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Mono County joins regional wildfire alliance MOU after Whitebark Institute presentation
Summary
The Mono County Board of Supervisors voted May 12 to adopt a nonbinding memorandum of understanding formalizing participation in the Eastern Sierra Wildfire Alliance after a presentation from Whitebark Institute on planned fuel‑reduction work and funding readiness for Prop 4.
The Mono County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously May 12 to adopt a nonbinding memorandum of understanding that formalizes the county’s participation in the Eastern Sierra Wildfire Alliance and signals readiness to seek landscape‑scale wildfire resilience funding, county officials said.
Whitebark Institute Executive Director Laura Beardsley told the board the institute is managing the Eastern Sierra Climate and Communities Resilience Project, a landscape‑scale fuel reduction and ecosystem restoration effort covering tens of thousands of acres surrounding Mammoth Lakes. “This year, we are planning to implement about 1,200 acres,” Beardsley said, adding that partners as a group expect about 2,400 acres of fuel reduction this summer across the project area.
The nut graf: The MOU is nonbinding and contains no financial commitment, but county leaders said signing it strengthens the region’s competitiveness for state grants under Proposition 4 and other programs. Beardsley highlighted grant opportunities, including a potential $10 million landscape grant through the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, and said the alliance helps demonstrate the region’s readiness to manage large state investments.
Board members raised questions about geography and inclusion of northern Mono County communities. Supervisor Peters asked whether northern districts and smaller fire districts like Antelope and Bridgeport had been invited; Beardsley said the alliance is engaging the Carson and Humboldt‑Toiyabe ranger districts and local fire districts and that invitations and outreach are ongoing. Several supervisors stressed the need to ensure that projects benefit each community across the county, not just the Mammoth Lakes area.
Supervisors praised Whitebark’s ability to secure funding and to coordinate partners. “Collaborative action doesn’t happen on its own,” Supervisor McFarland said, thanking Whitebark for acting as a catalytic spark and framework for regional work. After discussion, the board moved and voted to approve the MOU.
The vote: The motion to adopt the MOU carried with an affirmative vote from the full board.
What’s next: Whitebark and county staff will continue community engagement and planning for project implementation and pursue state and federal funding opportunities, with the board noting that showing regional partnership increases competitiveness for grants.
