E v e n if p a tie n ts h a v e jo b s a n d h e a lth
in s u ra n c e , th e ir p e r c a p ita in c o m e s a v e ra g e le s s th a n u rb a n p a tie n ts .
E x a c e rb a tin g th e s itu a tio n , ru ra l p a tie n ts a re m o re lik e ly to b e o n
M e d ic a re o r M e d ic a id , w h ic h p u ts h o s p ita l fin a n c e s a t ris k to c h a n g e s in
p u b lic p o lic y .
Y e t, h o s p ita ls p la y a n e s s e n tia l p a rt in b u ild in g ru ra l fin a n c ia l c a p ita l.
B e c a u s e d is ta n c e to m e d ic a l c a re m a y m e a n th e d iffe re n c e b e tw e e n life
a n d d e a th , h o s p ita ls a re a ttra c tiv e to e n tre p re n e u rs in s e a rc h o f a g o o d
p la c e to o w n a b u s in e s s a n d ra is e a fa m ily .
H o s p ita ls a ls o a ttra c t a n d re ta in re tire e s , w h o th ro u g h tra n s fe rs a n d
c a p ita l p a y m e n ts a c c o u n t fo r o n e -th ird o f th e S ie rra ’s p e rs o n a l in c o m e .
W h e n re tire e s m o v e a w a y to b e n e a r g o o d m e d ic a l c a re , a c o m m u n ity ’s
fin a n c ia l c a p ita l is re d u c e d b y th e in c o m e th e y ta k e w ith th e m . H o s p ita ls
th e m s e lv e s a re a g o o d fo rm o f e c o n o m ic d e v e lo p m e n t b e c a u s e th e y h a v e
re m a in e d s te a d ily a c tiv e a n d c a u s e little e n v iro n m e n ta l h a rm .3
N o t o n ly d o ru ra l re s id e n ts h a v e fe w e r m e d ic a l p ro fe s s io n a ls p e r c a p ita
th a n u rb a n re s id e n ts , ru ra l h o s p ita ls g e n e ra lly p ro v id e o n ly p rim a ry c a re
s e rv ic e s . T e le m e d ic in e m a k e s it p o s s ib le fo r ru ra l p a tie n ts to c o n s u lt w ith
th e b e s t s p e c ia lis ts w ith o u t h a v in g to tra v e l to u rb a n a re a s . F u tu re
a d v a n c e s in te le m e d ic in e w ill c o n tin u e to re d u c e th e g a p in h e a lth c a re
b e tw e e n u rb a n a n d ru ra l a re a s .
How are we doing?
S ta ffe d b e d s a re h ig h e r in N o rth S ie rra b e c a u s e o f h ig h d e m a n d d u rin g
s u m m e r m o n th s (v is ito rs , fo re s t p ro d u c t w o rk e rs ) re q u irin g a d d itio n a l
c a p a c ity , a c c o rd in g to R a y M a rk s , C E O a t S e n e c a D is tric t H o s p ita l in
C h e s te r. S ta ffe d b e d s in th e N o r th C e n tra l S ie rra a re m u c h lo w e r th a n th e
s ta te a v e ra g e b e c a u s e m a n y o f its re s id e n ts a re s e rv e d b y h o s p ita ls in
S a c ra m e n to .
3 S a m C o rd e s , "H e a lth C a re a n d th e R u ra l E c o n o m y ," F o ru m fo r A p p lie d
R e s e a rc h a n d P u b lic P o lic y , 1 3 , n o . 2 , (1 9 9 8 ):9 0 -9 3 .
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a r ts .
Asthma in Children and Adults
Airborne Pollutants Have Adverse Effects
Why is it important?
A s th m a is a c h ro n ic lu n g d is e a s e th a t in fla m e s a irw a y s a n d c re a te s
b re a th in g p ro b le m s s u c h a s c o u g h in g , w h e e z in g , c h e s t tig h tn e s s , a n d
s h o rtn e s s o f b re a th . A s th m a is o n e o f th e m o s t c o m m o n c h ro n ic
c o n d itio n s in th e U n ite d S ta te s a n d a ro u n d th e w o rld , a n d its p re v a le n c e
h a s b e e n in c re a s in g o v e r th e p a s t th re e d e c a d e s . A s th m a e p is o d e s c a n
b e m ild , m o d e ra te , o r e v e n life th re a te n in g . E n v iro n m e n ta l irrita n ts ,
a lle rg e n s , o r in fe c tio n s u s u a lly trig g e r a s th m a e p is o d e s . G e n e ra l irrita n ts
in c lu d e th e fo llo w in g : to b a c c o s m o k e , s p ra y d e o d o ra n ts , ta lc u m p o w d e r,
m a k e -u p , p e rfu m e , o d o rs fro m c le a n in g flu id s , p a in ts , fu rn itu re p o lis h ,
ro o m fre s h e n e rs , s m o g , c a r a n d tru c k e x h a u s t; h a ir, in s e c t, a n d c le a n in g
s p ra y s .
F re q u e n t s y m p to m s a m o n g a s th m a tic c h ild re n c a n b e a s ig n o f
in a d e q u a te m e d ic a l c o n tro l a n d p e rs is te n t e x p o s u re to th e g e n e ra l
irrita n ts m e n tio n e d a b o v e . M a n y c h ild re n w h o s u ffe r fro m a s th m a d o n o t
re c e iv e th e p ro p e r m e d ic a l c a re d u e to la c k o f a c c e s s in th e a re a ,
p a rtic u la rly in ru ra l c o m m u n itie s o f th e S ie rra N e v a d a . W ith o u t p ro p e r
m e d ic a l a tte n tio n , a s th m a c a n b e d e b ilita tin g fo r c h ild re n , p o s s ib ly
p re v e n tin g th e m fro m p a rtic ip a tin g in n e c e s s a ry le a rn in g a n d
d e v e lo p m e n t a c tiv itie s .
T h e la c k o f p ro p e r m e d ic a l fa c ilitie s o r a c c e s s to th e m m a y b e th e c a u s e
fo r d is c re p a n c ie s in re p o rte d d a ta . If m a n y p e o p le s u ffe rin g fro m a s th m a
a re n o t s e e k in g tre a tm e n t o r a re in c a p a b le o f d o in g s o , th e y w ill n o t b e
a c c o u n te d fo r.
How are we doing?
A irb o rn e p o llu ta n ts a re re fe rre d to a s p a rtic u la te m a tte r – a te rm u s e d fo r
a m ix tu re o f s o lid p a rtic le s a n d liq u id d ro p le ts fo u n d in th e a ir. C o a rs e
p a rtic le s (la rg e r th a n 2 .5 m ic ro m e te rs ) c o m e fro m a v a rie ty o f s o u rc e s
in c lu d in g w in d b lo w n d u s t a n d g rin d in g o p e ra tio n s . F in e p a rtic le s (le s s
th a n 2 .5 m ic ro m e te rs ) o fte n c o m e fro m fu e l c o m b u s tio n , p o w e r p la n ts ,
d ie s e l b u s e s a n d tru c k s . T h is p a rtic u la rly a ffe c ts th e S ie rra N e v a d a d u e
to th e tra ffic p o llu tio n fro m h ig h w a y 3 9 5 a s w e ll a s fro m d u s t a n d
p e s tic id e s fro m ra n c h a n d fa rm la n d .
T h e a v e ra g e a d u lt b re a th e s 1 3 ,0 0 0 lite rs o f a ir p e r d a y w h ile c h ild re n
b re a th e 5 0 p e rc e n t m o re a ir p e r p o u n d o f b o d y w e ig h t th a n a d u lts .
B e c a u s e c h ild re n 's re s p ira to ry s y s te m s a re s till d e v e lo p in g , th e y a re
m o re s u s c e p tib le to e n v iro n m e n ta l th re a ts th a n h e a lth y a d u lts .
4 B a s e d o n th e C a lifo rn ia H e a lth In te rv ie w S u rv e y , E l D o ra d o C o u n ty h a s
th e h ig h e s t p e rc e n ta g e o f c h ild re n w h o ta k e a s th m a m e d ic a tio n s , w h ile
th e s o u th c e n tra l a re a h a s th e le a s t.
4 h ttp ://w w w .e p a .g o v /ttn /o a rp g /n a a q s fin /p m h e a lth .h tm l
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a r ts
School Enrollment
Despite Population Increase, School Enrollment Continues
to Drop
Why is it important?
S c h o o l e n ro llm e n t le v e ls a re e s s e n tia l in d e te rm in in g th e a m o u n t o f s ta te
fu n d in g re c e iv e d b y lo c a l s c h o o ls . F u n d in g is b a s e d p rim a rily o n
e n ro llm e n t a n d a v e ra g e d a ily a tte n d a n c e . E n ro llm e n t tre n d s o v e r a
h is to ric a l p e rio d o f tim e p ro v id e in s ig h t in to a s c h o o l’s fin a n c ia l s ta b ility .
It is a ls o a g o o d in d ic a tio n o f th e n u m b e r o f fa m ilie s w ith c h ild re n liv in g
in a p a rtic u la r a re a . C h a n g e s in s c h o o l e n ro llm e n t ra te s a re d u e p a rtia lly
to in c re a s e s in h o m e p ric e s a n d p a rtia lly to lo s s o f liv in g w a g e jo b s .
T h e s e c h a n g e s m a k e it n e x t to im p o s s ib le fo r y o u n g fa m ilie s to a ffo rd to
liv e in th e a re a .
How are we doing?
A s s h o w n in th e g ra p h a b o v e , s c h o o l e n ro llm e n t fig u re s fo r th e S ie rra
N e v a d a d e p ic t a n o v e ra ll d e c lin e fro m 1 9 9 3 to 2 0 0 4 in d ic a tin g th a t
fa m ilie s a re a c tu a lly le a v in g th e S ie rra N e v a d a d e s p ite th e la rg e
p o p u la tio n in c re a s e s in re c e n t y e a rs . D e c re a s e s in s c h o o l e n ro llm e n t a n d
in th e n u m b e r o f y o u n g fa m ilie s liv in g in th e S ie rra N e v a d a s u g g e s t a n
e le m e n t o f in s ta b ility in th e re g io n 's w e a lth , a s th e e d u c a tio n o f fu tu re
g e n e ra tio n s fa c e s th e p o te n tia l th re a t o f d e c lin e in p u b lic fu n d in g a n d a
c o rre s p o n d in g d e c lin e in q u a lity .
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a r ts
Educational Attainment
Education Levels of Residents Comparable to California
Why is it important?
A d u lts w ith m o re e d u c a tio n a re m o re p ro d u c tiv e , e a rn h ig h e r in c o m e s a n d
h a v e b ro a d e r e m p lo y m e n t o p tio n s th a n le s s-e d u c a te d a d u lts .5 A s th e lin k
b e tw e e n s k ills a n d o p p o rtu n ity g ro w s e v e r s tro n g e r, in d iv id u a ls w ith o u t
a d v a n c e d e d u c a tio n a re lik e ly to b e le ft fu rth e r b e h in d . P e o p le n e e d a
s o lid h ig h s c h o o l e d u c a tio n p lu s a t le a s t tw o y e a rs o f c o lle g e to le a rn th e
s k ills n e e d e d fo r to d a y ’s p ro fe s s io n s : h o w to id e n tify a n d s o lv e p ro b le m s ,
w o rk e ffe c tiv e ly in g ro u p s , a n d u n d e rs ta n d s y s te m s . W h e n e n tre p re n e u rs
lo o k fo r a p la c e to g ro w th e ir b u s in e s s , th e y a re a ttra c te d to p la c e s w h e re
th e le v e l o f e d u c a tio n in d ic a te s th e q u a lity a n d d iv e rs ity o f th e la b o r p o o l.
How are we doing?
In th e S ie rra N e v a d a , a h ig h e r c o n c e n tra tio n o f h ig h s c h o o l g ra d u a te s
a n d a lo w e r c o n c e n tra tio n o f c o lle g e g ra d u a te s liv e h e re co m p a re d to
C a lifo rn ia . E v e ry s u b re g io n h a s a re la tiv e ly la rg e n u m b e r o f h ig h s c h o o l
g ra d u a te s , w ith th e N o rth C e n tra l S ie rra le a d in g th e w a y a t 9 0 p e rc e n t. In
C a lifo rn ia o n ly 7 8 p e rc e n t o f p e o p le h a v e g ra d u a te d fro m h ig h s c h o o l. In
te rm s o f c o lle g e e d u c a tio n , o n ly th e N o rth C e n tra l S ie rra is c o m p a ra b le to
C a lifo rn ia . F o r th e re m a in d e r o f th e S ie rra , o n ly 1 8 p e rc e n t o f th e
p o p u la tio n h a s a B a c h e lo r's d e g re e c o m p a re d to 2 8 p e rc e n t in C a lifo rn ia .
T h e N o rth C e n tra l S ie rra le d a ll s u b re g io n s in e v e ry c a te g o ry o f
e d u c a tio n a l a tta in m e n t.
5 J e n k in s , L .B .; K irs c h , I.S . 1 9 9 4 . A d u lt lite ra c y in C a lifo rn ia : re s u lts o f
th e s ta te a d u lt lite ra c y s u rv e y . S a c ra m e n to : C a lifo rn ia D e p a rtm e n t o f
E d u c a tio n . h ttp ://w w w .o ta n .d n i.u s .
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a r ts
Youth Organizations
Participation Rates Remain Low
Why is it important?
Y o u th -s e rv in g o rg a n iz a tio n s s u c h a s 4 -H , s c o u tin g , a n d F F A e n a b le
y o u n g p e o p le to d e v e lo p a s in d iv id u a ls a n d c o n trib u te to s o c ie ty .6 T h e s e
o rg a n iz a tio n s b u ild th e c iv ic c a p a c ity o f fu tu re g e n e ra tio n s in th e re g io n .
T h e p re s e n c e o f y o u th o rg a n iz a tio n s p ro v id e s b e n e fits fo r c a u s e s s u c h a s
th e n a tu ra l e n v iro n m e n t a n d fo s te rs e n tre p re n e u rs h ip a m o n g p a rtic ip a n ts .
How are we doing?
T h e re is a s ig n ific a n t la c k o f a c tiv e y o u th o rg a n iz a tio n s th ro u g h o u t m u c h
o f th e S ie rra N e v a d a . N o o rg a n iz a tio n s w e re id e n tifie d in th e N o rth , fiv e
w e re id e n tifie d in th e N o rth C e n tra l a n d S o u th C e n tra l, a n d o n ly o n e in
th e E a s t S ie rra . T h e C e n te r fo r E c o n o m ic D e v e lo p m e n t s u rv e y e d
o rg a n iz a tio n s fo r a v e ra g e d a ily o r w e e k ly p a rtic ip a tio n . P a rtic ip a tio n
ra n g e d fro m a h ig h o f 4 0 c h ild re n p e r 1 ,0 0 0 in th e N o rth C e n tra l S ie rra ,
fe ll to 3 1 in th e E a s t S i e rra , a n d o n ly 1 3 in th e S o u th C e n tra l S ie rra .
6 "A T o o l to A s s e s s th e W o rth o f a Y o u th O rg a n iz a tio n ." J o u rn a l o f
E x te n s io n . h ttp ://w w w .jo e .o rg /jo e /2 0 0 0 ju n e /rb 3 .h tm l
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a r ts
Child Poverty Rate
Poverty Rates Remain Consistent Despite Increases in
Prosperity
Why is it important?
E c o n o m ic s tre s s e s d ire c tly im p a c t th e d e v e lo p m e n t a n d w e lfa re o f
c h ild re n . S tu d ie s s h o w th a t c h ild re n ra is e d in p o v e rty a re m o re lik e ly to
b e e x p o s e d to fa c to rs th a t c a n im p e d e b ra in d e v e lo p m e n t: in a d e q u a te
n u tritio n , s u b s ta n c e a b u s e , m a te rn a l d e p re s s io n , e n v iro n m e n ta l to x in s ,
tra u m a o r a b u s e , a n d p o o r d a y c a re .7 D u e to la c k o f h o u s in g c h o ic e s fo r
lo w -in c o m e w a g e e a rn e rs , m a n y fa m ilie s a re fo rc e d to m o v e fre q u e n tly ,
d is ru p tin g th e c o m m u n ity s u p p o rt s y s te m . In a d d itio n , m a n y
n e ig h b o rh o o d s w h e re lo w -in c o m e fa m ilie s c a n a ffo rd to liv e d o n o t h a v e
s a fe o r a d e q u a te o u td o o r p la y a re a s to h e lp p ro m o te le a rn in g a n d
d e v e lo p m e n t. A s p ro s p e rity in c re a s e s in th e S ie rra N e v a d a , d ire c tin g
b e n e fits o f o u r g ro w in g e c o n o m y to w a rd th e s e c h ild re n a n d th e fu tu re w e
s h a re is c ritic a l.
How are we doing?
T h e U .S . D e p a rtm e n t o f C o m m e rc e 's B u re a u o f th e C e n s u s re p o rts th a t
fo r th e N o rth , N o rth C e n tra l, a n d E a s t S ie rra , c h ild p o v e rty ra te s
d e c re a s e d fro m 1 9 9 0 to 2 0 0 0 . H o w e v e r, a m o re a c c u ra te p ic tu re o f th e
n u m b e r o f c h ild re n in n e e d c a n b e d e te rm in e d b y re v ie w in g e n ro llm e n t in
a s c h o o l’s fre e o r re d u c e d lu n ch p ro g ra m . In o rd e r to q u a lify fo r th e s e
p ro g ra m s , th e s c h o o l c h ild re n m u s t c o m e fro m fa m ilie s w ith in c o m e s a t o r
b e lo w 1 3 0 p e rc e n t o f th e p o v e rty le v e l.8 A c c o rd in g to th e C a lifo rn ia
D e p a rtm e n t o f E d u c a tio n , c h ild p o v e rty h a s d e c re a s e d in th e N o rth
C e n tra l S ie rra , re m a in e d s te a d y in th e S o u th C e n tra l S ie rra , a n d
in c re a s e d in th e E a s t S ie rra . T h e N o rth re g io n h a s e x p e rie n c e d a
s ig n ific a n t flu c tu a tio n w ith a d ra m a tic in c re a s e s in c e 1 9 9 9 , a lth o u g h th is
m a y b e d u e to re p o rtin g in c o n s is te n c ie s . A ll fo u r s u b re g io n s , h o w e v e r,
re m a in w e ll b e lo w th e p e rc e n ta g e o f c h ild re n in C a lifo rn ia e n ro lle d in th e
F re e S c h o o l L u n c h P ro g ra m .
7 N a tio n a l C e n te r fo r C h ild re n in P o v e rty , C o lu m b ia U n iv e rs ity , N e w Y o rk ,
N Y . h ttp ://c p m c n e t.c o lu m b ia .e d u /d e p t/n c c p /.
8 h ttp ://w w w .fn s .u s d a .g o v /c n d /L u n c h /A b o u tL u n c h/N S L P F a c tS h e e t.p d f
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a r ts
Violent Crime Rate
Overall Decrease in Rate Continues
Why is it important?
V io le n t c rim e u n d e rm in e s a c o m m u n ity 's q u a lity b y c re a tin g a c lim a te o f
fe a r a n d m is tru s t. T h e s e fe a rs , if p e rs is te n t, c a n a ffe c t g ro w th in s o c ia l
c a p ita l b y trig g e rin g s tre s s -re la te d illn e s s e s a n d c a n a ffe c t g ro w th in
fin a n c ia l c a p ita l th ro u g h d e c re a s e d w o rk p ro d u c tiv ity .9
How are we doing?
C rim e ra te s h a v e b e e n d e c lin in g b o th n a tio n w id e a n d in C a lifo rn ia 's
u rb a n a re a s . V io le n t c rim e h a s a ls o fa lle n a c ro s s th e S ie rra N e v a d a ,
a lb e it in d iffe rin g p a tte rn s . In th e N o rth a n d S o u th C e n tra l S ie rra , v io le n t
c rim e d e c lin e d s te a d ily b e tw e e n 1 9 9 5 a n d 2 0 0 1 , b u t ro s e a g a in in 2 0 0 2 .
In th e N o rth C e n tra l S ie rra , v io le n t c rim e d e c re a s e d th ro u g h o u t th e 1 9 9 3 2 0 0 2 s tu d y p e rio d . T h e E a s t S ie rra e x p e rie n c e d a s p ik e in v io le n t c rim e
th ro u g h 1 9 9 7 — e x c e e d in g th e s ta te 's c rim e ra te th a t y e a r— a n d fe ll to
le v e ls c o n s is te n t w ith th e re s t o f th e S ie rra b y 1 9 9 9 . E x c e p t fo r th e E a s t
S ie rra in 1 9 9 7 , v io le n t c rim e ra te s a c ro s s th e S ie rra N e v a d a w e re w e ll
b e lo w th o s e in th e s ta te , a lth o u g h th e d e c lin e s in S ie rra v io le n t c rim e
h a v e n o t b e e n a s g re a t.
9 C IG N A B e h a v io ra l H e a lth .
h ttp ://a p p s .c ig n a b e h a v io ra l.c o m /w e b /b a s ic s ite /b u lle tin B o a rd /c o p in g W ith F
e a rO fV io le n tC rim e .js p
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a rts
Historic Preservation
Low Number of Historic Resources Designated for
Preservation
Why is it important?
P re s e rv in g a n d e n h a n c in g a re g io n ’s irre p la c e a b le h is to ric v a lu e s , a s a
m a tte r o f p u b lic in te re s t, p ro v id e s a v ita l le g a c y o f c u ltu ra l, e d u c a tio n a l,
re c re a tio n a l, a e s th e tic , e c o n o m ic , s o c ia l, a n d e n v iro n m e n ta l b e n e fits .
T h e s e b e n e fits m a in ta in a n d e n ric h a c o m m u n ity fo r p re s e n t a n d fu tu re
g e n e ra tio n s .
T h e N a tio n a l H is to ric P re s e rv a tio n A c t (N H P A ) w a s e n a c te d in 1 9 6 6 ,
c re a tin g th e N a tio n a l R e g is te r o f H is to ric P la c e s , a lis t o f h is to ric
la n d m a rk s w ith th e in te n t o f m a n a g in g im p o rta n t s ite s in th e fa c e o f
d e v e lo p m e n t p ro je c ts . It re q u ire s e v a lu a tio n o f th e im p a c t o f a n y
g o v e rn m e n t-fu n d e d c o n s tru c tio n p ro je c t o n h is to ric re s o u rc e s . 1 0
How are we doing?
L e s s th a n h a lf o f th e S ie rra 's k n o w n h is to ric re s o u rc e s a re d e s ig n a te d fo r
p re s e rv a tio n . T h e N o rth S ie rra h a s th e h ig h e s t p e rc e n ta g e w ith ju s t le s s
th a n 6 0 p e rc e n t, w h ile th e E a s t s u b re g io n h a s th e lo w e s t w ith fe w e r th a n
3 5 p e rc e n t o f k n o w n h is toric re s o u rc e s d e s ig n a te d fo r p re s e rv a tio n .
T h e s e n u m b e rs d o n o t m a tc h th e m a g n itu d e o f th e c u ltu ra l a n d h is to ric a l
ric h n e s s o f th e re g io n .
10
h ttp ://e n c y c lo p e d ia .w o rld v illa g e .c o m /s /b /N a tio n a l_ H is to ric _ P re s e rv a tio n _
A c t (s e e te x t o f N H P A a t h ttp ://w w w .n p s .g o v /h is to ry /lo c a lla w /n h p a 1 9 6 6 .h tm )
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a r ts
Performing Arts Attendance
Residents Eager for More Arts Investments in Their
Communities
Why is it important?
T h e p e rfo rm in g a rts a re e s s e n tia l to h u m a n e x p e rie n c e . A rt e v e n ts a n d
a c tiv itie s e n ric h liv e s , fro m c h ild h o o d th ro u g h a d u lth o o d , h e lp in g p e o p le
in te rp re t a n d e x p lo re th e ir re la tio n s h ip s a m o n g s t e a c h o th e r a n d w ith th e
w o rld . A rts e n h a n c e a e s th e tic p le a s u re fo r a re a re s id e n ts a n d m a k e th e
S ie rra N e v a d a e v e n m o re a ttra c tiv e to v is ito rs . A rts fe s tiv a ls g e n e ra te
a b o u t $ 1 1 in e c o n o m ic a c tiv ity fo r e v e ry d o lla r o f c o s t. W h ile th e o u tc o m e
o f th is is b e n e fic ia l, it is im p e ra tiv e fo r a rts p ro g ra m s to re c e iv e in itia l
fu n d in g a n d s u p p o rt th e re a fte r. S ie rra N e v a d a re s id e n ts a re e a g e r to s e e
m o re a rts in v e s tm e n t in th e ir c o m m u n itie s . In a re c e n t s u rv e y o f S ie rra
N e v a d a v o te rs , 5 0 p e rc e n t in d ic a te d th e ir in te re s t in h a v in g m o re
“c u ltu ra l re s o u rc e s s u c h a s th e a tre s a n d th e a rts ” in th e ir c o u n ty .1 1
How are we doing?
U n fo rtu n a te ly , fe w o rg a n iz a tio n s m a in ta in re c o rd s o n a n n u a l a tte n d a n c e
fig u re s . F o r m a n y , tim e a n d c o s t is s u e s p re s e n t b a rrie rs to c o m p ilin g th is
in fo rm a tio n . W ith o u t th is in fo rm a tio n , it is d iffic u lt fo r v e n u e s a n d
th e a te rs to s e e k o u ts id e fu n d in g to h e lp s u s ta in p e rfo rm in g a rts
p ro g ra m s . T h e n u m b e r o f a tte n d e e s is v ita l in p ro v in g th e w o rth o f
c o m m u n ity a rts p ro g ra m s . O rg a n iz a tio n s th a t d o k e e p re c o rd s c o n firm
th a t a tte n d a n c e a t p e rfo rm in g a rts e v e n ts in th e S ie rra is in c re a s in g .
1 1 S ie rra N e v a d a V o te r S u rv e y c o n d u c te d in N o v e m b e r, 1 9 9 5 , b y J .
M o o re M e th o d s , In c ., lo c a te d in S a c ra m e n to , C a lifo rn ia .
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a r ts
Civic Capacity: Voting Record
Sierrans Voice Opinions Regarding their Communities
Why is it important?
V o tin g e x p re s s e s a p re fe re n c e fo r p a rtic u la r c a n d id a te s , a n d
in c re a s in g ly , it is a w a y fo r S ie rra n s to v o ic e th e ir o p in io n s a b o u t th e
S ie rra N e v a d a 's fu tu re . S e v e ra l re c e n t C a lifo rn ia s ta te v o te r in itia tiv e s
p ro v id e e v id e n c e a b o u t lo c a l fe e lin g s to w a rd im p o rta n t is s u e s in th e
S ie rra – e d u c a tio n fa c ilitie s a n d c le a n w a te r s u p p ly . E d u c a tio n a l fa c ilitie s
a re im p o rta n t b e c a u s e o f th e re g io n 's ra p id g ro w th ra te , lo c a l u s e o f
s c h o o ls a s c o m m u n ity c e n te rs , a n d p re s e rv a tio n o f u n iq u e h is to ric a l
re s o u rc e s th ro u g h re n o v a tio n o f d e c o ra tiv e , y e t te c h n o lo g ic a lly o b s o le te ,
s c h o o l b u ild in g s fo r c o n tin u e d u s e . S in c e th e S ie rra N e v a d a s u p p lie s
m u c h o f th e s ta te 's w a te r, a s s h o w n in th e W a te r U s e s e c tio n in th e
N a tu ra l In d ic a to rs , p ro te c tin g lo c a l w a te r q u a lity is o f s ta te w id e
im p o rta n c e .
How are we doing?
S ie rra n s w e re le s s lik e ly to v o te in s u p p o rt o f s u p p ly in g c le a n w a te r a n d
b u ild in g p u b lic e d u c a tio n fa c ilitie s th a n o th e r C a lifo rn ia n s , a lth o u g h , th e
p u b lic e d u c a tio n b o n d p a s s e d n a rro w ly in a ll fo u r S ie rra re g io n s . C itiz e n s
o f th e N o rth C e n tra l s u b re g io n h a d g re a te r s u p p o rt fo r th e m e a s u re s th a n
o th e r S ie rra n s , th o u g h le s s th a n th e s ta te 's u rb a n a re a s . T h is m a y b e d u e
to S ie rra n s b e lie v in g th e ir c o m m u n itie s a lre a d y p ro v id e e d u c a tio n a l
fa c ilitie s a n d c le a n w a te r, o r th e y m a y d is a g re e w ith p a y in g fo r th e s e
th ro u g h d e b t fin a n c in g . S ie rra n s p re fe r w o rk in g w ith in th e ir o w n
c o m m u n itie s to a c c o m p lis h g o a ls ra th e r th a n w a itin g fo r a g o v e rn m e n t
a g e n c y to s te p in a n d m a k e d e c is io n s . T h u s , h is to ric a lly , th e y h a v e
re je c te d s ta te e ffo rts to m a n a g e n a tu ra l re s o u rc e s .
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a rts p a rt 1 D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a r ts p a rt 2
Population Growth
Population Growth
Why is it important?
P e o p le s ig n ific a n tly a ffe c t tre n d s a n d c o n d itio n s in th e S ie rra ’s s o c ia l,
n a tu ra l a n d fin a n c ia l c a p ita l. T h e y m a y b u ild c a p ita l if th e y a re
e n tre p re n e u rs w h o c re a te g o o d jo b s o r th e y b e c o m e e m p lo y e e s in
g ro w in g b u s in e s s e s . N e w re s id e n ts a ls o s u p p o rt lo c a l b u s in e s s e s w h e n
th e y b u y h o u s e s o r h a rd w a re , e n ro ll in e x e rc is e c la s s e s o r e a t o u t. T h e y
a ls o b u ild s o c ia l c a p ita l w h e y th e y v o lu n te e r fo r R o ta ry , S o ro p tim is ts ,
P T A s o r b u ild in g tra ils .
O n th e o th e r h a n d , m o re p e o p le a ls o c re a te p ro b le m s w h e n th e y d e m a n d
lim ite d re s o u rc e s . W h e n la n d a n d h o u s in g p ric e s fly s k y w a rd ,
c o m m u n itie s c a n u n ra v e l. T ra ffic m a y c h o k e in te rs ta te s a n d in te rs e c tio n s .
C ro w d s m a y ru in a v is it to Y o s e m ite o r D e s o la tio n W ild e rn e s s . C o n flic ts
c a n in c re a s e w h e n u rb a n re s id e n ts m o v e in to ru ra l c o m m u n itie s .
R a n c h e rs m a y h a v e to c u rta il th e ir o p e ra tio n s to n o t o ffe n d n e w
n e ig h b o rs n e x t d o o r. A n d th e tu s s le o v e r w h o g e ts S ie rra w a te r -re s id e n ts o r re m o te c itie s , fis h o r fa rm e rs , ra fte rs o r h y d ro p o w e r
p ro d u c e rs – is e te rn a l.
O u r c h a lle n g e a s b u s in e s s a n d c o m m u n ity le a d e rs is to m a k e d e c is io n s
s o th a t th e p o p u la tio n g ro w s in w a y s th a t b u ild a t le a s t tw o fo rm s o f
c a p ita l w ith o u t d im in is h in g th e th ird . H o w w e d e v e lo p p riv a te la n d , b u ild
tra n s p o rta tio n in fra s tru c tu re , re c re a te o u td o o rs , a n d c o n d u c t p u b lic
p ro c e s s e s a ll in flu e n c e w h o liv e s h e re a n d h o w s tro n g o u r e c o n o m ie s a n d
c o m m u n itie s a re .
How are we doing?
P o p u la tio n in th e S ie rra N e v a d a h a s g ro w n to 8 1 9 ,0 0 0 re s id e n ts , m a k in g
it th e fa s te s t g ro w in g re g io n in C a lifo rn ia s in c e 1 9 9 0 . In fa c t, th e S ie rra is
g ro w in g fa s te r th a n w a s p re d ic te d in th e 1 9 9 9-2 0 0 0 W e a lth In d e x ,
e s p e c ia lly a fte r th e re c e s s io n b e g a n in 2 0 0 3 . A lm o s t a ll th e a d d itio n a l
g ro w th is in th e N o rth C e n tra l c o u n tie s , a lth o u g h th e S o u th C e n tra l is
g ro w in g ra p id ly a s w e ll. A t th is p a c e , th e S ie rra w ill s u rp a s s 1 m illio n
re s id e n ts b y 2 0 2 0 . B e a r in m in d th a t th e s e n u m b e rs a c c o u n t o n ly fo r
re s id e n ts , n o t th e g ro w in g “s h a d o w p o p u la tio n ” o f re c re a tio n is ts a n d
s e c o n d h o m e o w n e rs w h o a ls o e n jo y o u r re g io n .
Population Migration
Population Migration
Why is it important?
T o e n s u re lo n g -te rm p ro s p e rity , c o m m u n itie s th a t fo re s e e h ig h in m ig ra tio n m u s t b e w illin g to a v o id th e k in d o f g ro w th th a t m a k e s h o u s in g
p ric e s s o a r a n d q u a lity o f life d e c lin e . In p la c e s w h e re m o s t p o p u la tio n
g ro w th is n a tu ra l (b irth s m in u s d e a th s ), in c re a s e d d e m a n d is s p re a d o v e r
th e tw o d e c a d e s th a t c h ild re n g ro w , g iv in g b u s in e s s a n d c o m m u n ity
le a d e rs tim e to d e v e lo p s o u n d p la n s fo r b u ild in g o v e ra ll c o m m u n ity
w e a lth .
How are we doing?
In -m ig ra tio n a c c o u n ts fo r fo u r -fifth s o f th e S ie rra ’s p o p u la tio n g ro w th , a n d
is a c o n s is te n t fa c to r in th e N o rth C e n tra l a n d S o u th C e n tra l re g io n s . In
th e N o rth a n d E a s t re g io n s , m ig ra tio n p a tte rn s flu c tu a te a s lo c a l
e c o n o m ie s g ro w a n d d e c lin e .
Demographics of New Residents
Demographics of New Residents
Why is it important?
T h e a g e o f p e o p le m o v in g in a n d o u t o f th e S ie rra c a n in flu e n c e th e
re g io n ’s o v e ra ll w e a lth fo r y e a rs to c o m e . In m ig ra tio n o f 2 5 - to 3 4 -y e a ro ld s c a rrie s th e p o te n tia l fo r fu tu re g ro w th th ro u g h c h ild b e a rin g . If th e s e
p e o p le h a v e c o lle g e e d u c a tio n s , th e y b rin g th e la te s t s k ills a n d
k n o w le d g e , w h ic h c a n fo s te r e c o n o m ic g ro w th in e m e rg in g s e c to rs .
A t a d v a n c e d a g e s , h e a lth c o n c e rn s m a y fo rc e s o m e p e o p le to m o v e
c lo s e r to o r in w ith th e ir c h ild re n , to a s s is te d-c a re fa c ilitie s , o r to n u rs in g
h o m e s . S o m e ru ra l c o m m u n itie s lik e K re m m lin g , C o lo ra d o , h a v e
re c o g n iz e d th a t c re a tiv e p ro je c ts a im e d a t m e e tin g th e n e e d s o f o ld e r
p e o p le c a n b u ild a s tro n g e r c om m u n ity . A fte r K re m m lin g b u ilt a n
a s s is te d -liv in g c a re fa c ility , it fo u n d th a t fa m ilie s c o u ld s ta y to g e th e r
e v e n w h e n s e n io rs c o u ld n o lo n g e r liv e in d e p e n d e n tly . T h is s tra te g y
c re a te d g o o d jo b s a n d k e p t w e a lth fro m le a v in g th e c o m m u n ity .
A c tiv e re tire e s a re o fte n th e b a c k b o n e o f c o m m u n ity o rie n te d v o lu n te e r
o rg a n iz a tio n s -- re a d in g to c h ild re n a t th e p u b lic lib ra ry o r b u ild in g n e w
b ic y c le tra ils . S o m e b e c o m e in v o lv e d in lo c a l p o litic s a n d h o ld e le c te d
p o s itio n s .
How are we doing?
D u rin g th e 1 9 9 0 s , 2 5 - to 3 4 -y e a r-o ld s re p re s e n te d 3 7 p e rc e n t o f th e
p e o p le m o v in g in to th e S ie rra , 8 0 p e rc e n t o f w h ic h m o v e d in to N o rth
C e n tra l a n d m o s t o f th e re s t in to S o u th C e n tra l. A b o u t h a lf th a t n u m b e r o f
3 5 - to 4 4 -y e a r-o ld s a n d 4 5 - to 5 4 -y e a r-o ld s m o v e d in to th e re g io n , a g a in
p rim a rily in to N o rth C e n tra l a lth o u g h 3 0 a n d 3 8 p e rc e n t o f e a c h a g e
g ro u p re s p e c tiv e ly o p te d fo r th e S o u th C e n tra l.
T h e S ie rra lo s t its 5 - to 1 4 -y e a r-o ld s , e s p e c ia lly fro m th e N o rth , a lth o u g h
S o u th C e n tra l a n d E a s t lo s t p e o p le in th a t a g e g ro u p a s w e ll. M a n y o f
th e s e m a y h a v e le ft fo r h ig h e r e d u c a tio n , o th e rs to s e e k th e ir fo rtu n e
e ls e w h e re . S ix ty -fiv e a n d 7 4 -y e a r-o ld s a ls o le ft th e S ie rra , h a lf o f th e m
c o m in g fro m S o u th C e n tra l, a th ird fro m N o rth a n d th e re s t fro m th e E a s t.
Housing Indicators
» H o m e O w n e r s h ip » H o u s in g A ffo r d a b ility » H o u s in g 's S h a re o f
In c o m e » H o u s in g P r ic e s » In c o m e N e e d e d to R e n t H o u s in g »
H o u s in g G a p » H o u s e h o ld O v e rc r o w d in g » J o b -H o u s in g B a la n c e »
Second Homes
Housing Indicators: A Summary of Findings
T h is e d itio n o f th e S ie rra N e v a d a W e a lth In d e x in c lu d e s a n e w h o u s in g
in d ic a to rs s e c tio n . L a rg e ly in d ic a tiv e o f th e ra p id d e v e lo p m e n t ta k in g
p la c e in th e S ie rra N e v a d a , p a rtic u la rly in th e N o rth C e n tra l a n d th e
E a s te rn s u b re g io n s , h o u s in g is a m a jo r fa c to r in th e re g io n ’s h e a lth .
D e v e lo p m e n t n o t o n ly h a s s ig n ific a n t fin a n c ia l im p lic a tio n s fo r th e re g io n ,
b u t a ffe c ts b o th s o c ia l a n d n a tu ra l c a p ita l a s w e ll.
B o th re s id e n tia l a n d n o n re s id e n tia l d e v e lo p m e n t c e rta in ly c a n h a v e
p o s itiv e in a c o m m u n ity . R e s id e n tia l d e v e lo p m e n t in c re a s e s th e n u m b e r
o f a v a ila b le h o u s in g u n its , w h ic h h e lp s re g u la te h o u s in g p ric e s b y n o t
a llo w in g d e m a n d to g re a tly s u rp a s s s u p p ly . R e s id e n tia l d e v e lo p m e n t c a n
a ls o fo s te r a s e n s e o f c o m m u n ity , im p ro v in g lo c a l s o c ia l c a p ita l.
N o n re s id e n tia l d e v e lo p m e n t c a n c re a te jo b s , in c re a s e ta x re v e n u e s , a n d
a ttra c t to u ris ts .
T h e n e g a tiv e tre n d s w ith d e v e lo p m e n t la rg e ly a ffe c t th e s o c ia l c a p ita l o f
a n a re a . If d e m a n d fo r h o u s in g in c re a s e s fa s te r th a n h o u s e s are b u ilt,
h o u s in g p ric e s in c re a s e , m a n y tim e s m a k in g th e m le s s o r u n a ffo rd a b le fo r
m a n y p e o p le w ith lo w e r p a y in g lo c a l jo b s . S im ila rly , if a lo c a l e c o n o m y
p la c e s a n e m p h a s is o n re v e n u e s fro m a s e rv ic e in d u s try s u c h a s to u ris m ,
m a n y m o re s e a s o n a l o r lo w p a y in g jo b s th a n y e a r-ro u n d jo b s a re c re a te d ,
a s w e w ill s e e in th e fin a n c ia l c a p ita l in d ic a to rs s e c tio n . A s a re s u lt,
d e v e lo p m e n t c a n w id e n th e in c o m e g a p , in h ib it p e o p le fro m b u y in g
h o u s e s , a n d d is p la c e lo w e r in c o m e fa m ilie s o r in d iv id u a ls .
D e v e lo p m e n t c a n a ls o n e g a tiv e ly a ffe c t n a tu ra l c a p ita l b y d e c re a s in g th e
a m o u n t o f o p e n s p a c e o r fa rm a n d ra n c h a c re a g e in a n a re a . R a p id
p o p u la tio n in c re a s e s c a n a ls o c o n trib u te to a ir a n d w a te r p o llu tio n
p ro b le m s , th re a te n in g th e b e a u ty , q u a lity o f life , a n d th e fu tu re o f th e
S ie rra N e v a d a .
Natural Capital
Natural Capital: A Summary of Findings
N a tu ra l C a p ita l in th e S ie rra N e v a d a e x h ib its b o th s tre n g th s a n d
w e a k n e s s e s . B e c a u s e o n ly 1 6 p e rc e n t o f th e la n d in th e S ie rra N e v a d a is
p riv a te ly o w n e d , fu tu re s e ttle m e n t p a tte rn s a re m o re p re d ic ta b le th a n
s ta te w id e , h e lp in g to m a in ta in a h e a lth y n a tu ra l c a p ita l. D e s ig n a tio n s o f
la n d u s e th ro u g h g e n e ra l p la n s p ro v id e a b a la n c e in c o m m u n itie s a n d
h e lp p re s e rv e o p e n s p a c e . T h e S ie rra N e v a d a s u p p lie s a b o u t 6 0 p e rc e n t
o f C a lifo rn ia ’s u s a b le fre s h w a te r. B e tw e e n 1 9 9 0 a n d 2 0 0 3 , th e v a lu e o f
a g ric u ltu re p ro d u c e d in th e C e n tra l V a lle y u s in g S ie rra N e v a d a w a te r w a s
v a lu e d a t $ 1 5 -1 8 b illio n p e r y e a r. A d v a n c e s in h y d ro p o w e r a n d
g e o th e rm a l e le c tric ity p ro d u c tio n a llo w th e S ie rra N e v a d a to e x po rt
e le c tric ity to a w id e r p o rtio n o f C a lifo rn ia S ta te . In c re a s e s in p ro d u c tio n
re s u lt in lo w e r w h o le s a le e le c tric ity p ric e s .
T ro u b lin g tre n d s in c lu d e th e lo s s o f fa rm la n d in th e N o rth C e n tra l
c o u n tie s , w h e re th o u s a n d s o f a c re s o f h ig h ly v a lu a b le fru it o rc h a rd s a n d
n u t tre e s h a v e b e e n lo s t. P re s s u re s fo r d e v e lo p m e n t c o n tin u e to th re a te n
o p e n s p a c e , p a rtic u la rly in th e N o rth a n d N o rth C e n tra l c o u n tie s .
T h ro u g h o u t th e S ie rra , c e rta in h a b ita ts h a v e lim ite d p ro te c tio n fro m
c o n v e rs io n , in c lu d in g o a k -d o m in a te d la n d s c a p e s , rip a ria n a re a s , a n d
a g ric u ltu ra l la n d s . F ire h a z a rd is s ig n ific a n t o n 4 5 % o f th e S ie rra N e v a d a
la n d s c a p e . A ir q u a lity is d e c lin in g d u e to b o th p a rtic u la te m a tte r a n d
o z o n e . A s a re s u lt o f d e c re a s in g s n o w p a c k le v e ls a n d s u b s e q u e n t
s n o w m e lt, g ro u n d w a te r le v e ls a re fa llin g . C o m m u te rs in to th e re g io n a re
s ig n ific a n t c o n trib u to rs to tra ffic c o n g e s tio n re s u ltin g in in c re a s e d a ir a n d
w a te r p o llu tio n .
Land Use
General Plans Provide Balance in Communities
Why is it important?
B e g in n in g in 1 9 3 7 , a ll c itie s a n d c o u n tie s in C a lifo rn ia w e re re q u ire d to
a d o p t m a s te r p la n s , n o w c a lle d g e n e ra l p la n s . T h e s e d o c u m e n ts
g e n e ra lly a s s ig n la n d to a p a rtic u la r u s e in c lu d in g re s id e n tia l,
c o m m e rc ia l, in d u s tria l, a n d o p e n s p a c e . T h e re fo re , g e n e ra l p la n la n d u s e
d e s ig n a tio n s a re a p re d ic to r a n d d e s ig n a to r fo r fu tu re la n d u s e w ith
tim e fra m e s u s u a lly b e tw e e n te n a n d tw e n ty y e a rs in to th e fu tu re . T h e
g e n e ra l p la n p re s e rv e s n a tu ra l c a p ita l b y re s tric tin g d e v e lo p m e n t in
s e n s itiv e a re a s , a llo w s fin a n c ia l c a p ita l to g ro w b y a llo w in g b u s in e s s la n d
u s e s , a n d d e v e lo p s s o c ia l c a p ita l th ro u g h re s id e n tia l d e v e lo p m e n t
s ta n d a rd s th a t e n c o u ra g e in te ra c tio n b y re s id e n ts in n e ig h b o rh o o d s .
How are we doing?
A la rg e p o rtio n o f th e S ie rra N e v a d a is re s e rv e d in lo c a l g e n e ra l p la n s a s
o p e n s p a c e . T h is s p a c e is u s e d fo r a g ric u ltu re , fo re s try , a n d re c re a tio n .
S o m e c o u n tie s h a v e d iffe re n t d e fin itio n s fo r th e s a m e u s e . F o r e x a m p le ,
A m a d o r a n d P lu m a s c o u n tie s h a v e n o a g ric u ltu ra l z o n e a n d in s te a d u s e a
v e ry lo w -d e n s ity re s id e n tia l z o n e fo r a g ric u ltu ra l la n d . D e v e lo p m e n t
s p re a d in g fro m th e S a c ra m e n to m e tro a re a is v is ib le in th e N o rth C e n tra l
S ie rra in th e v a s t tra c ts o f lo w - a n d m e d iu m -d e n s ity re s id e n tia l a re a s in
its w e s te rn re a c h e s . T h e w e s te rn p o rtio n o f th e S o u th C e n tra l S ie rra
c o n ta in s la rg e tra c ts o f lo w - a n d v e ry lo w -d e n s ity re s id e n tia l, a lth o u g h
m o s t o f th e s e p o rtio n s o f T u o lu m n e a n d M a rip o s a c o u n tie s re m a in in
a g ric u ltu re o r o p e n s p a c e . D e v e lo p a b le la n d in th e E a s t S ie rra is v is ib le
in s trip s fo llo w in g H ig h w a y s 3 9 5 a n d 6 , w h ile n e a rly a ll o f th e re m a in d e r
is p re s e rv e d a s p u b lic o r o p e n s p a c e .
Water Use
Most Sierra Water Used for the Environment
Why is it important?
T h e S ie rra N e v a d a s u p p lie s a b o u t 6 0 p e rc e n t o f u s a b le fre s h w a te r in
C a lifo rn ia . W h ile lo c a l w a te r a v a ila b ility in th e S ie rra N e v a d a is c ritic a l to
lo c a l a g ric u ltu re , e n v iro n m e n t, re c re a tio n , a n d re s id e n ts , m o s t o f th is
s u p p ly is u tiliz e d d o w n s tre a m o r e x p o rte d to o th e r w a te r b a s in s .
How are we doing?
M o s t S ie rra N e v a d a re g io n a l w a te r is u s e d fo r a g ric u ltu re , a n d m o s t w a te r
u s e d fo r a g ric u ltu re is e x p o rte d to th e C e n tra l V a lle y . A b o u t 1 3 m illio n
a c re -fe e t p e r y e a r (3 4 p e rc e n t o f u s a b le fre s h w a te r) is u s e d fo r
e n v iro n m e n ta l p re s e rv a tio n a n d e n h a n c e m e n t, in c lu d in g in-s tre a m flo w s
fo r a q u a tic a n d rip a ria n h e a lth a n d d iv e rs io n to w e tla n d s . W i th in th e
S ie rra N e v a d a , th e e n v iro n m e n t th ro u g h e v a p o ra tio n a n d tra n s p ira tio n
c o n s u m e s m o s t w a te r b y tre e s a n d o th e r p la n ts .
N e a rly a ll o f th e w a te r o rig in a tin g in th e S a n J o a q u in R iv e r B a s in a n d th e
T u la re a n d K e rn riv e rs a re e x p o rte d to th e C e n tra l V a lle y fo r u s e . A b o u t
2 1 p e rc e n t o f S ie rra N e v a d a w a te r in th e S a c ra m e n to R iv e r B a s in is u s e d
in th e S ie rra N e v a d a , m o s tly b y th e e n v iro n m e n t. M o re th a n 3 0 p e rc e n t o f
O w e n s R iv e r w a te r is u s e d in th e S ie rra N e v a d a , m o s tly fo r a g ric u ltu re ,
a n d th e L o s A n g e le s A q u e d u c t e x p o rts m o s t o f th e re m a in d e r. N e a rly a ll
S ie rra N e v a d a w a te r in th e T ru c k e e a n d W a lk e r riv e rs is u s e d fo r
a g ric u ltu re a n d n o t e x p o rte d . A lth o u g h in-s tre a m flo w s fo r e n v iro n m e n ta l
p u rp o s e s a re lik e ly u s e d a g a in d o w n s tre a m in N e v a d a .
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a r ts
Groundwater
Groundwater Levels Prove to be Falling
Why is it important?
W h e n w a te r re s o u rc e s a re in s h o rt s u p p ly , g ro u n d w a te r le v e ls fa ll. T h is
o c c u rs fo r tw o re a s o n s w h e n w a te r s h o rta g e s o c c u r: g ro u n d w a te r is
n o rm a lly p u m p e d to s u p p le m e n t s u rfa c e w a te r rig h ts a n d le s s w a te r is
a v a ila b le to re c h a rg e u n d e rg ro u n d re s e rv o irs .
How are we doing?
T h e N o rth S ie rra h a s s o m e m o n ito re d w e lls lo c a te d in th e S ie rra V a lle y ,
w h e re g ro u n d w a te r le v e ls h a v e b e e n fa llin g s in c e 1 9 9 8 . In 1 9 9 9 , ra in fa ll
w a s te n in c h e s b e lo w n o rm a l c a u s in g a d e c lin e in g ro u n d w a te r le v e ls .
H o w e v e r, ra in fa ll fro m 2 0 0 0 -2 0 0 3 h a s b e e n m o re th a n te n in c h e s a b o v e
n o rm a l, y e t g ro u n d w a te r le v e ls c o n tin u e to d e c lin e . T h is m a y b e tie d to
in c re a s e d a g ric u ltu ra l a c re a g e in th e N o rth S ie rra .
In th e N o rth C e n tra l S ie rra , g ro u n d w a te r le v e ls a re c o n s is te n tly m e a s u re d
o n ly in th e L a k e T a h o e a re a . R a in fa ll le v e ls h a v e b e e n a t o r b e lo w n o rm a l
s in c e 1 9 9 9 c a u s in g g ro u n d w a te r le v e ls to d ro p th ro u g h 2 0 0 3 . A lth o u g h ,
ris in g g ro u n d w a te r le v e ls in 2 0 0 3 o c c u rre d d e s p ite ra in fa ll b e in g s ix
in c h e s b e lo w n o rm a l th a t y e a r. W e ll m o n ito rin g is in c o n s is te n t in th e
S o u th C e n tra l a n d E a s t S ie rra , a lth o u g h o b s e rv e d m e a s u re m e n ts fo llo w
th e s a m e tre n d a s in th e N o rth a n d N o rth C e n tra l S ie rra .
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a r ts
Agricultural Production
Steady Production Points to Efficient Water Use and
Conservation of Farmland
Why is it important?
A g ric u ltu ra l p ro d u c tio n is a v ita l s o u rc e o f in c o m e a n d liv e lih o o d in th e
S ie rra N e v a d a a s s h o w n in th e S o u rc e s o f In c o m e in d ic a to r in th e
F in a n c ia l C a p ita l s e c tio n . A g ric u ltu ra l is th e m o s t im p o rta n t a n d d ire c t
lin k b e tw e e n n a tu ra l a n d fin a n c ia l c a p ita l. A g ric u ltu ra l p ro d u c tio n is a
fu n c tio n o f fa rm a c re a g e , y ie ld , a n d m a rk e t p ric e fo r p ro d u c ts . F o r
e x a m p le , a c h a n g e in p ro d u c tio n is in d ic a tiv e o f a c h a n g e in a c re a g e ,
y ie ld , m a rk e t p ric e fo r p ro d u c ts , o r a n y c o m b in a tio n o f th e th re e . F a rm
a c re a g e is p ro v id e d a s its o w n n a tu ra l c a p ita l in d ic a to r. A g ric u ltu ra l y ie ld
is in d ic a tiv e o f th e n a tu ra l e n v iro n m e n ta l fa c to rs , s u c h a s s o il a n d w a te r
q u a lity . T h e re fo re , c h a n g e s in p ro d u c tio n a n d a c re a g e , w ith o u t c h a n g e in
m a rk e t p ric e s , in d ic a te c h a n g e in e n v iro n m e n ta l q u a lity a n d th e
e n v iro n m e n t’s a b ility to d ire c tly p ro d u c e fin a n c ia l c a p ita l.
How are we doing?
P ro d u c tio n in th e N o rth S ie rra h a s b e e n re la tiv e ly s te a d y in th e la s t
fifte e n y e a rs e v e n w ith a s ig n ific a n t in c re a s e in fa rm a c re a g e d u e to th e
u tiliz a tio n o f m a rg in a l la n d s . A lth o u g h b o th d e c lin in g y ie ld a n d m a rk e t
p ric e s fo r liv e s to c k p ro d u c ts lik e ly p la y a ro le . R a n c h e rs m a y b e a d d in g
la n d to c o m p e n s a te fo r d e c lin e s in y ie ld a n d p ro d u c t p ric e s . T h e E a s t
S ie rra h a s e x p e rie n c e d a n in c re a s e in a g ric u ltu ra l p ro d u c tio n s in c e 1 9 9 1
w ith o u t a n in c re a s e in w a te r a v a ila b ility , in d ic a tin g a m o re e ffic ie n t u s e o f
w a te r in th e a re a . T h e N o rth C e n tra l S ie rra h a s c o n tin u e d to e x p e rie n c e
re la tiv e ly h ig h a g ric u ltu ra l p ro d u c tio n , a lth o u g h fa rm a c re a g e a n d
a v e ra g e fa rm s iz e h a v e d e c re a s e d . S in c e 1 9 9 5 , u rb a n d e v e lo p m e n t h a s
n o t re s u lte d in th e lo s s o f fa rm la n d . R e c e n t d e v e lo p m e n t h a s o c c u rre d o n
n o n -p ro d u c tiv e la n d o r la n d re m o v e d fro m p ro d u c tio n p rio r to 1 9 9 5 .
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a r ts
Farm Acreage
Average Farm Size Decreases, but Total Acreage Remains
Stable
Why is it important?
F a rm la n d a d d s to th e ru ra l fe e lin g re s id e n ts a n d v is ito rs e x p e rie n c e in
th e fo o th ills a n d h ig h la n d v a lle y s . W h ile th e a v e ra g e a c re a g e o f fa rm s in
th e U n ite d S ta te s h a s in c re a s e d m o re th a n 5 0 p e rc e n t s in c e th e m id 1 9 5 0 s , a v e ra g e fa rm s iz e in C a lifo rn ia h a s in c re a s e d ro u g h ly 1 3 p e rc e n t
in th e s a m e tim e . T h is is p a rtia lly d u e to a tre n d to w a rd s m a lle r fa rm s
th ro u g h o u t th e s ta te , u n lik e in o th e r p a rts o f th e n a tio n .2
F a rm a c re a g e in th e S ie rra N e v a d a in c lu d e s c ro p la n d a s w e ll a s
ra n g e la n d . A fa rm is d e fin e d a s a n o p e ra tio n th a t g e n e ra te s $ 1 ,0 0 0 o r
m o re in a g ric u ltu ra l p ro d u c ts in o n e y e a r.3 A s p re s s u re fo r fu tu re
d e v e lo p m e n t in c re a s e s , fa rm a c re a g e m a y re m a in re la tiv e ly s ta b le w h ile
p ro d u c tiv ity d e c re a s e s d u e to a n tic ip a tio n o f d e v e lo p m e n t o r la n d
c o n v e rs io n , a s d e m o n s tra te d in th e W illia m s o n A c t N a tu ra l C a p ita l
in d ic a to r.
How are we doing?
T h e S o u th C e n tra l S ie rra c o m p ris e s a p p ro x i m a te ly 5 0 p e rc e n t o f a ll fa rm
a c re a g e in th e S ie rra N e v a d a a n d h a s re m a in e d re la tiv e ly s ta b le s in c e
1 9 8 7 . T h e N o rth C e n tra l S ie rra , w ith le s s la n d u tiliz e d fo r c ro p
p ro d u c tio n , h a s s e e n a s ix p e rc e n t d e c re a s e in fa rm a c re a g e , la rg e ly
b e c a u s e o f u rb a n e n c ro a c h m e n t in th e R o s e v ille /L in c o ln a re a .
D e v e lo p m e n t p re s s u re a ls o re s u lts in la n d re m a in in g id le in th e
a n tic ip a tio n o f fu tu re d e v e lo p m e n t, p a rtic u la rly in th e N o rth C e n tra l a n d
S o u th C e n tra l S ie rra . T h e a v e ra g e fa rm s iz e in th e N o rth C e n tra l S ie rra
d e c re a s e d 3 0 p e rc e n t in th e s a m e tim e , p a rtia lly d u e to th e in tro d u c tio n
o f o rg a n ic fa rm in g p ra c tic e s . T h is w a s p a rtic u la rly p re v a le n t in th e a re a
o f P la c e r C o u n ty th a t lie s w ith in th e C e n tra l V a lle y .
T h e E a s t a n d N o rth S ie rra h a v e m o re ra n g e la n d , re s u ltin g in a la rg e r
a v e ra g e fa rm s iz e . F a rm a c re a g e in th e N o rth S ie rra h a s in c re a s e d 6 4
p e rc e n t s in c e 1 9 8 7 , a lth o u g h th e v a lu e o f a g ric u ltu ra l p ro d u c tiv ity h a s
a c tu a lly d e c re a s e d . T h is is m o s tly d u e to e x p a n s io n o f e x is tin g ra n c h e s
in to le s s p ro d u c tiv e la n d s .
2 R e trie v e d M a y 1 0 , 2 0 0 5 fro m
h ttp ://a re .b e rk e le y .e d u /e x te n s io n /g ia n n in i/C h a p te r3 .p d f
3 N a tio n a l A g ric u ltu ra l S ta tis tic s S e rv ic e . J a n u a ry 2 2 , 1 9 9 9 . R e trie v e d
M a y 1 0 , 2 0 0 5 fro m
h ttp ://w w w .n a s s .u s d a .g o v /m t/p re s s rls /m is c /c e n fa rm .h tm
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a r ts
Williamson Act
Pressures of Urban Expansion May Cause Fewer Contract
Renewals
Why is it important?
A g ric u ltu re is th e m o s t e x te n s iv e p riv a te la n d u s e in th e S ie rra N e v a d a ,
p ro d u c in g jo b s a n d in c o m e w h ile m a in ta in in g s p a c e in a lo c a l la n d s c a p e
v a lu e d b y re s id e n ts a n d v is ito rs . E n ro llm e n t in th e W illia m s o n A c t is a n
in d ic a to r o f fu tu re fa rm a c re a g e in th e S ie rra N e v a d a . D e c re a s e s in
e n ro llm e n ts w ill lik e ly le a d to a n in c re a s e in c o n v e rs io n o f la n d to u rb a n
u s e s in th e n e a r fu tu re a s la n d o w n e rs p e rc e iv e u rb a n d e v e lo p m e n t
p re s s u re s a n d c h o o s e n o t to ree n ro ll in th e A c t.
T h e C a lifo rn ia L a n d C o n s e rv a tio n A c t o f 1 9 6 5 , b e tte r k n o w n a s th e
W illia m s o n A c t, w a s d e s ig n e d to p ro v id e ta x re lie f to a g ric u ltu ra l
la n d o w n e rs in o rd e r to s a fe g u a rd p ro d u c tiv e la n d fro m p re m a tu re u rb a n
d e v e lo p m e n t o r e x p a n s io n . T h is is d o n e th ro u g h a te n -y e a r ro llin g
W illia m s o n A c t c o n tra c t, a n a g re e m e n t o n th e p a rt o f th e la n d o w n e r to
c o n tin u e a g ric u ltu ra l p ro d u c tio n o r p re s e rv a tio n . T h e A c t re d u c e s
p ro p e rty ta x lia b ility fo r e n ro lle e s . W ith o u t th e W illia m s o n A c t,
a g ric u ltu ra l p ro p e rty w o u ld b e v a lu e d fo r its p o te n tia l u rb a n u s e . N e a r
e x p a n d in g c itie s , u rb a n u s e is v a lu e d m u c h h ig h e r th a n a g ric u ltu ra l u s e .4
How are we doing?
A s o f 2 0 0 3 , 1 0 o f th e 1 2 S ie rra N e v a d a c o u n tie s p a rtic ip a te d in th e
W illia m s o n A c t p ro g ra m . A lp in e a n d In y o c o u n tie s a re th e tw o e x c e p tio n s .
S in c e 1 9 9 1 , th e n u m b e r o f a c re s e n ro lle d in th e p ro g ra m h a v e in c re a s e d
le s s th a n o n e p e rc e n t a c ro s s th e S ie rra N e v a d a , fro m 7 7 1 ,0 0 0 to 7 7 6 ,5 0 0
a c re s , w h ile th e re h a s b e e n a fo u r p e rc e n t in c re a s e a t th e C a lifo rn ia
le v e l.
T h e re h a s b e e n little c h a n g e in c o n tra c t re n e w a ls in th e N o rth S ie rra ,
a lth o u g h c o n tra c ts in th e N o rth C e n tra l S ie rra d e c lin e d s ig n ific a n tly in th e
1 9 9 0 s a n d m o re re c e n t y e a rs . M o re a g ric u ltu ra l la n d in th e a re a is
p o te n tia lly c o m m itte d to fu tu re d e v e lo p m e n t th ro u gh th e n o n -re n e w a l
p ro c e s s , w h ic h ta k e s p la c e o v e r a p e rio d o f n in e y e a rs a s ta x lia b ility
g ra d u a lly in c re a s e s . T h is tre n d re fle c ts a n in te n s e p re s s u re fo r u rb a n
d e v e lo p m e n t lik e ly to in c re a s e a n d im p a c t a g ric u ltu ra l la n d o w n e rs . T h e
S o u th C e n tra l S ie rra m a d e u p th e m a jo rity o f a c re s e n ro lle d (7 1 p e rc e n t),
a lth o u g h re n e w a ls th e re h a v e s ig n ific a n tly d e c re a s e d in re c e n t y e a rs .
T h is in d ic a te s th e lik e lih o o d o f a n in c re a s e in u rb a n d e v e lo p m e n t in th e
fu tu re .
4 M ittle b a c h , F . & W a m b e n , D . 9 5 . C o m p e titio n fo r N a tu r a l R e s o u rc e s in
C a lifo rn ia ’s S ie rra N e v a d a . R e trie v e d M a y 1 2 , 2 0 0 5 fro m
h ttp ://w w w .s p p s r.u c la .e d u /c a lp o lic y /M ittle b a c h 1 .p d f
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a r ts
Value of Agriculture Using Sierra
Nevada Water
Wealth of Central Valley's Agricultural Industry Reflects
Wealth of Sierra Water
Why is it important?
T h e v a lu e o f th e S ie rra N e v a d a ’s w a te r c a n p a rtia lly b e d e te rm in e d b y th e
v a lu e o f a g ric u ltu ra l p ro d u c tio n w h e re th e w a te r is u tiliz e d . A s th e
p rim a ry s o u rc e o f w a te r fo r th e C e n tra l a n d S a n J o a q u in v a lle y s , th e
a m o u n t o f a g ric u ltu re p ro d u c e d u s in g w a te r fro m th e S ie rra N e v a d a
illu s tra te s h o w th e re g io n is c o n n e c te d to th e s ta te ’s m o s t im p o rta n t
a g ric u ltu ra l a re a s . L a rg e fa rm s , ris in g p re s s u re o n th e la n d a n d fa rm e rs
fo r in c re a s e d p ro d u c tio n , a n d th e s h e e r s c a le o f e x is tin g p ro d u c tio n in
th e C e n tra l a n d S a n J o a q u in d ire c tly a ffe c ts th e S ie rra N e v a d a . T h e la rg e
s c a le o f a g ric u ltu re re q u ire s a c o n tin u e d w a te r s u p p ly in o rd e r to m e e t
th e s ta te , a s w e ll a s n a tio n ’s , d e m a n d fo r a g ric u ltu ra l p ro d u c tio n . W ith
th e e x c e p tio n o f G le n n , C o lu s a , a n d T e h a m a c o u n tie s , th e v a lu e o f
a g ric u ltu ra l p ro d u c tio n in th e C e n tra l V a lle y is th e tru e fin a n c ia l w e a lth o f
S ie rra N e v a d a w a te r.
H o w a re w e d o in g ?
B e tw e e n 1 9 9 0 a n d 2 0 0 3 , th e v a lu e o f a g ric u ltu re p ro d u c e d in th e C e n tra l
V a lle y u s in g S ie rra N e v a d a w a te r h a s re m a in e d re la tiv e ly s te a d y , s h iftin g
b e tw e e n $ 1 5 a n d $ 1 8 b illio n a n n u a lly . P ro d u c tio n in th e S ie rra N e v a d a ,
its e lf, a d d s o n ly v e ry s m a ll fra c tio n to th a t to ta l. T h e w e a lth o f C e n tra l
V a lle y ’s a g ric u ltu ra l in d u s try is tru ly th e w e a lth o f th e S ie rra N e v a d a .
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a rts
Value of Agriculture Sold Directly to
Individuals
More Farms Selling Products Directly than in California
Why is it important?
F a rm e rs m a rk e ts h a v e b e c o m e in c re a s in g ly im p o rta n t to lo c a l e c o n o m ie s ,
e s p e c ia lly in th e S ie rra N e v a d a . L o c a l m a rk e ts a re a p o s itiv e w a y fo r
fa rm e rs to s e ll th e ir p ro d u c ts a n d in te ra c t w ith th e c o m m u n ity . F a rm e rs
b e n e fit a s s h ip p in g c o s ts a re e lim in a te d , m a k in g it p o s s ib le fo r fa rm e rs to
s e ll fre s h p ro d u c e th a t m a y n o t w ith s ta n d la rg e -s c a le p a c k a g in g o r
d is trib u tio n .5 D ire c t m a rk e tin g a n d p a rtic ip a tio n b e tw e e n th e fa rm e rs a n d
th e ir lo c a l c o m m u n ity im p ro v e s c iv ic c a p a c ity , a s o c ia l c a p ita l in d ic a to r.
F in a n c ia l tra n s a c tio n s re m a in lo c a l, th u s in c re a s in g fin a n c ia l c a p ita l.
How are we doing?
T h e n u m b e r o f fa rm s s e llin g d ire c tly to in d iv id u a ls h a s c h a n g e d little in
th e la s t fiv e y e a rs , d e s p ite th e re g io n ’s in c re a s in g p o p u la tio n . T h u s th e
n u m b e r o f fa rm s p e r 1 0 ,0 0 0 p e o p le h a s d e c re a s e d , e x c e p t in th e N o rth
S ie rra , w h ic h s a w little p o p u la tio n g ro w th . H o w e v e r, th e v a lu e s o ld
d ire c tly to in d iv id u a ls b y th o s e fa rm s h a s in c re a s e d s ig n ific a n tly in e v e ry
re g io n e x c e p t th e E a s t S ie rra .
In a ll s u b re g io n s o f th e S ie rra N e v a d a , th e re a re m o re fa rm s s e llin g
d ire c tly to in d iv id u a ls p e r 1 0 ,0 0 0 p e o p le th a n in C a lifo rn ia . T h e g re a te s t
c o n c e n tra tio n s o f th e s e fa rm s a re fo u n d in th e S o u th C e n tra l S ie rra , e v e n
th o u g h th e n u m b e r d e c re a s e d fro m 1 9 to 1 3 fa rm s p e r 1 0 ,0 0 0 p e o p le .
T h e v a lu e s o ld to in d iv id u a ls p e r c a p ita is h ig h e r in th e N o rth C e n tra l a n d
S o u th C e n tra l S ie rra a n d lo w e r in th e N o rth a n d E a s t S ie rra th a n in
C a lifo rn ia . H o w e v e r, th e v a lu e s o ld p e r c a p ita is in c re a s in g fa s te r th a n in
C a lifo rn ia in a ll b u t th e E a s t S ie rra .
5 C a lifo rn ia F e d e ra tio n o f C e rtifie d F a rm e r’s M a rk e ts . R e trie v e d M a y 1 6 ,
2 0 0 5 fro m h ttp ://w w w .c a fa rm e rs m a rk e ts .c o m /a b o u t
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a r ts
Organic Agriculture
Organic Farms Have Big Environmental Benefits, but are
Small in Number
Why is it important?
O rg a n ic a g ric u ltu re c o n trib u te s to s o il, w a te r, a n d a ir c o n s e rv a tio n b y
u s in g re n e w a b le re s o u rc e s , a s w e ll a s a lte rn a tiv e s to m a n y c o n v e n tio n a l
p e s tic id e s a n d fe rtiliz e rs , b io e n g in e e rin g , a n d o th e r p ra c tic e s .6 O rg a n ic
fa rm s a re c la s s ifie d a s s u c h b y a U S D A c e rtifie d in s p e c to r a n d a re
g e n e ra lly fo u n d o n s m a ll lo c a l fa rm s . T h e s e fa rm s c re a te e n v iro n m e n ta l,
e c o n o m ic , a n d h e a lth b e n e fits fo r th e ir c u s to m e rs , th e la n d s c a p e , a n d th e
c o m m u n ity . O rg a n ic fa rm in g in c re a s e s s o il a n d p la n t b io d iv e rs ity , w h ile
o rg a n ic ra n c h in g p ro d u c e s h e a lth y , h o rm o n e-fre e m e a ts a n d a n im a l
p ro d u c ts . O rg a n ic liv e s to c k (w h ic h is s e p a ra te fro m liv e s to c k p ro d u c ts ) is
u n c o m m o n . T h e re fo re , th is in d ic a to r c o m p a re s o rg a n ic p ro d u c tio n to th e
v a lu e o f n o n -liv e s to c k a g ric u ltu ra l p ro d u c tio n . In a d d itio n , s m a ll fa rm s
h e lp m a in ta in b io d iv e rs ity in th e a re a ’s s o il a n d fo lia g e , c re a tin g a v ia b le
fu tu re fo r fo o d p ro d u c tio n a n d e n v iro n m e n ta l h e a lth , w h ic h p ro m o te s a
h e a lth ie r e n v iro n m e n t fo r c itiz e n s .7 Th ro u g h o u t C a lifo rn ia , o rg a n ic
p ro d u c tio n re p re s e n ts le s s th a n o n e p e rc e n t o f a ll a g ric u ltu ra l p ro d u c tio n ,
e x c lu d in g liv e s to c k .
How are we doing?
O rg a n ic a g ric u ltu ra l p ro d u c tio n is m o s t c o m m o n in th e N o rth C e n tra l
S ie rra b e c a u s e th e la rg e p o p u la tio n s iz e s u p p o rts fa rm e r’s m a rk e ts a n d
ro a d s id e s ta n d s s e llin g o rg a n ic a g ric u ltu ra l p ro d u c ts . T h e a re a ’s
a b u n d a n c e o f s m a ll fa rm s te n d s to p ro d u c e m o re o rg a n ic p ro d u c ts .
O rg a n ic fa rm in g m a k e s u p ro u g h ly tw o p e rc e n t o f to ta l p ro d u c tio n in th e
N o rth C e n tra l S ie rra a n d o n e p e rc e n t in o th e r a re a s .
6 C a lifo rn ia C e rtifie d O rg a n ic F a rm e rs . R e trie v e d M a y 9 , 2 0 0 5 fro m
h ttp ://w w w .c c o f.o rg /a b o u to rg a n ic .p h p
7 C o m m u n ity A llia n c e w ith F a m ily F a rm e rs . R e trie v e d M a y 1 2 , 2 0 0 5 fro m
h ttp ://w w w .c a ff.o rg /p ro g ra m s /b u y lo c a l.s h tm l# w h y b lg
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a r ts
Forests & Timber Production
Federal Legislation Places Dependence on Private
Harvesters
Why is it important?
S in c e th e d a y s o f th e G o ld R u s h , tim b e r h a rv e s tin g h a s c o n tin u o u s ly
o c c u rre d in th e S ie rra N e v a d a .8 A la rg e m a jo rity o f th e s ta te ’s d iv e rs e
fo re s t re s o u rc e s a re fo u n d w ith in th e S ie rr a N e v a d a .9 In te rm s o f g ro s s
re v e n u e , tim b e r is o n e o f th e S ie rra N e v a d a ’s m o s t v a lu a b le p ro d u c ts .
T im b e r is a ls o o n e o f th e la rg e s t n e t c o n trib u to rs to c o u n ty g o v e rn m e n t
fu n d s th ro u g h fo re s t re s e rv e re v e n u e a n d tim b e r y ie ld ta x e s .
T im b e r h a rv e s t is d ire c t ly re la te d to s u p p ly a n d d e m a n d , w h ile U S D A
F o re s t S e rv ic e m a n a g e m e n t p o lic ie s a ffe c t th e s u p p ly o f tim b e r o n p u b lic
la n d s .1 0 A d e c re a s e in a v a ila b le tim b e r h a rv e s t le a d s to m ill c lo s in g s ,
lo s t jo b s , a n d d e c re a s in g p o te n tia l fin a n c ia l c a p ita l. A ls o , w e ll-m a n a g e d
fo re s ts h e lp m a in ta in h e a lth y w a te r q u a lity a n d p la n t b io d iv e rs ity , a n d
c o n trib u te to fo re s t fire p re v e n tio n .
S in c e th e m id -1 9 4 0 s , a b o u t 1 6 p e rc e n t o f o a k w o o d la n d re g io n s h a v e
b e e n c o n v e rte d to o th e r u s e s in c lu d in g ra n g e la n d a n d u rb a n
d e v e lo p m e n t.1 1 P o lic y a n d fu n d in g c h a n g e s d e m o n s tra te th e v a lu e o f th e
S ie rra N e v a d a ’s n a tu ra l e n v iro n m e n t a n d c o m m u n ity d e p e n d e n c e o n its
e n v iro n m e n t. T h e c o m m u n ity v a lu e p la c e d o n tim b e r p ro d u c tio n s h o w s
th e n e e d fo r re s p o n s ib le fo re s t m a n a g e m e n t a n d p ro d u c tio n .
How are we doing?
T h e m a jo rity o f tim b e r p ro d u c tio n in th e S ie rra N e v a d a n o w c o m e s fro m
p riv a te h a rv e s ts . F e d e ra l le g is la tio n o n fo re s t p ro d u c tio n , p a rtic u la rly th e
S ie rra N e v a d a F o re s t P la n A m e n d m e n t a n d th e R o a d le s s L a n d In itia tiv e ,
h a s c o n trib u te d to re d u c ed a v a ila b ility o f tim b e r p ro d u c tio n o n p u b lic
la n d . T h e m a jo rity o f tim b e r n o w c o m e s fro m p riv a te la n d s d u e to
d e c re a s e s in lo g g in g o n p u b lic la n d s . P a s t m a n a g e m e n t p ra c tic e s o f
lo g g in g th e la rg e r, m o re v a lu a b le tre e s c o m b in e d w ith a p o lic y o f fire
s u p p re s s io n h a s fo rc e d fe d e ra l la n d m a n a g e rs to re d u c e tim b e r h a rv e s t
a c tiv itie s to p ro te c t s e n s itiv e s p e c ie s . T h is d e c lin e in tim b e r o u tp u t fro m
p u b lic la n d s in re s p o n s e to p a s t m a n a g e m e n t a c tiv itie s c o m b in e d w ith
g lo b a l m a rk e t fo rc e s h a s le d to a n in c re a s e in ha rv e s tin g o n p riv a te la n d s
in th e S ie rra N e v a d a . T im b e r e x p o rts th ro u g h o u t th e S ie rra N e v a d a
c o n tin u e to b e a n im p o rta n t s o u rc e o f re v e n u e . A lth o u g h it h a s d e c re a s e d
s lig h tly a s s h o w n in e x p o rts b y p ro d u c t s e c to r, a fin a n c ia l c a p ita l
in d ic a to r.
T h e N o rth S ie rra c o n tin u e s to re ly h e a v ily o n tim b e r h a rv e s tin g a s a n
in te g ra l p a rt o f th e e c o n o m y . W h ile th e N o rth C e n tra l a n d S o u th C e n tra l
S ie rra p ro d u c e d th e la rg e s t a m o u n t o f tim b e r in 2 0 0 2 , its d iv e rs ifie d
e c o n o m y is le s s re lia n t u p o n th is re s o u rc e . T h e E a s t S ie rra ’s lo w -ly in g
p la in s p ro v id e little m a rk e ta b le tim b e r.
8 E c o n o m ic A s s e s s m e n t o f th e E c o s y s te m . R e trie v e d M a y 1 0 , 2 0 0 5 fro m
h ttp ://e lib .c s .b e rk e le y .e d u /d o c s /d a ta /0 7 0 0 /7 7 7/H Y P E R O C R /h y p e ro c r.h tm l
9 C a lifo rn ia F o re s t P ro d u c ts C o m m is s io n . R e trie v e d M a y 1 2 , 2 0 0 5 fro m
h ttp ://w w w .c a lfo re s ts .o rg /a ll_ a b o u t_ c a lifo rn ia _ fo re s ts .h tm l? ID = 1 9
1 0 2 0 0 0 S ie rra W e a lth In d e x S ie rra B u s in e s s C o u n c il. 2 0 0 0
1 1 S u m m a ry o f th e S ie rra N e v a d a E c o s y s te m P ro je c t R e p o rt, p 6 .
R e trie v e d M a y 1 0 , 2 0 0 5 fro m
h ttp ://c e re s .c a .g o v /s n e p /p u b s /w e b /P D F /e x e c _ s u m .p d f
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a r ts
Fire Threat
Fire Protection Vital in the Sierra Nevada
Why is it important?
E v e ry y e a r, fire d a m a g e to h o m e s a n d b u s in e s s e s th re a te n s liv e s a n d th e
fin a n c ia l s ta b ility o f ru ra l c o m m u n itie s . C o n tin u in g p o p u la tio n g ro w th in
ru ra l a re a s o f th e S ie rra N e v a d a in c re a s e s fire h a z a rd s , p a rtic u la rly in
a re a s w ith la rg e , s p re a d -o u t h o u s in g d e v e lo p m e n ts . W ild la n d -u rb a n
in te rfa c e s a re a re a s “w h e re s tru c tu re s a n d o th e r h u m a n d e v e lo p m e n t
m e e t o r in te rm in g le w ith u n d e v e lo p e d w ild la n d .” T h e g ro w in g p re v a le n c e
o f S ie rra N e v a d a w ild la n d -u rb a n a re a s h a s im p o rta n t im p lic a tio n s fo r th e
im p a c t a n d m a n a g e m e n t o f w ild fire s . T h e s e a re a s c re a te “a n e n v iro n m e n t
in w h ic h fire c a n m o v e re a d ily b e tw e e n s tru c tu ra l a n d v e g e ta tio n fu e ls .
[T h e ir] e x p a n s io n h a s in c re a s e d th e lik e lih o o d th a t w ild fire s w ill th re a te n
s tru c tu re s a n d p e o p le .”1 2
F ire p ro te c tio n p re s e rv e s a n d c u ltiv a te s fin a n c ia l c a p ita l. A la rg e fire c a n
d a m a g e p ro p e rty to th e e x te n t o f b illio n s o f d o lla rs . T h e th re a t o f
s e v e re ly -a ffe c te d u tility d e liv e ry , e s p e c ia lly e le c tric ity a n d w a te r c a n lim it
fin a n c ia l c a p ita l g ro w th b y d is c o u ra g in g in v e s tm e n t in c o m m u n itie s .1 3
S o m e fire th re a t is d u e to a h is to ry o f s tric t fire c o n tro l a n d th e re s u ltin g
a c c u m u la tio n o f u n d e rb ru s h .1 4
How are we doing?
M e d iu m -to -h ig h fire th re a t in th e N o rth S ie rra is la rg e ly d u e to lo n g-te rm
fo re s try p ra c tic e s , w h ic h a re b e in g a d d re s s e d th ro u g h v a r io u s p ro je c ts .
T h e w e s te rn p o rtio n s o f th e N o rth C e n tra l a n d S o u th C e n tra l S ie rra ,
w h e re m o s t S ie rra n s liv e , h a v e th e h ig h e s t ris k fo r fire d a m a g e . T h e L a k e
T a h o e a re a in th e N o rth C e n tra l S ie rra is a ls o a t ris k d u e to th e d iffic u lty
o f e v a c u a tin g th e a re a .
T h e E a s t S ie rra is th e le a s t th re a te n e d d u e to its s p a rs e r v e g e ta tio n a n d
w id e s p re a d ra n g e la n d h a b ita t. A lth o u g h th e h e a v ily fo re s te d a re a s o f
n o rth e rn M o n o C o u n ty p re s e n t a m e d iu m th re a t.
1 2 h ttp ://w w w .s ilv is .fo re s t.w is c .e d u /p ro je c ts /W U I_ M a in .a s p
13
h ttp ://w w w .ia fc .o rg /d o w n lo a d s /W F _ W o rk s h o p /IA F C % 2 0 W ild la n d % 2 0 F ire %
2 0 P o lic y % 2 0 S ta te m e n t.p d f
1 4 h ttp ://b io lo g y .u s g s .g o v /s + t/S N T /n o fra m e /c a 1 6 3 .h tm
Air Pollution: Particulate Matter
Central Valley Air Pollution Standards Affect the Sierra
Nevada
Why is it important?
P a rtic u la te m a tte r c o n trib u te s to v a rio u s h e a lth c o n c e rn s in c lu d in g
c h ild h o o d a s th m a , a c u te re s p ira to ry s y m p to m s , a n d c h ro n ic b ro n c h itis , a s
w e ll a s d iffic u lty c o m p le tin g d a ily ta s k s a n d a tte n d in g s c h o o l o r w o rk . T h e
m in u te s iz e o f e a c h p a rtic le is e s p e c ia lly h a rm fu l in its a b ility to re a c h fa r
in to th e h u m a n lu n g s , a n d it’s d iffic u lty to re m o v e .1 5
P a rtic u la te m a tte r is g e n e ra te d fro m a v a rie ty o f s o u rc e s , in c lu d in g d ie s e l
fu e l e m is s io n s a n d a g ric u ltu ra l o p e ra tio n s . In th e S ie rra N e v a d a , a
s ig n ific a n t a m o u n t o f p a rtic u la te m a tte r is b lo w n in , o rig in a tin g in th e
C e n tra l V a lle y . B e c a u s e o f th e p re v a ilin g w in d p a tte rn s , a ir p o llu tio n
s ta n d a rd s in th e v a lle y h a v e a s ig n ific a n t e ffe c t o n th e S ie rra N e v a d a
re g io n . N o t a ll a ir m o n ito rin g s ta tio n s re p o rte d re a d in g s d u rin g s o m e
y e a rs .
How are we doing?
In th e N o rth C e n tra l a n d S o u th C e n tra l S ie rra , p a rtic u la te m a tte r b lo w n in
fro m th e C e n tra l V a lle y p ro d u c e s a t le a s t te n d a y s e x c e e d e d d u rin g m o s t
y e a rs w h e re s ta te s ta n d a rd s a re e x c e e d e d . In th e E a s t S ie rra , w in d
c a u s e s s o m e o f th e h ig h e s t c o n c e n tra tio n s o f p a rtic u la te m a tte r in th e
n a tio n . S in c e its w a te r h a s b e e n d iv e rte d to L o s A n g e le s , O w e n s L a k e
c o n trib u te s to th e p ro b le m w ith its a lk a lin e s o il in c re a s in g c o n c e n tra tio n s
o f u n h e a lth y p a rtic u la te m a tte r in th e a ir. T h e n a tio n ’s h ig h e s t re c o rd e d
a m o u n t o f d u s t p a rtic u la te in th e a ir, a lm o s t 1 4 0 tim e s th e E P A s ta n d a rd ,
w a s m e a s u re d a t O w e n s L a k e .
1 5 E n v iro n m e n ta l P ro te c tio n A g e n c y . R e trie v e d M a y 1 1 , 2 0 0 5 fro m
h ttp ://w w w .e p a .g o v /ttn /o a rp g /n a a q s fin /p m h e a lth .h tm l
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a r ts
Air Pollution: Ozone
Pollution from Commuters Poses a Further Threat
Why is it important?
O z o n e , w h ile a n a tu ra l a n d b e n e fic ia l e n v iro n m e n ta l c o m p o n e n t in th e
u p p e r a tm o s p h e re , is a h a rm fu l a ir p o llu ta n t w h e n it a p p e a rs in th e lo w e r
a tm o s p h e re . H e a lth h a z a rd s ra n g e fro m itc h y e y e s a n d th ro a t o r c h e s t
p a in to lo n g -te rm lu n g d a m a g e .1 6 T re e a n d p la n t s p e c ie s a l s o s u ffe r fro m
c o n c e n tra te d o z o n e le v e ls .1 7
T h e tw o p rim a ry c a u s e s o f lo w e r a tm o s p h e re o z o n e a re m o to r v e h ic le
e m is s io n s a n d th e re fle c tio n o f th e s u n o n ro c k o r c o n c re te . B o th
in s ta n c e s re s u lt in th e b re a k d o w n o f c h e m ic a ls a n d p ro d u c tio n o f h a rm fu l
o z o n e . A ir m o v e m e n t fro m th e S a c ra m e n to a n d S a n J o a q u in v a lle y s
p a rtic u la rly a ffe c ts o z o n e c o n c e n tra tio n in th e S ie rra N e v a d a , e s p e c ia lly
in th e N o rth C e n tra l a n d S o u th C e n tra l S ie rra . T h e n u m b e r o f a ir
m o n ito rin g s ta tio n s h a s in c re a s e d in th e la s t d e c a d e , p ro d u c in g m o re
a c c u ra te d a ta . T h e ta b le re p re s e n ts a n a v e ra g e o f a ll re p o rtin g s ta tio n s
fo r e a c h s u b re g io n .1 8
How are we doing?
T h e N o rth a n d E a s t S ie rra h a v e fe w d a y s w h e n s ta te o z o n e s ta n d a rd s a re
e x c e e d e d . In th e N o rth C e n tra l a n d S o u th C e n tra l S ie rra , s ta te o z o n e
s ta n d a rd s a re e x c e e d e d b y a t le a s t te n d a y s in m o s t y e a rs . T h e p ro b le m
is s lig h tly w o rs e in th e N o rth C e n tra l d u rin g m o s t y e a rs b e c a u s e o f a d d e d
p o llu tio n s o u rc e s fro m tra v e le rs o n In te rs ta te 8 0 a n d u rb a n a re a s .
1 6 C a lifo rn ia D e p a rtm e n t o f H e a lth S erv ic e s . R e trie v e d M a y 9 , 2 0 0 5 fro m
h ttp ://w w w .c a l-ia q .o rg /o 3 _ fa c t.h tm
1 7 C e n te rs fo r W a te r a n d W ild la n d R e s o u rc e s . U n iv e rs ity o f C a lifio rn ia ,
D a v is . J u n e 1 9 9 6 . S u m m a ry o f th e S ie rra N e v a d a E c o s y s te m P ro je c t
R e p o rt. R e trie v e d M a y 9 , 2 0 0 5 fro m
h ttp ://c e re s .c a .g o v /s n e p /p u b s /w e b /P D F /e x e c _ s u m .p d f
1 8 h ttp ://w w w .c a l-ia q .o rg /o 3 _ fa c t.h tm
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a r ts
Global Warming
Decreased Snowmelt Poses Threat to Sierra Water Supply
Why is it important?
G lo b a l w a rm in g h a s a ffe c te d th e a m o u n t o f s n o w m e lt in th e S ie rra
N e v a d a s in c e 1 9 5 0 .
P re c ip ita tio n in th e fo rm o f s n o w , ra th e r th a n ra in fa ll, in c re a s e s w a te r
a v a ila b ility o rig in a tin g fro m th e S ie rra N e v a d a b y d e la y in g w a te r flo w s
d o w n s tre a m in to s p rin g a n d s u m m e r m o n th s w h e n wa te r, p a rtic u la rly fo r
a g ric u ltu re , is n e e d e d m o s t. S n o w m e lt w a te r p ro v id e s a b o u t 7 5 p e rc e n t o f
th e w a te r s u p p ly in th e w e s te rn U n ite d S ta te s .1 9 It in c re a s e s w a te r
s to ra g e a n d g ro u n d w a te r re c h a rg e c a p a c ity . A m o u n t o f s n o w m e lt is
a ffe c te d b y c h a n g e s in s n o w p re c ip ita tio n , p e rc o la tio n , a n d e v a p o ra tio n .
A re d u c tio n in s n o w p re c ip ita tio n a n d p e rc o la tio n is in flu e n c e d b y th e
g lo b a l w a rm in g e n v iro n m e n ta l e ffe c t.
How are we doing?
In th e m a p , re d c irc le s in d ic a te d e c re a s in g s n o w m e lt w a te r a n d b lu e
c irc le s in d ic a te in c re a s in g s n o w m e lt. C irc le s iz e in d ic a te s p e rc e n t
in c re a s e o r d e c re a s e . T h e m a p s h o w s th a t s n o w m e lt h a s d e c re a s e d m o re
th a n 8 0 p e rc e n t in s o m e a re a s o f th e n o rth e rn S ie rra N e v a d a , w h ile
s n o w m e lt h a s in c re a s e d in th e s o u th e rn S ie rra N e v a d a s in c e 1 9 5 0 .
G lo b a l w a rm in g h a s u n d o u b te d ly im p a c te d th e s e s ta tis tic s , a n d w ill
c o n tin u e to d o s o in th e S ie rra N e v a d a a n d o th e r re g io n s o f th e W e s te rn
U n ite d S ta te s in th e y e a rs to c o m e .
1 9 M o te , P h ilip . T h e W e s t’s S n o w R e s o u rc e s in a C h a n g in g C lim a te .
T e s tim o n y b e fo re th e U .S . S e n a te C o m m itte e o n C o m m e rc e , S c ie n c e , a n d
T ra n s p o rta tio n . M a y 6 , 2 0 0 4 .
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a r ts
Energy Production
Hydropower and Geothermal Electricity Enable the Sierra
Nevada to Export Electricity
Why is it important?
T h e p ro d u c tio n o f e le c tric ity is a tra n s fe r o f n a tu ra l c a p ita l to fin a n c ia l
c a p ita l in th e S ie rra N e v a d a . In p a rtic u la r, th e p ro d u c tio n o f re n e w a b le
e n e rg y th ro u g h b io m a s s , h y d ro p o w e r, a n d g e o th e rm a l fa c ilitie s in c re a s e s
th e S ie rra N e v a d a ’s n a tu ra l a n d fin a n c ia l w e a lth s im u lta n e o u s ly . In 2 0 0 2 ,
a b ill e n a c te d in C a lifo rn ia re q u ire d th e s ta te to g e n e ra te 2 0 p e rc e n t o f its
e n e rg y fro m re n e w a b le s o u rc e s , e x c lu d in g h y d ro p o w e r, b y n o la te r th a n
2 0 1 7 .2 0 T h is w ill re q u ire m o re c re a tiv e p ro d u c tio n o f e n e rg y a s th e
p o p u la tio n in c re a s e s . D a ta h e re re p re s e n ts p o w e r p la n ts th a t p ro d u c e
o n e m e g a w a tt-h o u r o r m o re a n d re p o rte d p ro d u c tio n fo r a ll th e y e a rs
p re s e n te d .
How are we doing?
T h e S ie rra N e v a d a e x p o rts a tre m e n d o u s a m o u n t o f e le c tric ity to
C a lifo rn ia 's u rb a n a re a s . R e s id e n tia l u s e is le s s th a n fiv e m e g a w a tt-h o u rs
p e r p e rs o n p e r y e a r, s o e v e n th e N o rth C e n tra l S ie rra , w h e re p e r c a p ita
p ro d u c tio n is b y fa r th e lo w e s t, e x p o rts e le c tric ity . G e n e ra tio n h a s b e e n
in c re a s in g in th e N o rth a n d N o rth C e n tra l S ie rra , b u t d e c lin in g in th e E a s t
S ie rra .
T h e N o rth , N o rth C e n tra l, a n d S o u th C e n tra l S ie rra re ly h e a v ily o n
h y d ro p o w e r fo r e le c tric ity p ro d u c tio n . S ie rra N e v a d a w a te r flo w is a d ire c t
s o u rc e o f e le c tric ity fo r b o th th e S ie rra N e v a d a a n d th e C e n tra l V a lle y .
T h e E a s t S ie rra h a s th e g re a te s t e x is tin g a n d p o te n tia l p ro d u c tio n o f
g e o th e rm a l e le c tric ity in th e S ie rra N e v a d a .2 1 U tiliz in g s ta te fu n d in g fo r
re s e a rc h a n d d e v e lo p m e n t, th e M a m m o th P a c ific L im ite d P a rtn e rs h ip h a s
re c e iv e d a w a rd s fo r in n o v a tio n a n d re s e a rc h fo r d e v e lo p in g th e w o rld ’s
firs t a ir -c o o le d g e o th e rm a l e le c tric ity p ro d u c tio n fa c ility .2 2 T h is d e s ig n
h e lp s g e n e ra te c le a n , re n e w a b le e le c tric ity in th e s u m m e r a s d e m a n d fo r
e le c tric ity ris e s .2 3
2 0 U .S . D e p a rtm e n t o f E n e rg y . R e trie v e d M a y 1 7 , 2 0 0 5 fro m
h ttp ://w w w .e e re .e n e rg y .g o v /n e w s /a rc h iv e .c fm /p u b D a te = % 7 B d % 2 0 '2 0 0 20 9 -1 8 '% 7 D
2 1 G e o -H e a t C e n te r. h ttp ://g e o h e a t.o it.e d u /c a lifo r.h tm
2 2 C a lifo rn ia E n e rg y C o m m is s io n . S ix P ro je c ts to A d v a n c e G e o th e rm a l
E n e rg y R e s e a rc h a n d P ro d u c tio n in C a lifo rn ia . R e trie v e d M a y 1 7 , 2 0 0 5
fro m h ttp ://w w w .e n e rg y .c a .g o v /re le a s e s /2 0 0 1 _ re le a s e s /2 0 0 1-0 7 3 0 _ g e o th e rm _ g ra n ts .h tm l
2 3 C a lifo rn ia E n v iro n m e n ta l P ro te c tio n A g e n c y . D e c e m b e r 1 , 2 0 0 3 .
R e trie v e d M a y 1 7 , 2 0 0 5 fro m
h ttp ://w w w .c a le p a .c a .g o v /P re s s R o o m /R e le a s e s /2 0 0 3 /R 6 .h tm
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a r ts
Energy Use
Per Capita Energy Use Higher than in California
Why is it important?
E n e rg y u s e p e r c a p ita in th e S ie rra N e v a d a te n d s to b e h ig h e r th a n
C a lifo rn ia ’s u rb a n a re a s d u e to a g re a te r n e e d fo r h e a tin g in th e w in te r,
a ir c o n d itio n in g in p o rtio n s o f th e S ie rra N e v a d a in th e s u m m e r, a n d
tra n s p o rta tio n b e tw e e n re m o te c o m m u n itie s . T h is o c c u rs d e s p ite
e le c tric ity e x p o rts a s s h o w n in th e e n e rg y p ro d u c tio n in d ic a to r.
How are we doing?
A v e ra g e re s id e n tia l e le c tric ity c o n s u m p tio n in th e N o rth a n d S o u th
C e n tra l S ie rra h a s ris e n s u b s ta n tia lly — m o re th a n 2 0 p e rc e n t in th e la s t
fo u r y e a rs re p o rte d . T h is m a y b e d u e to th e in c re a s in g n u m b e r o f s e c o n d
h o m e s in th e re g io n , w h ic h a d d s u s e w ith o u t in c re a s in g p e rm a n e n t
p o p u la tio n . In th e N o rth C e n tra l S ie rra , n o n re s id e n tia l e le c tric ity u s a g e
p e r c u s to m e r is th e h ig h e s t in th e re g io n , a lth ou g h n o S ie rra N e v a d a
s u b re g io n h a d a v e ra g e n o n re s id e n tia l u s e a s h ig h a s in C a lifo rn ia .
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a r ts
Electricity Prices
Rise in Energy Production Causes Decrease in Wholesale
Electricity Prices
Why is it important?
T h e p ric e o f e le c tric ity is a n in d ic a to r o f fin a n c ia l c a p ita l g a in e d fro m
e n e rg y p ro d u c tio n in th e S ie rra N e v a d a . A ls o , th e p ro d u c tio n c o s t fo r
a g ric u ltu ra l p ro d u c ts— a n im p o rta n t fin a n c ia l s e c to r in th e Sie rra
N e v a d a — is d ire c tly a ffe c te d b y th e p ric e o f e le c tric ity a n d th e a m o u n t o f
e n e rg y a v a ila b le . T h e v a lu e o f e le c tric ity in th e S ie rra N e v a d a is n o t
n e c e s s a rily tra n s fe rre d to th e c o m m u n itie s w h e re th e e n e rg y is p ro d u c e d .
E n e rg y c o m p a n ie s c h a rg e c u s to m e rs fo r th e c o s t o f e n e rg y tra n s fe r, a n d
th a t c o s t is n o t fu lly re d is trib u te d to th e c o m m u n ity . T h e re fo re , u rb a n
a re a s re c e iv e m o re v a lu e th a n ru ra l a re a s , a s th e c o s t o f tra n s fe r te n d s
to b e le s s . T h is m a y a c c o u n t fo r h ig h e r e le c tric ity p ric e s in N o rth e rn
C a lifo rn ia th a n in S o u th e rn C a lifo rn ia d u rin g th e 2 0 0 0-2 0 0 1 e n e rg y c ris is .
How are we doing?
In th e m a jo rity o f th e S ie rra N e v a d a , a n n u a l w h o le s a le e le c tric ity p ric e s
d e c re a s e d w ith a ris e in e n e rg y p ro d u c tio n b e tw e e n 2 0 0 1 a n d 2 0 0 3 , a s
s h o w n in th e e n e rg y p ro d u c e d n a tu ra l c a p ita l in d ic a to r.
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a r ts
Vehicle Miles Traveled
Use of Gasoline Per Capita Remains Above the State
Average
Why is it important?
T h e n u m b e r o f v e h ic le m ile s tra v e le d o n C a lifo rn ia s ta te h ig h w a y s
in d ic a te s tre n d s in e n e rg y u s e a n d c o n s u m p tio n a s w e ll a s to u ris m a n d
c o m m u te rs . R o a d a lte ra tio n a n d e x p a n s io n c o n trib u te s to th e tra n s fe r o f
tra v e l fro m o ld e r ro a d w a y s to n e w e r, m o re e ffic ie n t o n e s . A ls o , a ir q u a lity
is d ire c tly re la te d to v e h ic le tra v e l— a s e m is s io n s in c re a s e , a ir q u a lity
d e c re a s e s . T h e d a ta s h o w n re p re s e n ts th e lo c a tio n o f g a s o lin e u s a g e
a lo n g C a lifo rn ia s ta te h ig h w a y s ra th e r th a n th e lo c a tio n o f p u rc h a s e .
G a s o lin e p u rc h a s e s a re m o re lik e ly to o c c u r in u rb a n a re a s w h e re th e
fu e l is c h e a p e r.
How are we doing?
V e h ic le m ile s tra v e le d is p ro je c te d to in c re a s e in th e S ie rra N e v a d a ,
w h ile C a lifo rn ia tra v e l m ile s s h o u ld re m a in re la tiv e ly s ta b le . T ra v e l w ill
c o n tin u e to b e m o re e x te n s iv e in ru ra l a re a s . In p a rtic u la r, a n a lm o s t
d o u b lin g o f v e h ic le m ile s tra v e le d in th e N o rth S ie rra b e tw e e n 1 9 8 0 a n d
2 0 0 5 m a y b e d u e to m o re re s id e n tia l trip s to n e ig h b o rin g c o m m u n itie s
a n d its in c re a s in g p o p u la rity w ith v is ito rs . T ra v e l m ile s in th e N o rth
C e n tra l, S o u th C e n tra l, a n d E a s t S ie rra re m a in w e ll b e lo w th e s ta te
a v e ra g e .
h e u s e o f g a s o lin e p e r c a p ita h a s re m a in e d a b o v e th e s ta te a v e ra g e
b e tw e e n 1 9 9 7 a n d 2 0 0 2 in a ll a re a s e x c e p t th e S o u th C e n tra l S ie rra ,
w h e re c o m m u n itie s a re lo c a te d c lo s e r to g e th e r th a n in o th e r re g io n s . In
th e E a s t S ie rra , g a s o lin e c o n s u m p tio n is s ig n ific a n tly h ig h e r th a n in o th e r
s u b re g io n s . T h is , c o u p le d w ith le s s th a n a v e ra g e v e h ic le m ile s tra v e le d ,
m e a n s th e re is a g re a te r c o n c e n tra tio n o f tru c k , p ic k u p , a n d S U V tra ffic
b y lo c a l re s id e n ts a n d v is ito rs fro m th e L o s A n g e le s a re a .
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a r ts
Solid Waste
Majority of Waste Exported to the Central Valley
Why is it important?
T h e a m o u n t o f s o lid w a s te g e n e ra te d a n d d is p o s e d is in c re a s in g ly
im p o rta n t a s p o p u la tio n ris e s in th e S ie rra N e v a d a . T h e p ro p e r d iv e rs io n
a n d d is p o s a l o f w a s te is v ita l to m a in ta in in g h e a lth y a ir a n d s o il. M u c h o f
th e s o lid w a s te g e n e ra te d in th e S ie rra N e v a d a is e x p o rte d to la n d fills in
th e C e n tra l V a lle y , ra th e r th a n ta k e n c a re o f lo c a lly . W a s te d iv e rs io n
p ro g ra m s a re a n o th e r w a y to d e c re a s e w a s te d is p o s a l th ro u g h re c y c lin g ,
s o u rc e re d u c tio n , a n d c o m p o s tin g , a m o n g o th e r m e a n s .2 4
How are we doing?
W a s te in th e S ie rra N e v a d a is b e in g e x p o rte d o u t o f th e a re a in th e
N o rth , N o rth C e n tra l, a n d S o u th C e n tra l S ie rra . T h e E a s t S ie rra
g e n e ra te s th e la rg e s t a m o u n t o f w a s te p e r c a p ita b y fa r, b u t is a b le to
la n d fill n e a rly a ll o f it. B o th s c e n a rio s h a v e b o th a d v a n ta g e s a n d
d is a d v a n ta g e s in re g a rd s to th e n a tu ra l c a p ita l o f th e ir re s p e c tiv e
re g io n s , a s w a s te m a n a g e m e n t h a s n o t y e t re a c h e d a p o in t o f m a x im u m
e ffic ie n c y .
2 4 C a lifo rn ia In te g ra te d W a s te M a n a g e m e n t B o a rd . R e trie v e d M a y 1 9 ,
2 0 0 5 fro m h ttp ://w w w .c iw m b .c a .g o v /L G C e n tra l/G lo s s a ry .h tm # D R S
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a r ts
Toxics Pollution
Waterborne Toxics Found in Several Areas of the Sierra
Nevada
Why is it important?
D u e to th e S ie rra N e v a d a ’s ric h g e o lo g ic a l h is to ry , th e p re s e n c e o f to x in s
in th e s o il a n d w a te r is a s ig n ific a n t fa c to r in th e u s e a n d c o n s e rv a tio n o f
p ro d u c tiv e a re a s . T o x in s c a n c o n ta m in a te a ir a n d w a te r s u p p lie s a s w e ll
a s s o il c o m p o s itio n a n d c ro p p ro d u c tio n . A ls o , c o n ta m in a tio n o f la k e s a n d
s tre a m s c a n b e h a rm fu l to fis h in g a n d o th e r re g io n a l re c re a tio n a l u s e s .
T o x in s c a n o rig in a te fro m e ith e r h u m a n o r n a tu ra l c a u s e s . B o th a re
re p re s e n te d in th e m a p . M u ltip le d o ts in a s in g le a re a re p re s e n t a s in g le
s o u rc e o f m u ltip le to x in s .
How are we doing?
M o s t o f th e w a te rb o rn e to x ic s c o n ta m in a tio n is lo c a te d e a s t o f th e S ie rra
N e v a d a d iv id e . P o in t s o u rc e s o f m u ltip le to x in s a re fo u n d in T ru c k e e ’s
M a rtis V a lle y , S o u th L a k e T a h o e , a n d th e C a rs o n V a lle y . T h e w e s te rn
h a lf o f th e N o rth C e n tra l a n d S o u th C e n tra l S ie rra , fo rm e rly p a rt o f th e
M o th e r L o d e g o ld m in in g a re a , a ls o h a v e m a n y s o u rc e s o f m e ta llic w a te r
c o n ta m in a tio n . T h e N o rth S ie rra h a s re la tiv e ly fe w s o u rc e s o f w a te rb o rn e
to x ic s .
Financial Capital
A Summary of Findings
O v e ra ll, th e S ie rra N e v a d a is p ro s p e rin g fin a n c ia lly . H o w e v e r, th a t
p ro s p e rity is c o n c e n tra te d la rg e ly in th e N o rth C e n tra l c o u n tie s , w h e re
jo b c re a tio n h a s o u tp a c e d p o p u la tio n g ro w th , a n d u n e m p lo y m e n t is lo w e r
th a n in C a lifo rn ia a s a w h o le . In a d d itio n , p e r c a p ita in c o m e in th e N o rth
C e n tra l S ie rra e x c e e d s th e C a lifo rn ia a v e ra g e a n d in v e s tm e n t in h ig h
s p e e d In te rn e t is s u b s ta n tia l.
B y c o n tra s t, tre n d s in th e o th e r S ie rra re g io n s— S o u th C e n tra l, E a s t, a n d
N o rth — a re m o re m ix e d . In th e S o u th C e n tra l S ie rra , p o p u la tio n is
g ro w in g fa s te r th a n jo b s . In a ll th re e re g io n s , u n e m p lo y m e n t h a s c lim b e d
s in c e th e re c e s s io n in 2 0 0 1 . S e a s o n a l u n e m p lo y m e n t c o n tin u e s to b e a
p ro b le m in th e N o rth a n d th e E a s t, a s w e ll a s in p a rts o f th e S o u th
C e n tra l. P e r c a p ita in c o m e s in th e s e th re e re g io n s h a v e fa lle n b e h in d th e
N o rth C e n tra l a s th e in c o m e g a p c o n tin u e s to w id e n . A ls o , th e n u m b e r o f
lo w p a y in g jo b s e x c e e d s th e n u m b e r o f h ig h e r s k ille d , h ig h e r p a y in g jo b s ,
re s u ltin g in u n a ffo rd a b le h o u s in g f o r m a n y .
R e g io n -w id e , to u ris m — h e a v ily d e p e n d e n t o n th e n a tu ra l b e a u ty a n d
la n d s c a p e o f th e S ie rra — n o w a c c o u n ts fo r 1 5 p e rc e n t o f th e re g io n ’s to ta l
p a y ro ll. In a n u m b e r o f c o u n tie s , it is th e s in g le m o s t im p o rta n t e c o n o m ic
a c tiv ity .
Per Capita Income
Sierra Nevada Must Reverse Widening Income Gap
Why is it important?
P e r c a p ita in c o m e m e a s u re s a re g io n ’s e c o n o m ic s tre n g th a n d th e
s ta n d a rd o f liv in g its re s id e n ts e n jo y . T o c a lc u la te it, a ll s o u rc e s o f
in c o m e – w a g e s , c a p ita l p a y m e n ts a n d tra n s fe rs – a re a d d e d to g e th e r,
d iv id e d b y to ta l p o p u la tio n , a n d th e n a d ju s te d fo r in fla tio n to tra c k re a l
in c o m e o v e r tim e . W h e n p e r c a p ita in c o m e ris e s , a re g io n ’s fin a n c ia l
c a p ita l is g ro w in g fa s te r th a n its p o p u la tio n .1
How are we doing?
S in c e 1 9 9 3 , th e S ie rra N e v a d a ’s p e r c a p ita in c o m e g re w o n a v e ra g e
2 .0 6 % p e r y e a r, fa s te r th a n th e C a lifo rn ia ra te o f 1 .5 3 % , s u g g e s tin g a
s tro n g o v e ra ll e c o n o m y w ith th e re g io n ’s fin a n c ia l c a p ita l g ro w in g fa s te r
th a n p o p u la tio n . B u t w h e n e x a m in e d m o re c lo s e ly , th e N o rth C e n tra l’s
e c o n o m y w a s s o la rg e a n d s tro n g th a t it o b s c u re d w e a k e r e c o n o m ie s w ith
d e c lin in g fin a n c ia l c a p ita l in th e re s t o f th e S ie rra N e v a d a . T h e N o rth
C e n tra l’s s p e c ta c u la r p e r c a p ita in c o m e g ro w th is p rim a rily d u e to th e
g ro w th o f S a c ra m e n to . A s th e c ity s p re a d s o u t, w es te rn N o rth C e n tra l is
e v o lv in g fro m a c o lle c tio n o f b e d ro o m c o m m u n itie s to a n e c o n o m ic e n g in e
in its o w n rig h t.
A s a lre a d y m e n tio n e d , th e re s t o f th e S ie rra N e v a d a d id n o t fa re a s w e ll.
T h e N o rth , w ith a g ro w th ra te o f 1 .4 6 % , b a re ly k e p t p a c e w ith C a lifo r n ia .
T h e S o u th C e n tra l a n d E a s t b o th lo s t g ro u n d w ith g ro w th ra te s o f o n ly
0 .7 7 % a n d 0 .7 0 % , re s p e c tiv e ly . T h e s e tre n d s m irro r th o s e fo u n d in ru ra l
a re a s a c ro s s th e U n ite d S ta te s w h e re in c o m e s a v e ra g e 7 0 p e rc e n t o f
u rb a n le v e ls w ith a g ro w in g g a p .2 T h is w ide n in g in c o m e g a p p u ts ru ra l
S ie rra N e v a d a n s a t a d is a d v a n ta g e re la tiv e to u rb a n d w e lle rs w h o c a n
a ffo rd to p a y h ig h p ric e s fo r re tire m e n t o r s e c o n d h o m e s . A lth o u g h s o m e
S ie rra n s c o u ld e a rn h ig h e r in c o m e s in u rb a n a re a s , th e y fo re g o s o m e
in c o m e in re tu rn fo r th e “s e c o n d p a y c h e c k ” th e y re c e iv e fro m h a v in g a n
o u ts ta n d in g q u a lity o f life . B u t if in c o m e s in th e S ie rra N e v a d a fa ll to o fa r
b e h in d th e C a lifo rn ia a v e ra g e , s u c h n o n-fin a n c ia l c o m p e n s a tio n m a y n o
lo n g e r s u ffic e a s a re im b u rs e m e n t fo r lo w e r in c o m e s . If th e S ie rra N e v a d a
is to re v e rs e th e w id e n in g in c o m e g a p , it m u s t fin d w a y s to c re a te m o re
h ig h -w a g e jo b s .
1 N o te th a t th e s e n u m b e rs d o n o t in c lu d e p e o p le in c a rc e ra te d in M u le
C re e k S ta te P ris o n in Io n e (A m a d o r C o u n ty ) o r th e S ie rra C o n s e rv a tio n
C e n te r in J a m e s to w n (T u o lu m n e C o u n ty ).
2 M ic h a e l E . P o rte r, C o m p e titiv e n e s s in R u ra l U .S . R e g io n s : L e a rn in g
a n d R e s e a rc h A g e n d a , (H a rv a rd B u s in e s s S c h o o l, (F e b ru a ry 2 5 , 2 0 0 4 );
a v a ila b le fro m w w w .
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a r ts
Sources of Personal Income
Income Experiences Regional Shifts
Why is it important?
A c o m p re h e n s iv e v ie w o f in c o m e o rig in a tio n h e lp s id e n tify k e y re s o u rc e s
a n d h o w o v e ra ll w e a lth w ill b e a ffe c te d b y c h a n g e s in th e ec o n o m y a n d
p o p u la tio n c h a ra c te ris tic s .
“L o c a l w a g e s ” a re c lo s e ly tie d to th e lo c a l e c o n o m y a n d m e a s u re its
p ro d u c tiv ity th ro u g h th e v a lu e o f g o o d s a n d s e rv ic e s p ro d u c e d b y s o c ia l,
n a tu ra l a n d fin a n c ia l c a p ita l.
“C a p ita l p a y m e n ts ” a re in c o m e fro m s to c k s , b o n d s a n d re a l e s ta te .
D e riv e d fro m a c c u m u la te d w e a lth , th is in c o m e is lin k e d to n a tio n a l a n d
g lo b a l m a rk e ts .
“C o m m u te w a g e s ” a re e a rn e d o u ts id e a p e rs o n ’s c o u n ty o f re s id e n c e .
P e o p le c o m m u te w h e n th e y p re fe r to liv e o th e r th a n w h e re th e y w o rk ,
th e y c a n ’t a ffo rd to liv e w h e re th e y w o rk , o r th e y c a n ’t fin d a p p ro p ria te
w o rk w h e re th e y liv e . T h is in c o m e is o ffs e t b y e x te rn a l c o s ts s u c h a s
tra ffic c o n g e s tio n , a ir p o llu tio n , a n d tim e a w a y fro m fa m ily a n d
frie n d s . T ra n s fe r p a y m e n ts ” a re a h o d g e p o d g e in c lu d in g re tir e m e n t,
d is a b ility , m e d ic a l p a y m e n ts , fo o d s ta m p s , a n d u n e m p lo y m e n t.
N o n -lo c a l s o u rc e s o f in c o m e , e s p e c ia lly c a p ita l a n d tra n s fe r p a y m e n ts ,
b u ffe r th e lo c a l e c o n o m y a g a in s t d o w n tu rn s in im p o rta n t re g io n a l o r
s e a s o n a l in d u s trie s s u c h a s tim b e r a n d to u ris m . O n th e o th e r h a n d , th e y
a ls o d is c o n n e c t re s id e n ts fro m lo c a l e c o n o m ic fo rtu n e s , w e a k e n in g th e ir
in c e n tiv e s to in v e s t in th e ir c o m m u n itie s .
How are we doing?
In 2 0 0 1 , lo c a l w a g e s p ro v id e d o n ly h a lf o f th e S ie rra N e v a d a ’s in c o m e ,
s ig n ific a n tly le s s th a n th e th re e -q u a rte rs lo c a l w a g e s c o n trib u te d to
C a lifo rn ia ’s e c o n o m y . C a p ita l p a y m e n ts p a id 2 0 p e rc e n t, c o m m u te w a g e s
1 6 p e rc e n t, a n d tra n s fe r p a y m e n ts 1 2 p e rc e n t. N o n e o f th e s e p ro p o rtio n s
h a v e c h a n g e d m u c h s in c e 1 9 8 0 .
W ith in tra n s fe r p a y m e n ts , m e d ic a l p a y m e n ts w e re th e fa s te s t g ro w in g
s o u rc e o f in c o m e , lik e ly d u e to in c re a s in g m e d ic a l c o s ts . If a g e o r p o v e rty
w e re d riv in g fa c to rs , fo o d s ta m p s a n d u n e m p lo y m e n t w o u ld b e e x p e c te d
to in c re a s e a s w e ll, b u t in s te a d th e y b e c a m e le s s im p o rta n t. W ith in th e
S ie rra N e v a d a , s ig n ific a n t s h ifts o c c u rre d . R a p id ly g ro w in g e m p lo y m e n t in
w e s te rn N o rth C e n tra l c a u s e d lo c a l w a g e s to b e s ta b le in th e S ie rra
N e v a d a b e c a u s e it o ffs e t d e c lin e s e ls e w h e re . A lth o u g h lo c a l w a g e s
d ro p p e d b y 5 to 1 0 p o in ts in th e re st o f th e S ie rra , th e y s till c o n trib u te
tw o -th ird s o f in c o m e in th e E a s t, b u t th e y h a v e d ro p p e d to 5 5 p e rc e n t o f
in c o m e in th e N o rth a n d 4 7 p e rc e n t in S o u th C e n tra l.
C h a n g e s in c o m m u te w a g e s s h o w th a t a s S a c ra m e n to e x p a n d e d jo b s
m o v e d o u t to th e s u b u rb s in P la c e r a n d E l D o ra d o c o u n tie s , w h ic h c a u s e d
c o m m u tin g in c o m e to b e c o m e le s s im p o rta n t in N o rth C e n tra l. T h e g ro w th
o f S a c ra m e n to a n d R e n o in d ic a te s th a t th e S o u th C e n tra l a n d th e N o rth
a re th e n e w b e d ro o m c o m m u n itie s . In th e E a s t, c o m m u te w a g e s flo w o u t
o f th e S ie rra N e v a d a b e c a u s e p e o p le liv in g o u ts id e th e re g io n c o m m u te
to jo b s a t m in e s a n d s k i re s o rts . In th e N o rth , S o u th C e n tra l a n d E a s t,
c a p ita l p a y m e n ts a re b e c o m in g m o re im p o rta n t a s m o re re tire e s a n d
o th e rs d e riv e in c o m e fro m a c c u m u la te d w e a lth .
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a r ts
Earnings-per-Job
Sierra Nevada Economy Must Create More High Wage Jobs
Why is it important?
E a rn in g s -p e r-jo b m e a s u re s th e p u rc h a s in g p ow e r o f p e o p le w h o w o rk in
th e lo c a l e c o n o m y . It is d e te rm in e d b y e c o n o m ic a c tiv itie s , w o rk fo rc e
q u a lity , a n d th e u n e m p lo y m e n t ra te .
How are we doing?
P e o p le w h o w o rk in th e S ie rra N e v a d a h a v e c o n s is te n tly e a rn e d lo w e r
w a g e s th a n th e a v e ra g e C a lifo rn ia n , w h ic h s h o w s w h y n o n -re s id e n ts s o
e a s ily o u tb id re s id e n ts fo r h o m e s . A s th e e a rn in g g a p g ro w s , S ie rra
N e v a d a n s lo s e m o re g ro u n d a n d m a n y c h o o s e to m o v e a w a y ra th e r th a n
c o n tin u e to s tru g g le fin a n c ia lly . L o w e r e a rn in g s -p e r-jo b a re th e re s u lt o f
th e S ie rra N e v a d a h a v in g a h ig h p ro p o rtio n o f c o n s u m e r s e rv ic e a n d
re ta il jo b s , a s w e ll a s a w o rk fo rc e w ith o u t s k ills fo r h ig h e r w a g e jo b s . F o r
S ie rra N e v a d a c o m m u n itie s to p ro s p e r in th e lo n g -te rm , o u r e c o n o m y
m u s t c re a te m o re h ig h w a g e jo b s .
E v e n in th e c o m p a ra tiv e ly w e a lth y N o rth C e n tra l, e a rn in g s a v e ra g e d 2 5
p e rc e n t b e lo w th e s ta te le v e l a n d th e g a p h a s re m a in e d c o n s ta n t s in c e
1 9 9 3 . In th e N o rth , e a rn in g s w e re 3 0 p e rc e n t b e lo w th e s ta te a v e ra g e , u p
fro m 2 5 p e rc e n t b e lo w in 1 9 9 3 . T h is re g io n m a in ta in e d h ig h e r a v e ra g e
e a rn in g s b e c a u s e it h a d o n ly a s m a ll re ta il s e c to r a n d g re a te r
d e p e n d e n c e o n g o v e rn m e n t a n d m a n u fa c tu rin g jo b s .
In S o u th C e n tra l a n d E a s t, e a rn in g s w e re a s h o c k in g 4 0 p e rc e n t b e lo w
th e s ta te a v e ra g e , g re a te r th a n th e a v e ra g e g a p o f 3 2 p e rc e n t fo r ru ra l
U .S . c o u n tie s . T h is g a p in c re a s e d fro m 3 0 p e rc e n t in 1 9 9 3 , m o s t lik e ly
b e c a u s e o f th e g ro w th o f c o n s u m e r s e rv ic e a n d re ta il jo b s a n d th e s e v e re
d e c re a s e in m in in g a n d tim b e r jo b s .
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a r ts
Income Distribution
Income Distributed More Equally in the Sierra Nevada than
in California
Why is it important?
In c o m e d is trib u tio n m e a s u re s h o w in c o m e is d iv id e d a m o n g fa m ilie s in a
re g io n . O n e e c o n o m ic g a u g e is th e G in i c o e ffic ie n t, w h ic h ra n g e s fro m
0 .2 0 w h e n in c o m e is e v e n ly d is trib u te d , to 0 .6 0 w h e n it is d iv id e d
in e q u ita b ly . In c o m e is m o re u n e q u a lly d is trib u te d in th e U n ite d S ta te s
th a n in J a p a n a n d E u ro p e a n d h a s b e c o m e e v e n m o re s o s in c e th e
1 9 8 0 s . S e v e re in e q u a lity m a k e s it d iffic u lt fo r c o m m u n itie s to re s o lv e
c o n flic ts a n d m a k e p ro g re s s .
How are we doing?
In c o m e is d is trib u te d m o re e q u a lly in th e S ie rra N e v a d a th a n in
C a lifo rn ia , b u t le s s e q u a lly th a n in th e U n ite d S ta te s , w h ic h h a s a G in i
c o e ffic ie n t o f 0 .4 0 . In e q u a lity is h ig h e s t in th e E a s te rn S ie rra , fo llo w e d b y
N o rth C e n tra l, S o u th C e n tra l a n d th e N o rth .
B u t in e q u a lity te lls o n ly p a rt o f th e s to ry . T h e o th e r in g re d ie n t is th e
in c o m e le v e l o f th e ric h e s t fiv e p e rc e n t o f fa m ilie s . T h e m e d ia n in c o m e o f
th e ric h e s t fiv e p e rc e n t o f fa m ilie s is h ig h e s t in N o rth C e n tra l a t
$ 1 9 2 ,0 0 0 . In th e E a s t, w h ic h h a s g re a te r in e q u a lity , th e ric h e s t fiv e
p e rc e n t re c e iv e a n a v e ra g e o f $ 9 ,0 0 0 le s s . T h is m e a n s th a t in c o m e is
m o re e q u a l in N o rth C e n tra l b e c a u s e it h a s m o re w e a lth y fa m il ie s , n o t
b e c a u s e it h a s lo w e r in c o m e s .
Y o u c a n s e e th e im p o rta n c e o f lo o k in g a t b o th d is trib u tio n a n d le v e l b y
c o m p a rin g N o rth C e n tra l a n d S o u th C e n tra l. E v e n th o u g h th e y h a v e v e ry
s im ila r in c o m e d is trib u tio n s , fa m ilie s in S o u th C e n tra l a re w o rs e o ff
b e c a u s e th e ric h e s t fiv e p e rc e n t e a rn $ 1 8 ,0 0 0 le s s th a n in N o rth C e n tra l.
In th e N o rth , in c o m e is m o re e v e n ly d is trib u te d b e c a u s e th e le v e l e a rn e d
b y th e ric h e s t fiv e p e rc e n t is $ 5 4 ,0 0 0 le s s th a n in N o rth C e n tra l.
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d C h a r ts a s o f 2 0 0 0
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d C h a r ts fo r 2 0 0 4
Employment Dynamics
Employment and Unemployment Rise and Create Unusual
Pattern in Sierra Nevada
Why is it important?
T h e d y n a m ic s b e tw e e n th e e m p lo y e d , u n e m p lo y e d , o r n o t in th e la b o r
fo rc e in d ic a te if th e lo c a l e c o n o m y is s tro n g e n o u g h to e m p lo y a ll w h o
w a n t to w o rk . T h o s e n o t in th e la b o r fo rc e a re to o y o u n g to w o rk , re tire d ,
d is a b le d , te n d in g to th e ir fa m ilie s , o r in d e p e n d e n tly w e a lth y .
T h e y m a y b e v o lu n te e rs fo r c o m m u n ity o rg a n iz a tio n s , b u t s o m e m a y e n te r
th e la b o r fo rc e if lo w u n e m p lo y m e n t c a u s e s w a g e s to ris e . W h e n
e m p lo y m e n t ris e s , u n e m p lo y m e n t n o rm a lly d e c lin e s . W h e n jo b s g ro w
fa s te r th a n p o p u la tio n , p e o p le m a y e ith e r c o m m u te in to th e re g io n fo r
w o rk o r h o ld m o re th a n o n e jo b . W h e n p o p u la tio n g ro w s fa s te r th a n jo b s ,
in c re a s in g p ro p o rtio n s a re e ith e r re tire d o r c o m m u tin g to jo b s o u ts id e th e
re g io n .
How are we doing?
S te a d y jo b g ro w th a n d d e c lin in g u n e m p lo y m e n t in d ic a te th a t th e S ie rra
N e v a d a e c o n o m y h a s b e e n s tro n g s in c e 1 9 9 3 . H o w e v e r, a fte r 2 0 0 1 b o th
e m p lo y m e n t a n d u n e m p lo y m e n t ro s e , c re a tin g a h ig h ly u n u s u a l p a tte rn .
T h is m a y h a v e o c c u rre d a s a re s u lt o f th e c o lla p s e o f th e B a y A re a
e c o n o m y , a s p e o p le m o v e d to th e S ie rra N e v a d a a n d b ro u g h t w ith th e m
b o th jo b s a n d u n e m p lo y e d fa m ily m e m b e rs .
T h is g ra p h a ls o s h o w s th a t m o re S ie rra N e v a d a n s a re n o t in th e w o rk
fo rc e . T h is m e a n s o u r re g i o n h a s a la rg e p o o l o f v o lu n te e rs w h o c a n
s tre n g th e n c o m m u n itie s b y jo in in g s e rv ic e o rg a n iz a tio n s .
T h e N o rth C e n tra l h a s th e s tro n g e s t jo b g ro w th . T h is is th e o n ly re g io n
w h e re th e n u m b e r o f p e o p le w h o w o rk e q u a l th e n u m b e r n o t in th e w o rk
fo rc e . In th e o t h e r th re e re g io n s , m a n y m o re p e o p le a re n o t in th e la b o r
fo rc e th a n th e re a re e m p lo y e d .
Labor Force Participation Rates
Rates Vary Among Subregions
Why is it important?
L a b o r fo rc e p a rtic ip a tio n ra te s s h o w w h a t p e rc e n t o f th e p o p u la tio n is
e m p lo y e d o r a c tiv e ly lo o k in g fo r w o rk . T h e s e ra te s te n d to in c re a s e
d u rin g e x p a n s io n s b e c a u s e n o n -w o rk e rs e n te r th e jo b m a rk e t a n d d e c lin e
d u rin g re c e s s io n s w h e n d is c o u ra g e d w o rk e rs le a v e . D u rin g th e p a s t fe w
d e c a d e s , m o re w o m e n h a v e e n te re d th e n a tio n a l w o rk fo rc e th a n m en
h a v e le ft, w h ic h h a s c a u s e d p a rtic ip a tio n ra te s to ris e .
How are we doing?
In th e S ie rra N e v a d a , la b o r fo rc e p a rtic ip a tio n ra te s a v e ra g e 7 3 p e rc e n t,
s e v e ra l p o in ts lo w e r th a n in C a lifo rn ia . T h e N o rth S ie rra ra te s c o m e
c lo s e s t to C a lifo rn ia ’s , th o u g h th e y d e c lin e d o v e r th e p a s t d e c a d e . T h e
lo w p a rtic ip a tio n ra te s in S o u th C e n tra l a re b e c a u s e o n e -th ird o f its
p o p u la tio n is 5 5 o r o ld e r. In th e E a s t, th e p o p u la tio n is m u c h y o u n g e r s o
th e lo w ra te s p ro b a b ly h a v e m o re to d o w ith life s ty le p re fe re n c e s a n d
fa m ily re s p o n s ib ilitie s .
O n c e a g a in , N o rth C e n tra l h a s a d iffe re n t tre n d th a n th e re s t o f th e
S ie rra . Its p a rtic ip a tio n ra te s a v e ra g e d h ig h e r th a n C a lifo rn ia a n d , a s
w e ’d e x p e c t, th e y in c re a s e d in re s p o n s e to s tro n g jo b g ro w th d u rin g th e
1 9 9 0 s . T h e e x c e p tio n w a s th a t, e v e n th o u g h th e e c o n o m y w a s g ro w in g ,
p a rtic ip a tio n ra te s d e c lin e d b e tw e e n 2 0 0 0 a n d 2 0 0 2 , w h ic h s u g g e s ts th a t
a h ig h p e rc e n t o f n e w re s id e n ts w e re n o t in th e w o rk fo rc e b e c a u s e o f
a g e , fa m ily d u tie s , o r w e a lth .
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a r ts
Unemployment
Seasonal Jobs Increase Unemployment Rate in the North
Why is it important?
T h e u n e m p lo y m e n t ra te m e a s u re s th e p e rc e n t o f th e la b o r fo rc e o u t o f
w o rk a n d a c tiv e ly s e e k in g e m p lo y m e n t. T h is ra te ris e s d u rin g re c e s s io n s
a n d fa lls d u rin g e x p a n s io n s . B e c a u s e s o m e tu rn o v e r is n o rm a l – p e o p le
le a v e jo b s to m o v e o r c h a n g e o c c u p a tio n s – ra te s ra re ly fa ll b e lo w 2 o r 3
p e rc e n t. W h e n ra te s re a c h th e s e lo w le v e ls , e m p lo y e rs h a ve d iffic u lty
fillin g p o s itio n s a n d ra is e w a g e s . W h e n ra te s ris e a b o v e 6 p e rc e n t, th e
e c o n o m y is p e rfo rm in g b e lo w its p o te n tia l. E c o n o m ie s w ith m a n y
s e a s o n a l jo b s h a v e h ig h a n n u a l u n e m p lo y m e n t e v e n if le v e ls a re lo w
d u rin g p e a k m o n th s . In s u c h a re a s , c re a tin g m o re y e a r-ro u n d jo b s c a n
re d u c e a n n u a l u n e m p lo y m e n t ra te s .
How are we doing?
W ith th e re c e s s io n in 2 0 0 1 , u n e m p lo y m e n t ra te s c lim b e d th ro u g h o u t th e
S ie rra N e v a d a , w h ic h fo llo w s th e p a tte rn s e e n in C a lifo rn ia . A lth o u g h
h is to ric a l u n e m p lo y m e n t ra te s in th e S ie rra N e v a d a c o n s is te n tly
e x c e e d e d C a lifo rn ia ’s , to d a y th e y m a tc h o r a re lo w e r in th re e o f fo u r
re g io n s . O n ly in th e N o rth d o e s u n e m p lo y m e n t e x c e e d th e s ta te ra te . T h e
g a p in c re a s e d a fte r th e S ie rra P a c ific In d u s trie s s a w m ill c lo s e d in
L o y a lto n . In N o rth C e n tra l, th e e c o n o m y is s o s tro n g th a t u n e m p lo y m e n t
ra te s a v e ra g e 2 p o in ts lo w e r th a n C a lifo rn ia ’s .
U n lik e w h a t w a s fo u n d in th e S ie rra B u s in e s s C o u n c il’s p re v io u s tw o
W e a lth In d ic e s , s e a s o n a l u n e m p lo y m e n t is n o w a s ig n ific a n t fa c to r o n ly in
th e N o rth . T h is s u g g e s ts th a t S o u th C e n tra l a n d E a s t h a v e s u c c e e d e d in
c re a tin g m o re y e a r-ro u n d jo b s .
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a r ts fo r 2 0 0 3 (M o n th ly ) D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d
c h a rts 1 9 9 0 -2 0 0 3
Economic Structure
Sierra Economy Faces Noteworthy Shifts
Why is it important?
T h e e c o n o m ic s tru c tu re o f a re g io n c h a n g e s o v e r tim e in re s p o n s e t o
g lo b a l m a rk e ts , n e w te c h n o lo g ie s , p o p u la tio n g ro w th , a n d p u b lic p o lic y .
W h e n b u s in e s s a n d c o m m u n ity le a d e rs h a v e a n a c c u ra te p ic tu re o f a n
e c o n o m y ’s s tru c tu re , th e y b e tte r m e e t fu tu re c h a lle n g e s a n d c h o o s e
in v e s tm e n ts th a t m o s t b e n e fit th e ir c o m m u n ity , w h e th e r in e d u c a tio n o r
in fra s tru c tu re , p la n n in g o r b u ild in g d e s ig n .
A lth o u g h m a n y p e o p le b e lie v e th a t lo c a l w a g e s h a v e d e c re a s e d b e c a u s e
m a n u fa c tu rin g h a s d e c lin e d a n d s e rv ic e s h a v e g ro w n , n o t a ll s e rv ic e jo b s
a re to b la m e . B u s in e s s s e rv ic e s in c lu d e s u c h hig h -w a g e jo b s a s la w ,
fin a n c e , re a l e s ta te , a n d te c h n ic a l p o s itio n s . S o c ia l s e rv ic e s a re m o re
a m b ig u o u s b e c a u s e th e y in c lu d e h ig h -p a y in g m e d ic a l jo b s a n d lo w -p a y in g
e d u c a tio n jo b s . G o v e rn m e n t o fte n p ro v id e s th e h ig h e s t-p a y in g jo b s in
ru ra l c o m m u n itie s . C o n s u m e r s e rv ic e jo b s s u c h a s a rts a n d
e n te rta in m e n t, h o u s e h o ld m a in te n a n c e , lo d g in g , re ta il, a n d re c re a tio n a re
m o s t o fte n lo w w a g e .
How are we doing?
T h e S ie rra N e v a d a e c o n o m y h a s s tru c tu ra l w e a k n e s s e s th a t m u s t b e
a d d re s s e d if w e a re to a v o id c o m p ro m is in g o u r re g io n ’s lo n g -te rm
p ro s p e rity . C o m p a re d to C a lifo rn ia , th e S ie rra N e v a d a h a s a h ig h e r
p e rc e n t o f jo b s in c o n s tru c tio n a n d re ta il. T h e c o n s tru c tio n in d u s try is
n o to rio u s ly s e n s itiv e a n d lin k e d to s ta te a n d n a tio n a l e c o n o m ic c y c le s .
R e ta il c re a te s lo w -w a g e jo b s th a t d o n o t s u p p o rt fa m ilie s , e s p e c ia lly
w h e n h o u s in g p ric e s a re h ig h . A s th e S ie rra N e v a d a ’s e c o n o m y g ro w s , w e
m u s t e x p a n d th o s e e c o n o m ic s e c to rs th a t p a y liv in g w a g e s a n d o ffe r
s te a d y , y e a r-ro u n d jo b s .
O n th e p o s itiv e s id e , b u s in e s s s e rv ic e s w e re th e fa s te s t g ro w in g s e c to r in
th e S ie rra N e v a d a in th e p a s t 2 0 y e a rs a n d a re n o w th e m o s t s ig n ific a n t
c o m p o n e n t o f th e e c o n o m y . M o s t o f th is g ro w th w a s in b u s in e s s
m a n a g e m e n t a n d e n g in e e rin g . M a n u fa c tu rin g a ls o g re w s lig h tly , in
c o n tra s t to its s te e p d e c lin e a t th e s ta te le v e l.
T h e g re a te s t lo s s e s w e re in g o v e rn m e n t jo b s , p rim a rily s ta te a n d lo c a l.
T h e S ie rra N e v a d a lo s t m o re in th e d is trib u tio n s e c to r th a n d id th e s ta te ,
la rg e ly w ith in tra n s p o rta tio n a n d p u b lic u tilitie s . S ie rra a g ric u ltu re
e x p e rie n c e d a d e c lin e , b u t th e m in in g in d u s try w a s h a rd e r h it. B o th o f
th e s e s e c to rs a re s tro n g ly in flu e n c e d b y in te rn a tio n a l m a rk e ts a n d
g o v e rn m e n t p o lic ie s .
E a c h S ie rra re g io n , th o u g h , e x p e rie n c e d d is tin c t a n d n o te w o rth y
c h a n g e s . In th e N o rth , d e c lin e s in m a n u fa c tu rin g w e re o ffs e t b y in c re a s e s
in b u s in e s s s e rv ic e s a n d g o v e rn m e n t, w h ic h p ro v id e h ig h -w a g e jo b s . In
N o rth C e n tra l, d is trib u tio n a n d g o v e rn m e n t jo b s b e c a m e le s s im p o rta n t,
w h ile m a n u fa c tu rin g jo b s b e c a m e m o re s o . In S o u th C e n tra l, jo b s w e re
lo s t in a g ric u ltu re , m in in g a n d m a n u fa c tu rin g , b u t g a in e d in b u s in e s s
s e rv ic e s . In th e E a s t, d e c lin e s in a g ric u ltu re a n d m in in g w e re o ffs e t b y
in c re a s e s in b o th c o n s u m e r a n d b u s in e s s s e rv ic e s
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a r ts 1 9 6 9 to 2 0 0 0
Economic Diversity
North Central is the Only Region with High Economic
Diversity
Why is it important?
E c o n o m ic d iv e rs ity is th e s a m e id e a a s d iv e rs ify in g y o u r in v e s tm e n t
p o rtfo lio . H ig h e r d iv e rs ity re d u c e s a lo c a l e c o n o m y ’s e x p o s u re to s h o c k s
s u c h a s fa c to ry c lo s u re s , d o w n tu rn s in m a jo r s e c to rs , a n d g e n e ra l
re c e s s io n s . P la c e s w ith h ig h e c o n o m ic d iv e rs ity re b o u n d m o re q u ic k ly
th a n th o s e w ith lo w d iv e rs ity . U n e m p lo y m e n t ra te s a n d p e r c a p ita in c o m e
re tu rn m o re q u ic k ly to th e le v e ls th e y h a d b e fo re th e s h o c k . L o w
e c o n o m ic d iv e rs ity is a m a jo r re a s o n w h y ru ra l c o m m u n itie s e x p e rie n c e
b o o m -a n d -b u s t c y c le s .
How are we doing?
N o rth C e n tra l is th e S ie rra N e v a d a ’s o n ly re g io n w ith h ig h e c o n o m ic
d iv e rs ity , b u t it d e c lin e d s lig h tly to w a rd th e e n d o f th e 1 9 9 0 s . B o th N o rth
a n d S o u th C e n tra l h a v e m e d iu m e c o n o m ic d iv e rs ity . T h e E a s t h a s th e
lo w e s t e c o n o m ic d iv e rs ity , m a k in g it th e m o s t s u s c e p tib le to e x p e rie n c in g
e c o n o m ic s h o c k s . T h e E a s t’s tre n d in e c o n o m ic d iv e rs ity m o v e d in th e
o p p o s ite d ire c tio n fro m th e re s t o f th e S ie rra , d e c lin in g d u rin g th e 1 9 9 0 s
e x p a n s io n , th e n in c re a s in g to w a rd th e e n d o f th e d e c a d e a s th e e c o n o m y
s lo w e d d o w n .
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a rts 1 9 9 0 to 2 0 0 0
Fastest Growing Sectors
Trends Differ Throughout the Sierra Nevada
Why is it important?
E c o n o m ic s e c to rs g ro w ra p id ly in th e s h o rt-te rm b u ild lo c a l fin a n c ia l
c a p ita l a n d a re g o o d c a n d id a te s fo r e c o n o m ic d e v e lo p m e n t. D e c lin in g
s e c to rs , o n th e o th e r h a n d , m a y b e d iffic u lt to re v iv e a t a n y p ric e ,
e s p e c ia lly if th e d e c lin e is a lo n g-te rm tre n d . If a s e c to r is in d e c lin e ,
o ffic ia ls s h o u ld u n d e rs ta n d th e re a s o n s w h y a n d c o n s id e r c a re fu lly b e fo re
in v e s tin g m o re in it.
How are we doing?
In th e s h o rt te rm , s o m e o f th e S ie rra N e v a d a ’s fa s te s t g ro w in g s e c to rs
c o rre s p o n d e d to C a lifo rn ia tre n d s , e s p e c ia lly lo c a l g o v e rn m e n t a n d
e d u c a tio n a n d h e a lth s e rv ic e s . F in a n c ia l a c tiv itie s (fin a n c e , in s u ra n c e ,
a n d re a l e s ta te ) s e c to rs g re w ra p id ly in th e S ie rra N e v a d a , c o u n te r to
th e ir tre n d s in th e C a lifo rn ia e c o n o m y . A ls o u n lik e th e re s t o f th e s ta te ,
n a tu ra l re s o u rc e s a n d m in in g d e c lin e d s ig n ific a n tly in th e S ie rra N e v a d a
economy.
E a c h s u b re g io n in th e S ie rra N e v a d a h a d d is tin c tly d iffe re n t tre n d s in
s o m e s e c to rs . B e tw e e n 2 0 0 1 a n d 2 0 0 2 , c o n s tru c tio n g re w s ig n ific a n tly
o n ly in th e N o rth . T h e in fo rm a tio n s e c to r g re w ra p id ly in N o rth C e n tra l,
d e s p ite its d e c lin e a t th e s ta te le v e l. P e rs o n a l s e rv ic e s g re w in N o rth a n d
S o u th C e n tra l, c o n s is te n t w ith th e C a lifo rn ia tre n d . In S o u th C e n tra l, th e
e d u c a tio n , h e a lth , a n d fin a n c ia l s e rv ic e s s e c to rs a ll d e c lin e d , c o n tra ry to
th e ir p a tte rn s in th e re s t o f th e S ie rra N e v a d a a n d C a lifo rn ia . O n th e
o th e r h a n d , th e s ta te g o v e rn m e n t, p ro fe s s io n a l, a n d b u s in e s s s erv ic e
s e c to rs g re w s ig n ific a n tly in S o u th C e n tra l, w h ile th e y d e c lin e d in o th e r
re g io n s . M a n u fa c tu rin g g re w s ig n ific a n tly in th e E a s t a lo n e , c o n tra ry to its
d e c lin in g tre n d e ls e w h e re .
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a r ts 2 0 0 1 a n d 2 0 0 2
Economic Multipliers
"Leaky" Economies Must Be Considered in Development
Why is it important?
E c o n o m ic m u ltip lie rs s h o w h o w m a n y tim e s a n e w d o lla r c irc u la te s in a
lo c a l e c o n o m y ; a m u ltip lie r o f tw o m e a n s a d o lla r is s p e n t tw ic e b e fo re it
le a v e s . W h e n m u ltip lie rs a re h ig h , d o lla rs flo w in g in to a n e c o n o m y c re a te
m o re jo b s th a n w h e n th e y a re lo w . C o m m u n itie s in c re a s e e c o n o m ic
m u ltip lie rs w h e n th e y b u y fro m lo c a l b u s in e s s e s . E n c o u ra g in g lo c a l
b u s in e s s e s to s u p p ly g o o d s th a t th e c o m m u n ity ro u tin e ly b u y s e ls e w h e re
h e lp c o m p le te th e c irc le . T h is e c o n o m ic d e v e lo p m e n t s tra te g y , c a lle d
“p lu g g in g th e le a k s ,” is a n a lte rn a tiv e to re c ru itin g n e w b u s in e s s e s . T h e
s tra te g y ’s e ffe c tiv e n e s s re s u lts fro m its in v e s tm e n t in s o c ia l c a p ita l – th e
lo c a l b u s in e s s e s a n d e n tre p re n e u rs a t th e h e a rt o f a c o m m u n ity .
How are we doing?
N o rth h a s th e m o s t le a k y e c o n o m y , fo llo w e d b y th e E a s t a n d S o u th
C e n tra l. W h e n re s id e n ts s h o p o u ts id e th e ir re g io n , th e y g o to c itie s s u c h
a s R e n o o r S a c ra m e n to , in s te a d o f o th e r p a rts o f th e S ie rra . T h is h e lp s
e x p la in w h y th e S ie rra N e v a d a h a s a s m a lle r m u ltip lie r th a n N o rth
C e n tra l. N o rm a lly , th e la rg e r a re a w ill h a v e th e la rg e r m u ltip lie r. P lu g g in g
th e le a k s w o u ld b e a g o o d d e v e lo p m e n t s tra te g y fo r N o rth , S o u th C e n tra l
a n d E a s t.
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a r ts 2 0 0 1
Patents
Patenting Rising in Sierra Subregions
Why is it important?
P a te n ts m e a s u re th e ra te a t w h ic h p e o p le re g is te r n e w id e a s . P a te n ts a re
o n e e x p re s s io n o f in n o v a tio n , a k e y c o m p o n e n t to c re a tin g c o m p e titiv e
re g io n a l e c o n o m ie s in th e g lo b a l e c o n o m y . In th e p a s t tw o d e c a d e s ,
S ie rra N e v a d a c o m m u n itie s h a v e fo u n d th e m s e lv e s c o m p e tin g in a m o re
g lo b a l e c o n o m y . A s a re s u lt, w a g e s a n d p ric e s fo r lo c a l p ro d u c ts a re le s s
s h e lte re d th a n th e y o n c e w e re . T o re m a in c o m p e titiv e , lo c a l b u s in e s s e s
m u s t c o n s ta n tly c re a te a n d im p ro v e p ro d u c ts , fin d b e tte r w a y s to m a k e
p ro d u c ts , o r e n te r in to e m e rg in g n ic h e m a rk e ts .
How are we doing?
T h e S ie rra N e v a d a a v e ra g e s tw o p a te n ts p e r c a p ita c o m p a re d to m o re
th a n th re e in C a lifo rn ia . N o rth C e n tra l n e a rly c o m e s c lo s e to th e
C a lifo rn ia s ta n d a rd , b u t th e g a p h a s w id e n e d re c e n tly b e c a u s e its
p a te n tin g h a s g ro w n a t a s lo w e r a v e ra g e a n n u a l ra te . N o rth , S o u th
C e n tra l a n d E a s t a v e ra g e a b o u t o n e p a te n t p e r c a p ita . D e s p ite h a v in g
h ig h ly v o la tile tre n d s , p a te n tin g is ris in g in a ll th re e re g io n s .
T h is c o v e rs p a te n ts fo r in v e n tio n s , n o t fo r o th e r ty p e s o f p a te n t
d o c u m e n ts s u c h a s fo r p lan ts , d e s ig n s , s ta tu to ry in v e n tio n re g is tra tio n , o r
d e fe n s iv e p u b lic a tio n s .
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a r ts 1 9 9 0 to 1 9 9 9
Nonresidential Construction
Sierra Nevada Investing in Buildings that Provide Local
Services
Why is it important?
T h e ty p e o f n o n re s id e n tia l s p a c e o u r c o m m u n itie s b u ild in d ic a te s th e ty p e
o f e c o n o m ic a c tiv itie s in d e m a n d a n d th e ty p e s o f jo b s e ith e r a v a ila b le o r
b e in g e n c o u ra g e d . B u ild in g p u rp o s e p ro v id e s a s tro n g in d ic a tio n o f
w a g e s a n d th e ty p e s o f jo b s a v a ila b le . F o r e x a m p le , re ta il s p a c e a n d
to u ris m s tru c tu re s e m p lo y s ig n ific a n tly m o re lo w -w a g e jo b s , w h ile
m a n u fa c tu rin g s p a c e , m e d ic a l a n d o ffic e b u ild in g s in d ic a te h ig h -w a g e
jo b s . C a re fu l c o n s id e ra tio n o f th e typ e s o f n o n re s id e n tia l s tru c tu re s b u ilt
c a n h e lp c o m m u n itie s c h a n g e its e c o n o m ic fu tu re .
B e c a u s e lo c a l g o v e rn m e n ts in C a lifo rn ia a re lim ite d in h o w th e y ra is e
re v e n u e s , th e y in c re a s in g ly re ly o n n e w s a le s ta x e s to p a y fo r
g o v e rn m e n t s e rv ic e s . In th is fis c a l c lim a te , lo c a l g o v e rn m e n ts th u s h a v e
a n in c e n tiv e to a p p ro v e m o re n e w re ta il s p a c e th a n is g o o d fo r a
c o m m u n ity ’s o v e ra ll w e a lth – its s o c ia l, n a tu ra l a n d fin a n c ia l c a p ita l.
How are we doing?
T h e N o rth C e n tra l S ie rra w a s re s p o n s ib le fo r 7 6 p e rc e n t o f th e m o re th a n
$ 3 b illio n in n o n re s id e n tia l c o n s tru c tio n in th e S ie rra N e v a d a b e tw e e n
1 9 9 3 a n d 2 0 0 3 , fo llo w e d b y th e S o u th C e n tra l S ie rra (1 6 p e rc e n t), th e
E a s t S ie rra (7 p e rc e n t), a n d th e N o rth S ie rra (1 p e rc e n t). T h e s e a re
a lm o s t e x a c tly th e s a m e p e rc e n ta g e s re p o rte d in th e 1 9 9 9 -2 0 0 0 W e a lth
In d e x . C o m p a re d w ith C a lifo rn ia , th e S ie rra N e v a d a in v e s ts a h ig h e r
p e rc e n t o f its n o n re s id e n tia l c o n s tru c tio n in to c h u rc h e s , s c h o o ls , m e d ic a l
fa c ilitie s , s to ra g e , a g ric u ltu ra l b u ild in g s , a n d b u ild in g s th a t p ro v id e lo c a l
s e rv ic e s . T h is is e s p e c ia lly tru e in th e N o rth , w h e re th e s e b u ild in g s
re p re s e n t 6 0 p e rc e n t o f n o n re s id e n tia l c o n s tru c tio n a n d in th e S o u th
C e n tra l a n d E a s t, w h e re th e y re p re s e n t a b o u t 5 0 p e rc e n t.
O n th e o th e r h a n d , th e S ie rra N e v a d a u n d e r in v e s ts in o ffic e s p a c e ,
e v e ry w h e re e x c e p t N o rth C e n tra l. T h e N o rth s ta n d s o u t w ith its h ig h e r
th a n a v e ra g e in v e s tm e n t in m a n u fa c tu rin g fa c ilitie s , b u t h a s o n ly tw o
p e rc e n t in v e s te d in re ta il s p a c e . S o u th C e n tra l la g s b e h in d o th e r re g io n s
in b u ild in g m a n u fa c tu rin g s p a c e s - o n ly e ig h t p e rc e n t o f a ll c o n s tru c tio n .
In th e E a s t, 1 o u t o f 4 n o n re s id e n tia l c o n s tru c tio n d o lla rs w e n t to b u ild in g
s tru c tu re s re la te d to to u ris m – re fle c tin g th e its e c o n o m ic p rio rity fo r th e
to u ris m a n d s e rv ic e s e c to r.
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a r ts fo r in v e s tm e n t b y ty p e 1 9 9 4 to 2 0 0 3
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a r ts fo r in v e s tm e n t v a lu a tio n 1 9 9 3 to 2 0 0 3
Per Capita County Revenue
County Revenues Average About Two-Thirds of the
California Level
Why is it important?
C o u n ty re v e n u e s p ro v id e im p o rta n t c o m m u n ity s e rv ic e s fro m fire
p ro te c tio n to p la n n in g to p u b lic w o rk s . Po lic e , s h e riffs , a n d lo c a l c o u rts
h e lp to m a k e a c o m m u n ity s a fe . A t lo c a l lib ra rie s , re s id e n ts c a n fin d g re a t
lite ra tu re , re s e a rc h fa c ts , re c o rd lo c a l h is to ry , a n d re a d s to rie s to
c h ild re n . M e d ic a l s e rv ic e s a n d h o s p ita ls te n d to th e s ic k a n d
in ju re d . L o c a l g o v e rn m e n ts re ly o n a v a rie ty o f re v e n u e s to p a y fo r th e s e
s e rv ic e s : p ro p e rty ta x e s , s p e c ia l a s s e s s m e n ts , lic e n s e s a n d p e rm its , u s e r
fe e s a n d m o n e y fro m s ta te a n d fe d e ra l g o v e rn m e n ts .
How are we doing?
In th e S ie rra N e v a d a , c o u n ty re v e n u e s a v e ra g e $ 1 ,1 7 1 p e r p e rs o n , a b o u t
tw o -th ird s o f th e C a lifo rn ia le v e l. M o re o v e r, b e tw e e n 1 9 9 3 a n d 2 0 0 2
re v e n u e s in c re a s e d m o re s lo w ly in th e S ie rra N e v a d a th a n a c ro s s th e
s ta te , 1 .5 p e rc e n t c o m p a re d to 1 .9 p e rc e n t a n n u a lly . A lth o u g h p e r c a p ita
re v e n u e s d o n o t ris e a n d fa ll in a ll c o u n tie s a t th e s a m e tim e , re v e n u e s
h a v e ris e n th ro u g h o u t th e S ie rra s in c e 2 0 0 0 . R e v e n u e s p e r c a p ita a re
h ig h e s t in th e E a s t, a b o u t 2 5 p e rc e n t a b o v e th e s ta te a v e ra g e , b u t
h o ld in g s te a d y . In th e N o rth , p e r c a p ita re v e n u e s a re s e v e n p e rc e n t
a b o v e C a lifo rn ia , b u t in c re a s in g b y th re e p e rc e n t p e r y e a r, th e fa s te s t
ra te w ith in th e S ie rra N e v a d a . In N o rth C e n tra l, p e r c a p ita re v e n u e is
a b o u t h a lf th e s ta te ra te , a n d in c re a s in g b y tw o p e rc e n t p e r y e a r. In
S o u th C e n tra l, c o u n ty re v e n u e a v e ra g e s a b o u t 7 0 p e rc e n t o f th e s ta te
a n d is h o ld in g s te a d y .
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a r ts 1 9 8 5 to 2 0 0 2
Business Establishments
Majority of Businesses Have Twenty Employees or Less
Why is it important?
S m a ll, lo c a lly o w n e d b u s in e s s e s a re th e s o u rc e o f 7 5 to 9 5 p e rc e n t o f a ll
jo b g ro w th in a c o m m u n ity , e ith e r b e c a u s e th e y a re n e w ly fo rm e d o r
e x p a n d in g . B u t s in c e th e s e n e w jo b s a re s c a tte re d th ro u g h o u t th e
e c o n o m y , th e y a re o fte n o v e rlo o k e d . Y e t a p o w e rfu l fo rm o f e c o n o m ic
d e v e lo p m e n t fo c u s e s o n lo c a l firm s b y a s k in g w h a t th e y n e e d to b e m o re
s u c c e s s fu l – b e tte r in fo rm a tio n , a c c e s s to m a rk e ts , b ro a d b a n d , e tc .
D e te rm in in g w h y th e s e firm s lo c a te d to a c o m m u n ity c a n re v e a l u n u s u a l
a s s e ts w o rth c o n s e rv in g a n d in v e s tin g in fo r e c o n o m ic d e v e lo p m e n t.
A s s e ts s u c h a s a c c e s s to o u td o o r re c re a tio n , h is to ric c h a rm , a n d
s p e c ta c u la r s c e n e ry c a n s p u r e c o n o m ic d e v e lo p m e n t.
How are we doing?
A s s h o w n b y th e a b o v e g ra p h , th e m a jo rity o f b u s in e s s e s ta b lis h m e n ts –
ra n g in g fro m a b o u t 8 9 -9 5 p e rc e n t – in a ll fo u r s u b re g io n s a re c o n s id e re d
s m a ll, w ith tw e n ty o r le s s e m p lo y e e s . T h is im p lie s th a t m o s t b u s in e s s e s
a re m o re lo c a lly fo c u s e d a n d th u s p ro v id e jo b s fo r m e m b e rs o f th e lo c a l
c o m m u n ity . T h is o n ly b e c o m e s p ro b le m a tic w h e n m o s t o f th e s e jo b s a re
lo w p a y in g a n d c re a te d iffic u ltly fo r e m p lo y e e s to a ffo rd h o u s in g in th e
a re a .
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a r ts 1 9 9 4 to 2 0 0 1
Bank Accounts
Bank Deposits Grow Per Capita
Why are they important?
B a n k d e p o s its g ro w w ith p o p u la tio n a n d p e r c a p ita in c o m e . T h e y a ls o
g ro w w h e n th e s to c k m a rk e t d e c lin e s b e c a u s e p e o p le m o v e m o n e y o u t to
s a fe r in v e s tm e n ts . M o n e y flo w s m o re e a s ily b e tw e e n b a n k s a n d th e s to c k
m a rk e t to d a y b e c a u s e p e o p le h a v e m o re o p tio n s fo r m u tu a l fu n d s a n d
o th e r in v e s tm e n ts th a n th e y d id y e a rs a g o . L o c a l b a n k a c c o u n ts a re a
fo rm o f fin a n c ia l c a p ita l th a t c a n b e re in v e s te d in th e c o m m u n ity th ro u g h
lo a n s fo r b u s in e s s e s o r c o n s tru c tio n .
How are we doing?
T h e c h a rt te lls u s th a t b a n k d e p o s its p e r c a p ita h a v e g ro w n s te a d ily s in c e
th e la te 1 9 9 0 s . T h is p o s itiv e tre n d is p ro b a b ly d u e to th e in c re a s e in p e r
c a p ita in c o m e a n d la rg e r n u m b e rs o f n e w re s id e n ts b rin g in g fin a n c ia l
re s o u rc e s fro m o th e r p a rts o f th e s ta te .
D o w n lo a d D a ta a n d C h a r ts 1 9 9 4 -2 0 0 3
Exports by Product Sector
Technological Products and Travel Import Majority of
Dollars into the Region
Why is it important?
E x p o rts g e n e ra te w e a lth a n d jo b s fo r a re g io n a n d in d ic a te its
c o m p e titiv e n e s s in th e g lo b a l e c o n o m y . B y s e rv in g a g ro w in g g lo b a l
d e m a n d fo r lo c a l g o o d s a n d s e rv ic e s , a re g io n c a n in c re a s e jo b s a n d
im p o rt m o re d o lla rs . T h e tra v e l in d u s try a n d g o v e rn m e n t jo b s s e rv e a
s im ila r e c o n o m ic fu n c tio n b e c a u s e th e y a ls o im p o rt d o lla rs . O n e w a y to
d iv e rs ify th e e c o n o m y is to d e v e lo p a w id e r v arie ty o f e x p o rts .
How are we doing?
T e c h n o lo g ic a l p ro d u c ts a n d tra v e l a re e q u a lly im p o rta n t to th e S ie rra
N e v a d a e c o n o m y , e a c h a c c o u n tin g fo r n e a rly a th ird o f th e d o lla rs
im p o rte d in to th e re g io n . T e c h n o lo g ic a l p ro d u c ts d o m in a te th e e c o n o m y
in N o rth C e n tra l, a c c o u n tin g fo r 4 3 p e rc e n t o f im p o rte d d o lla rs . T ra v e l,
o v e rw h e lm in g ly , im p o rts th e m o s t d o lla rs in th e E a s t, re s p o n s ib le fo r
th re e -fo u rth s o f a ll im p o rte d d o lla rs . S ta te a n d fe d e ra l g o v e rn m e n t d o lla rs
a c c o u n t fo r 1 6 p e rc e n t o f th e d o lla rs th a t flo w in to th e S ie rra N e v a d a a n d
a re d is trib u te d re la tiv e ly e v e n ly , e x c e p t in th e N o rth w h e re th e y re p re s e n t
o n e o u t o f e v e ry fo u r im p o rte d d o lla rs . F o re s try a n d w o o d p ro d u c ts
a c c o u n t fo r ro u g h ly 1 0 p e rc e n t o f d o lla rs im p o rte d in to th e S ie rra N e v a d a ,
a n d s till p re d o m in a te in th e N o rth w h e re th e y a c c o u n t fo r 4 1 p e rc e n t o f
im p o rte d d o lla rs .
T h e o th e r th re e s e c to rs – a g ric u ltu re , m in in g , o th e r fo rm s o f
m a n u fa c tu rin g – e a c h re p re s e n t a b o u t fiv e p e rc e n t o f th e d o lla rs im p o rte d
in to th e S ie rra . O n ly a g ric u ltu re in S o u th C e n tra l h a s re g io n a l
s ig n ific a n c e .
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a r ts 2 0 0 1
Percent of Payroll Generated by
Travel Spending
Tourist Spending Accounts for 15% of Sierra Nevada's Total
Payroll
Why is it important?
T h e m u lti-b illio n d o lla r tra v e l in d u s try is a v ita l p a rt o f th e S ie rra
N e v a d a ’s e c o n o m y . T h e in d u s try is re p re s e n te d b y a m y ria d o f re ta il a n d
s e rv ic e firm s s u c h a s lo d g in g e s ta b lis h m e n ts , re s ta u ra n ts , re ta il s to re s ,
g a s o lin e s e rv ic e s ta tio n s , o u td o o r re c re a tio n p ro v id e rs , a g ric u ltu ra l a n d
c u ltu ra l to u ris m b u s in e s s e s . T h e tra v e l s p e n d in g fig u re s in c lu d e d h e re in
a re e s tim a te s o f d e s tin a tio n tra v e l s p e n d in g ; th e s e e s tim a te s in c lu d e a ll
tra v e l s p e n d in g e x c e p t fo r a ir tra n s p o rta tio n a n d tra v e l a rra n g e m e n ts .
V is ito rs a re a ttra c te d to th e S ie rra N e v a d a b e c a u s e o f its o u ts ta n d in g
n a tu ra l a n d s o c ia l c a p ita l. T h e b lu e s k ie s , w id e-o p e n m o u n ta in v is ta s ,
ru s h in g s tre a m s , h e a lth y fo re s ts a n d lo v e ly h is to ric to w n s d ra w v is ito rs
fro m a ro u n d th e w o rld . T h e s e v is ito rs h e lp b u ild th e S ie rra ’s fin a n c ia l
c a p ita l b y s u p p o rtin g lo c a l jo b s a n d g e n e ra tin g b illio n s o f d o lla rs in
re v e n u e fo r th e p riv a te a n d p u b lic s e c to rs .
W h ile lo w p o p u la tio n d e n s ity c a n b e a d is a d v a n ta g e fo r s o m e k in d s o f
e c o n o m ic a c tiv itie s , it c a n b e b e n e fic ia l fo r o th e rs , lik e to u ris m a n d
re tire m e n t c o m m u n itie s . M a n y a u th o rs h a v e h ig h lig h te d th e s u c c e s s o f
s u c h “h ig h a m e n ity ” ru ra l re g io n s . T h e s e ru ra l re g io n s s h o w s tro n g
e c o n o m ic p e rfo rm a n c e b y a ttra c tin g to u ris ts , re tire e s , an d o th e r re s id e n ts
w ith a h ig h e r q u a lity o f life . W ith s c e n ic b e a u ty o r to u ris m o ffe rin g s s u c h
a s b e a c h e s o r m o u n ta in s , th e s e a re a s a ttra c t v is ito rs a n d re s id e n ts w h o
s tim u la te lo c a l b u s in e s s d e v e lo p m e n t, b o o s t th e d e m a n d fo r h ig h e r
q u a lity lo c a l s e rv ic e s , a n d e le v a te p e r c a p ita in c o m e .
How are we doing?
T o u ris t s p e n d in g p ro v id e s 1 5 p e rc e n t o f S ie rra N e v a d a ’s to ta l p a y ro ll
c o m p a re d to th re e p e rc e n t o f C a lifo rn ia ’s to ta l p a y ro ll. T h e im p o rta n c e o f
to u ris m to lo c a l w a g e s v a rie s c o n s id e ra b ly a c ro s s th e S ie rra N e v a d a ,
fro m a h ig h o f 5 3 p e rc e n t in th e E a s t S ie rra , to a p p ro x im a te ly 2 8 p e rc e n t
in th e S o u th C e n tra l S ie rra a n d th e N o rth S ie rra , a n d n in e p e rc e n t in th e
N o rth C e n tra l S ie rra .
In 1 9 9 7 , v is ito r s p e n d in g a c c o u n te d fo r m o re th a n $ 3 .3 b illio n in re v e n u e s
to S ie rra N e v a d a c o m m u n itie s . T o u ris t s p e n d in g w a s h ig h e s t in th e N o rth
C e n tra l S ie rra ($ 1 .6 b illio n /y e a r), fo llo w e d b y th e S o u th C e n tra l S ie rra
($ 8 8 0 m illio n /y e a r), th e E a s t S ie rra ($ 6 1 7 m illio n /y e a r) a n d th e N o rth
S ie rra ($ 2 0 3 m illio n /y e a r).
D o w n lo a d d a ta a n d c h a r ts 1 9 9 2 to 2 0 0 2
Summary
T h e S ie rra N e v a d a W e a lth In d e x c le a rly in d ic a te s th a t th e S ie rra N e v a d a
re g io n is w e a lth y , a n d w e h a v e a p re c io u s o p p o rtu n i ty to b u ild u p o n th a t
w e a lth .
R a p id m o v e m e n ts in c o m m u n ic a tio n s a n d tra n s p o rta tio n h a v e b ro u g h t
S ie rra N e v a d a b u s in e s s e s e v e r c lo s e r to th e ir c u s to m e rs w o rld w id e ,
tra n s fo rm in g o u r re g io n ’s e c o n o m ic p ro s p e c ts . R e s p o n d in g to th is
re a lity , a n e w b re e d o f e c o n o m ic p io n e e r is m o v in g to th e S ie rra—
in s p ire d b y th e o p p o rtu n ity to liv e a n d ra is e fa m ilie s in s m a ll c o m m u n itie s
w ith e a s y a c c e s s to th e n a tu ra l s p le n d o rs o f th e S ie rra N e v a d a . A t th e
s a m e tim e , s k ille d y o u n g p e o p le a n d b u s in e s s o w n e rs , w h o m ig h t o n c e
h a v e b e e n fo rc e d to le a v e th e re g io n to fin d w o rk o r to e x p a n d th e ir
o p e ra tio n s , a re fin d in g th a t th e y c a n re m a in in th e S ie rra a n d p ro s p e r.
T h is re a lity is re fle c te d c le a rly in th e 2 0 0 5 -2 0 0 6 S ie rra N e v a d a W e a lth
In d e x th ro u g h in d ic a to rs s u c h a s in c re a s in g e c o n o m ic d iv e rs ity , ris in g
p e rs o n a l in c o m e s , e x p o rts , re s id e n tia l a n d c o m m e rc ia l d e v e lo p m e n t. It is
a ls o re fle c te d in p o lls o f S ie rra N e v a d a v o te rs , w h ic h re p e a te d ly
d e m o n s tra te th a t th e p rim a ry m o tiv a tio n fo r m o s t p e o p le to liv e in th e
S ie rra N e v a d a is th e re g io n 's o u ts ta n d in g q u a lity o f life a n d e x c e p tio n a l
n a tu ra l e n v iro n m e n t.
B u t th e 2 0 0 5 -2 0 0 6 In d e x d e m o n s tra te s a c o n tin u a tio n o f n e g a tiv e tre n d s
in tro d u c e d in th e la s t e d itio n . F irs t, th e te c h n o lo g ic a l a n d d e m o g ra p h ic
c h a n g e s th a t h a v e d riv e n th e S ie rra N e v a d a 's e x p a n d in g p ro s p e rity h a v e
n o t c o m e w ith o u t c o s ts : ra p id lo s s o f fa rm la n d , s u rp ris in g ly h ig h le v e ls o f
w a te r a n d a ir p o llu tio n , d e c lin in g b io d iv e rs ity , a n d u n s ig h tly s p ra w l. T h is
d im in is h m e n t o f n a tu ra l c a p ita l, if it c o n tin u e s , w ill u ltim a te ly d riv e
fin a n c ia l c a p ita l fro m o u r re g io n to p la c e s w ith e ffe c tiv e lo n g -te rm p la n s
to s a fe g u a rd th e ir n a tu ra l c a p ita l a s p o p u la tio n in c re a s e s .
S e c o n d ly , th e S ie rra N e v a d a 's e x p a n d in g p ro s p e rity h a s n o t re a c h e d
e v e ry o n e o r e v e ry w h e re . In s o m e c o u n tie s , th e g ro w in g n u m b e r o f
c h ild re n in p o v e rty , d e c lin in g p e rs o n a l in c o m e s , lo w e d u c a tio n a l
a tta in m e n t le v e ls , a n d o u td a te d c o m m u n ic a tio n s in fra s tru c tu re s h o w th a t
p e o p le a n d c o m m u n itie s a re b e in g le ft b e h in d . T h e s e tre n d s , o c c u rrin g
w h e n m u c h o f C a lifo rn ia h a s e x p e rie n c e d u n p re d e n t p ro s p e rity , o n ly
re in fo rc e s th e n e e d to in v e s t in s o c ia l c a p ita l in o rd e r to b u ild re g io n a l
w e a lth .
T h e w e b -b a s e d 2 0 0 5 -2 0 0 6 S ie rra N e v a d a W e a lth In d e x illu m in a te s tre n d s
w e m u s t a d d re s s to e n s u re o u r re g io n 's lo n g -te rm p ro s p e rity :
In c re a s in g a ffo rd a b le h o u s in g u n its , in v e s tm e n ts in lo c a l c o m m u n itie s ,
g ro w in g p e rs o n a l in c o m e s , in c re a s in g th e n u m b e r o f h ig h e r s k ille d jo b s ,
h ig h e r p a y in g jo b s , a n d d e c lin in g u n e m p lo y m e n t tre n d s n e e d to b e
s u p p o rte d a n d e n c o u ra g e d
C o n tin u e d lo s s o f fa rm la n d s a n d o p e n s p a c e , in c re a s in g a ir a n d w a te r
p o llu tio n , d e c lin in g b io d iv e rs ity a n d ra p id u rb a n s p ra w l a re a ll tre n d s w e
s h o u ld w o rk s w iftly to re v e rs e G ro w in g c h ild h o o d p o v e rty , lo w le v e ls o f
e d u c a tio n a l a tta in m e n t, lo w p u b lic s c h o o l e n ro llm e n t, d e c re a s in g s iz e a n d
q u a lity o f h o s p ita ls , a n d s u b-p a r h e a lth in s u ra n c e c o v e ra g e a m o n g
re s id e n ts d e m o n s tra te th a t s o m e S ie rra N e v a d a n s a re b e in g le ft b e h in d ;
th e s e , to o , a re tre n d s w e m u s t re v e rs e
T h e S ie rra N e v a d a W e a lth In d e x is d e s ig n e d to h e lp b u s in e s s le a d e rs
a n d p o lic y m a k e rs d e v e lo p in te g ra te d in v e s tm e n t s tra te g ie s to b u ild
w e a lth in th e S ie rra N e v a d a . A s w e d o s o , w e m u s t p u t b e h in d u s ,
d e c is iv e ly a n d fo re v e r, th e n o tio n th a t o u r e c o n o m y fu n c tio n s in a
v a c u u m , s e a le d fro m s o c ie ty a n d th e n a tu ra l o rd e r.
O u r w e a lth is o u r to ta l c a p ita l— s o c ia l, n a tu ra l, a n d fin a n c ia l— a n d o u r
in v e s tm e n t s tra te g ie s m u s t re fle c t th is re a lity. O n ly b y m o n ito rin g tre n d s
in a ll th re e fo rm s o f c a p ita l a n d ta k in g fu ll a c c o u n t o f th o s e tre n d s in o u r
in v e s tm e n t d e c is io n s , w ill w e b e a b le to b u ild th e w e a lth o f o u r
c o m m u n itie s fo r o u rs e lv e s a n d fo r o u r d e s c e n d a n ts .