Using nature-based solutions to provide critical protection from wildfires for some of the most vulnerable communities.
County of Nevada, California: $31.03 Million
History
Nevada County is a rural county that borders the state of Nevada and moves westward into central California. The heavily forested and mountainous region has been the subject of extreme fire danger in recent years due to the ongoing western drought.
Project Description
Ninety-one percent of Nevada County has been determined by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection's Fire and Resource Assessment Program to be either a high or very high fire hazard severity zone. This project strategically focuses on geographically vulnerable locations in high and very high fire severity zones. It also prioritizes benefits to disadvantaged communities, densely populated areas, critical infrastructure and lifelines.
This project will use nature-based solutions and a multi-faceted approach to directly address wildfire risk to lives, homes and community lifelines through 1) home-hardening, 2) near-home defensible space vegetation management, 3) landscape level fuel modification, and 4) community education. Coordinated deployment of proven strategies will mitigate severe and immediate risk while establishing a model that supports generational infrastructure change. Nevada County would like to partner with organizations such as local land trusts, Nisenan, Washoe and other local tribes, the Redbud Chapter of the California Native Plant Society, watershed protection organizations, schools, Firewise Communities, the Fire Safe Council, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Nevada County Resource Conservation District, and the Tahoe National Forest.