Forestry Update: Keeping Our Woods Healthy & Safe

As smoke continues to blow through our region from the numerous wildfires we want to take a moment to share our support for all those affected. These are challenging times, but we take hope in the incredible work of the firefighters now on the many front lines of this fight.

At the same time, our stewardship crew continues work to do our part for forest health and wildfire safety on Land Trust lands, not just for the benefit of the open spaces we’ve worked so hard to protect, but also for the neighboring communities on the wildland urban interface.

Currently, foresters are working on a 200-acre forest health project at Royal Gorge, thinning the trees on our Donner Summit Property neighboring the Serene Lakes community. This project, started last year along with a similar 185-acre project at Webber Lake, are funded by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy to the tune of $750,000. The result will be a healthier forest more resilient in the face of a changing climate and the threat of catastrophic wildfires, making them safer for those who live nearby. See current trail closures for the Royal Gorge forestry project here - anticipated to last 2-3 weeks.

The Land Trust is working with local and state agencies on two other planned forestry projects that have not yet begun. The first is with CalFire that includes 1,170 acres owned by the Land Trust, US Forest Service, Sierra Pacific Industries, Teichert, Vail and Truckee Tahoe Airport District improving wildfire safety along Truckee’s eastern edge. The other is a Truckee Fire Protection District Project working on Land Trust lands along with areas in Tahoe Donner and Alder Hill to reduce hazardous fuels and improve forest health.