Nevada County adopts state joint strategy to link recreation and wildfire resilience; Pines to Mines work advances

Nevada County on Aug. 12 voted to adopt California's Joint Strategy for Sustainable Outdoor Recreation and Wildfire Resilience and received an update on multiple eastern-county recreation projects, including the Pines to Mines trail, roadside fuel breaks under a Good Neighbor Agreement with the Tahoe National Forest and targeted visitor-safety investments in Truckee.

The board placed the strategy as a non-mandatory framework to align recreation planning with wildfire risk reduction, funding competitiveness and interagency coordination. The document links visitor management, facility resilience and community wildfire preparedness to protect public lands while sustaining local economies.

County Community Development director Tricia Tillotson and senior analyst Shivati Karki Pearl summarized dozens of eastern-county projects supported through the county's Recreation and Resiliency Master Plan and state/federal grants. Highlights included: continuing coordination of the Pines to Mines Alliance (Truckee Trails Foundation as lead) to connect long-distance multiuse single-track trails; temporary bypass and removal work for the Hirschdale bridge; restoration at Van Norden Meadow; and small infrastructure upgrades at Glenshire and Prosser Creek to improve public access and safety.

Tahoe National Forest District Ranger Jonathan Cook Fisher and county staff described outcomes since the board approved a Good Neighbor agreement in July 2024: a local contractor under county/forest partnership completed roughly 110 acres of roadside shaded-fuel break between Prosser and Stampede reservoirs, with the county providing administrative support. Fisher said shaded-fuel breaks improve firefighter access, protect water supplies and create safer ingress/egress lines while larger landscape restoration is planned.

John Wentworth, president and CEO of the Mammoth Lakes Trails and Public Access Foundation, briefed the board on the statewide effort that produced the joint strategy, explaining the need for a coordinated approach across federal, state and local jurisdictions to manage visitor growth and wildfire impacts. Supervisors said the strategy will help Nevada County compete for federal and state funding and strengthen regional partnerships.

The board adopted the strategy by roll-call vote (unanimous). Staff said adoption is voluntary guidance, intended to be implemented through county plans, partner agreements and project-level funding requests. The county will continue to convene the Pines to Mines Alliance, pursue earmark and grant funding for priority projects, and host collaborative events to coordinate trail stewardship, visitor safety and habitat protection.

Looking ahead, county staff will return with funding applications and project schedules for board consideration, and continue quarterly wildfire stakeholder meetings that now include more Truckee-based events and site tours.