In the Sierra Nevada, forests and water are deeply intertwined, and it’s these mountain headwater watersheds that supply clean, reliable water to our communities. Maintaining this delicate balance requires collaboration and proactive action to address the threat posed by large scale wildfires in California.
As wildfires grow larger and more destructive, they don’t just scorch trees and soil—they destabilize entire watersheds. Ash, sediment, and debris wash into rivers and reservoirs, degrading water quality and complicating treatment. With dense forest communities and climate change fueling more frequent and intense fires, protecting forest health has become essential to safeguarding our most vital resource: clean water.
Restoring a forest after wildfire devastation is far more challenging—and costly—than taking proactive steps to protect it before disaster strikes. This contrast is clearly illustrated by the Nevada Irrigation District’s (NID) dual efforts: rehabilitating land scorched by the 2021 River Fire along the Bear River and proactively managing forest health around Jackson Meadows, Scotts Flat and Rollins Reservoirs through thinning and fuel reduction. The lesson is simple: prevention costs less and delivers greater long-term benefits for forest and watershed resilience.
Restoration of a blackened forest
The River Fire began at the Bear River Campground in Placer County on August 4, 2021, and burned 2,619 acres before being fully contained on August 13. In its wake, the landscape was reduced to ash and blackened trees stretched for miles.
“There is an emotional, visceral feeling when you stand in a burn scar,” said Neysa King, NID’s Environmental Resources Administrator. “This was once a living forest—home to oaks, pines, and bay trees—rooted in thousands of years of history.”
Although the area was widely described as “destroyed,” signs of recovery are emerging. NID has been restoring 180 acres of land in the Bear River canyon between Chicago Park and Lake of the Pines, with nearly half of the work completed manually on steep slopes. These efforts have been greatly enhanced through a partnership with the Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC), which has supported NID efforts with significant grant funding to expand and continue multiple years of post-wildfire remediation.
Regeneration is now seen throughout the burn scar. Green underbrush and young oak saplings are beginning to return. “This forest will recover naturally—fire plays an important role in these ecosystems—but recovery takes time,” said King. “Our project is designed to accelerate that process.”
Restoration efforts following the River Fire have cost NID on average approximately $5,000 per acre, due to labor-intensive hand crew and mechanical treatment work, and reforestation needs.
Improving the health and resilience of a green forest
In contrast, just 19 miles away at Scotts Flat Reservoir, NID has proactively treated more than 500 acres of forest. By thinning trees and reducing ground fuels, the District has created a shaded fuel break that enhances wildfire resilience and supports overall watershed health. The result: a landscape of thriving green trees, clear blue water, safer communities, and healthier ecosystems.
This proactive work cost on average approximately $2,500 per acre—about half the price of post-fire restoration.
“Being proactive saves money and protects our water source and local habitats and communities,” King said. “Water comes from watersheds, so we must prioritize their health. Working in a blackened forest after a fire costs twice as much as working in a living green forest.”
The urgency to complete forest health and watershed protection projects is increasing, especially in the Sierra Nevada headwaters, which are critical to NID’s water supply.
Approximately 95 percent of wildfires in California, including those in the Sierra Nevada, are caused by human activity, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). These fires result from both unintentional and intentional actions, such as unattended campfires, debris burning, vehicle sparks, equipment failures, discarded cigarettes, and acts of arson.
Recognizing that the vast majority of wildfires are human-caused underscores the importance of fire prevention efforts in wildland areas. Moreover, as climate change continues to place increasing stress on forest ecosystems, active forest management is not only prudent, it is essential. Proactive strategies such as forest thinning and the creation of defensible space can greatly reduce the severity and spread of wildfires, while also enhancing the long-term resilience of our forests.
“Where people go, fires follow. It’s essential we strengthen our watersheds now,” King said. “We know what needs to be done. The science is clear,” she added. “What’s needed is collaboration—among water agencies, state and federal partners, and local communities—and most importantly, reliable funding to make it happen.”
NID’s watershed stewardship activities and regional partnerships in the Sierra Nevada have been critically and meaningfully enhanced by the support provided by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC), which is an agency of the State of California. This recognition permeates to the core of the protection and stewardship activities throughout these forests, rivers, and watersheds in the Sierra Nevada region.
To support NID’s efforts, the SNC and the Bear River Wildfire Recovery Project have provided essential grants and support. For example, SNC awarded $570,000 in 2022 for the Bear River Wildfire Recovery Project and provided $981,000 in 2018 for the Scotts Flat Reservoir Forest Health and Wildfire Risk Reduction Project.
New projects help fortify upper watersheds
More recently, the SNC has provided NID with a grant of $1,274,000 to complete 400 acres of forest thinning and fuels reduction around Jackson Meadows Reservoir, one of NID’s largest high-elevation reservoirs in the Middle Yuba River headwaters.
As the need for landscape-scale treatment grows, NID has partnered with the US Forest Service to complete the studies and environmental compliance necessary to complete an additional 3,500 acres in this same area. SNC recognized this unique public land-irrigation district partnership and has provided a planning grant of $386,100 to help facilitate and expedite the process.
“In the coming years we are looking forward to improving the watershed conditions that result in healthier forests, increased water supply, and protected aquatic and terrestrial habitats in much of the Middle Yuba River headwaters.” King said.
Watershed stewardship can take many forms and there are different theories about what is most effective and beneficial, King added. “What is certain is that this toolbox of management options includes fire fuels treatment, prescribed fire, selective logging, post wildfire remediation, reforestation, and continued re-treatment if we want to protect our communities and the source of our water supply in the Sierra Nevada region.”
