Nevada City, CA – The Yuba Watershed Institute (YWI) is pleased to announce a community meeting on Thursday, October 10th, 2024, from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM at Seaman’s Lodge in Pioneer Park, Nevada City. The meeting will present details of the Little Deer Creek Landscape Resilience Project, an initiative aimed at improving forest health and wildfire resilience on 195 acres of land in the Little Deer Creek watershed, located on Banner Mountain.
Funded by an $823,500 grant from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy’s Wildfire Recovery and Forest Resilience Grant Program, this project is a collaboration between the YWI, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Sierra Streams Institute, and Bear Yuba Land Trust. It will employ a range of treatments, including hand thinning, mechanical thinning, chipping, and pile burning, to reduce hazardous fuels and protect the community’s infrastructure and natural resources, including the Cascade Canal, DS Canal, Nevada City’s water treatment facilities, and popular recreational trails.
The project, which began in late September, is expected to continue through the spring of 2025. Residents may begin seeing crews and equipment working in the project area this fall as efforts ramp up. For questions or concerns, residents are encouraged to contact the YWI at info@yubawatershedinstitute.org.
Chris Friedel, Executive Director of the YWI, emphasized the importance of the project:
“The Little Deer Creek Landscape Resilience Project is part of a larger suite of projects being implemented around Nevada City and Grass Valley, all designed to significantly reduce the risk of wildfire. Taken together, these projects are helping to protect vital community infrastructure, homes, and businesses while promoting healthier, more resilient forest ecosystems. By addressing fire risk at a landscape scale, we’re working to create a safer environment for residents and ensure the long-term health of our forests, water resources, and wildlife.”
Jeff Lauder, Executive Director of Sierra Streams Institute, added:
“This project aligns perfectly with our mission to promote healthy watersheds and ecosystems. By integrating forest health with water quality and habitat protection, we’re creating resilient landscapes that can better withstand the pressures of climate change, including more intense and frequent wildfires. The thoughtful, science-based approach developed by YWI and SSI ensures that fire risk is reduced holistically, considering both environmental and community needs.”
The community meeting will provide attendees with detailed information on the project timeline, potential impacts, and an opportunity to engage in a Q&A session with project leaders.
Public Site Walks
In addition to the meeting, Sierra Streams Institute will lead two public site walks to explore the project area and discuss the resilience efforts in action. The walks will take place on:
- Wednesday, October 30th, 2024, at 1:00 PM
- Saturday, November 9th, 2024, at 10:00 AM
Both walks will meet at the Nevada County Sportsmen Club and last approximately 1.5 hours. Participants are encouraged to wear sturdy shoes and bring water.
Why This Project Matters
The Little Deer Creek Landscape Resilience Project plays a crucial role in safeguarding the local community from the growing threat of wildfires. By managing forest density and removing excess fuels, the project aims to reduce the likelihood of catastrophic fires in the densely populated Banner Mountain area. The work will also protect critical water infrastructure, recreational amenities, and wildlife habitats, ensuring a safer and more resilient future for residents and visitors alike.
For more information about the Little Deer Creek Landscape Resilience Project, visit the Yuba Watershed Institute’s website at yubawatershedinstitute.org.