Logo courtesy of California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force

AUBURN, CA (MPG) - The Placer County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday authorized the director of the county’s Agriculture, Parks, and Natural Resources Department to implement California’s Joint Strategy for Sustainable Outdoor Recreation & Wildfire Resilience, a statewide framework to safeguard the natural landscapes and recreation economies that rural communities depend on.

The strategy, published in March 2023 by the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force, establishes four goals: integrating forest health with sustainable outdoor recreation, advancing equitable access for all Californians, promoting public health through outdoor recreation, and supporting economies that invest in climate resilience. 

By formally adopting the strategy, Placer County joins other local governments and special districts in a coordinated statewide effort to address climate change and catastrophic wildfire risk.

"Placer County's outdoor landscapes are not just a quality-of-life asset — they are the foundation of our local economy and the fabric of our communities," said Placer County Parks Administrator Erika Seward. "Adopting this strategy means we are being proactive and intentional about protecting these resources, aligning our local work with a statewide vision and making sure Placer County is positioned to compete for the funding needed to build long-term resilience."

Placer County's economy and identity are closely tied to its natural environment, including forests, trails and recreation areas that draw residents and visitors alike.

County staff noted that overuse of natural resources and the escalating threat of catastrophic wildfire have placed growing pressure on both the landscape and the infrastructure that supports it.

The county has already taken significant steps toward wildfire resilience. The Parks Division's Urban Forestry and Fuel Load Reduction program dedicates $850,000 annually to fuel management and stewardship of county-owned parcels. Meanwhile, the Regional Forest Health Division has secured $6,853,986 in grant funding in recent years — including $810,400 in new funding in 2025 — to support wildfire resilience coordination, project development and hazardous fuels reduction across the county.

Staff will look to integrate the strategy's goals into existing destination management planning, capital improvement projects and interagency coordination efforts, building on the frameworks already established in the county's Parks and Trails Master Plan and Regional Forest Health 10-Year Action Plan.

Adopting the strategy also enhances Placer County's eligibility for state funding through Proposition 4 and federal support through the reauthorization of the Great American Outdoors Act — both of which fund wildfire prevention, recreation infrastructure and the protection of communities and natural lands from climate risks.

The Sustainable Recreation/CALREC Vision Key Working Group, which developed the strategy on behalf of the Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force, was recognized with the Partnership of the Year award from the U.S. Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region for its efforts.