Story by the Gridley Herald, Dec 30, 2025 01:18PM ● via Sierra Nevada Conservancy News Release

NORHTERN CALIFORNIA, CA (MPG) – On Thursday, Dec. 11, the Sierra Nevada Conservancy’s (SNC) Board approved three separate grants totaling nearly $4.6 million to fund projects that will reduce fuels and create fuel breaks in efforts to restore forest health and protect nearby communities from wildfire. The grants, funded through Proposition 4 that voters passed in 2024, are the first awarded from the more than $33 million allotted from the state to the Sierra Nevada Conservancy for Wildfire and Forest Resilience programs.

“I’m excited by the actions of our Board to approve these projects so our valuable partners can continue the vital work in the Sierra-Cascade that is restoring forest health and resilience to help protect both the natural landscape and nearby communities from major disturbances, such as damaging wildfire,” said Angela Avery, executive officer with the Sierra Nevada Conservancy.

Work to occur in Butte, Mono, Madera counties

The three grants from Sierra Nevada Conservancy’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Directed Grant Program will fund projects in Butte, Mono, and Madera counties. A grant for $1,298,000 was awarded to Chico State Enterprises for a fuel-break project that will establish 6.5 miles of continual fuel breaks in the footprint of the Park Fire in Big Chico Creek Canyon. The fuel breaks are part of the larger Butte County Community Fuel Break Project and will help protect residents in the towns of Cohasset, Forest Ranch, and the city of Chico. This project utilized the Statewide Fuels Reduction Environmental Protection Plan (EPP), which was developed to fulfill Governor Newsom’s State of Emergency Proclamation and expedite fuels-reduction projects.

The amount of $1,493,192 was awarded to the California Deer Association to reduce fuels and improve forest health on more than 400 acres near the town of Mammoth Lakes in Mono County. The project is in the Inyo National Forest, within the Hot Creek-Owens River watershed and the larger Eastern Sierra Climate and Communities Resilience Project.

Finally, the Board approved $1,896,856 to the Eastern Madera County Fire Safe Council for a project that will reconstruct a 4.7-mile, 300-acre fuel break on Sierra National Forest lands in Madera County. The fuel break will help protect the communities of Oakhurst, Bass Lake, Coarsegold, North Fork, and the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians.

Wildfire and forest resilience funds expanded

The three Wildfire and Forest Resilience Directed Program grants approved at the meeting are funded by Proposition 4, which voters passed in November of 2024 and allocates a total of $1.5 billion for wildfire and forest-resilience programs across the state.

Of this amount, Prop 4 includes $33.5 million to Sierra Nevada Conservancy for wildfire-resilience projects. Thanks to early action by the Governor and the legislature, $30.9 million of Sierra Nevada Conservancy’s wildfire resilience funds were made available in April 2025. At the June 2025 meeting, the SNC Governing Board opened a $10 million Wildfire and Forest Resilience Directed Grant Program.

Due to the robust list of eligible, quality projects submitted, Sierra Nevada Conservancy staff recommended the Board increase available funding under the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Directed Grant Program from $10 million to $15 million. The Board approved the $5 million increase, ensuring more funds may be awarded for eligible, shovel-ready projects at future meetings.

Projects contribute to state climate targets

The Sierra Nevada Conservancy’s Wildfire and Forest Resilience Directed Grant Program seeks to create more resilient forest landscapes and watersheds, reduce wildfire risk, and protect communities. All grants awarded in this program will reduce fuels near communities to prevent wildfire. Fuel-reduction work contributes towards the statewide Nature-Based Solutions wildfire-risk-reduction targets. Beginning in 2030, California aims to complete 700,000 acres of fuel-reduction work annually.

For more information visit the Sierra Nevada Conservancy website HERE.

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