Projects

The Feather River Stewardship Coalition is dedicated to an active and positive role in managing public lands within the Feather River watershed.  Here are some of the projects we support:
Wolf and Grizzly Creek Municipal Watershed Protection

In June 2016 the Sierra Nevada Conservancy awarded $465,500 to complete approximately 500 acres of forest fuels thinning on National Forest lands around Lake Davis and the Round Valley Reservoir. This municipal water source protection and enhancement project is located adjacent to two important water reservoirs on the Plumas National Forest, in Plumas County, a rural forested area of the Northern Sierra Nevada. Lake Davis, within the Grizzly Creek watershed, is the primary water source for the city of Portola. Water from Lake Davis contributes to the State Water Project, providing drinking water throughout California. The Wolf Creek watershed treatment areas contribute to water quality of the Round Valley Reservoir, which provides drinking water to the community of Greenville and surrounding areas. This project is  a joint project of the Plumas County Fire
Safe Council (PCFSC) and the Plumas National Forest (PNF). This project spatially contributes to a large scale effort by the PNF to create long-term landscape level
defensible fuel profile zones – areas of treated forest lands that demonstrate increased resistance to high intensity wildfires, increased forest habitat resiliency, and improved carbon storage capacity and water quality that will in turn safeguard downstream public resources and drinking water supplies.  Fuel reduction and forest restoration treatments include: 131 acres of mechanical
thinning of sawlogs and biomass, and chipping and hauling to a biomass co-gen facility, and 369 acres of hand thinning, hand or grapple piling and burning.
Overstocked forested areas abut cabins in the Bucks Lake Project area.
Bucks Lake

In September 2016 the Sierra Nevada Conservancy awarded $464,025 to complete approximately 200 acres of forest fuels thinning on National Forest lands around residences in the Bucks Lake area.

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A dense stand of untreated conifers on Plumas National Forest land.
Adjacent residential property, cleared and underburned by the landowner.
Butterfly Twain Fuels and Forest Health

In June 2018 the Sierra Nevada Conservancy awarded $500,000 to treat 454.9 acres.  The Butterfly Twain Fuels and Forest Health Project is part of a comprehensive large-scale forest restoration project at the headwaters of the Upper Feather River Watershed affecting water quality and availability for the State Water Project.  Located on the Mt. Hough Ranger District of the Plumas National Forest, this project protects watershed health at risk from the threat of high severity wildfire through improved forest health, protects of life and property, and contributes to greenhouse gas reduction. Partners in project development and implementation include the US Forest Service, Plumas County Fire Safe Council, members of the California Native Plant Society, Feather River Stewardship Coalition, Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), Maidu partners from the Greenville Rancheria, and community members of Butterfly Valley located in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI).  Over 100 acres of private property in Butterfly Valley has received fuels reduction – either with personal funds or with the financial and technical assistance of the NRCS.

Additional project photos
Dense vegetation and ground fuels around the South Fork Feather River where it enters Little Grass Valley Reservoir
Little Grass Valley Reservoir Watershed Protection

In June 2018 the Sierra Nevada Conservancy awarded $500,000 to treat 480 acres.  The Little Grass Valley Reservoir Watershed Protection Project (Project) is located two miles north of the community of La Porte, Plumas County, in the Feather River Ranger District of the Plumas National Forest (PNF). The 480-acre forested Project area surrounds Little Grass Valley Reservoir which is entirely within the Wildland Urban Interface surrounding the federally recognized Community at Risk of Little Grass Valley. The reservoir is the fourth largest water body within the Upper Feather River Watershed and is fed by the South Fork of the Feather River. From Little Grass Valley Reservoir, the South Fork of the Feather River makes its way to Lake Oroville, the primary source for the State Water Project, which serves 23 million Californians.  The Project, using hand and mechanical thinning, will treat hazardous fuels on a minimum of 480 of prioritized acres with the potential of expanding up to an additional 770 acres if funds, time, and conditions allow.
Beargrass regeneration after burning in the Butterfly portion of the project.
Plumas Collaborative Forest Health

In August 2018 CAL FIRE awarded $6,6 million to treat 7,859 acres. The Plumas Collaborative Forest Health Project is part of a comprehensive large-scale forest restoration project in the Wildland Urban Interface of the East Branch of the North Fork Feather River.  Located on the Plumas National Forest as well as surrounding SRA private lands, this project works across landownerships to protect watershed benefits at risk from the threat of high severity wildfire.  The project employs diverse forest management practices that increase long-term carbon storage.

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Lakes Basin

The FRSC is supporting a Forest Service proposal to the Sierra Nevada Conservancy for project financing.  The Lakes Basin Project is located on the Plumas National Forest in a unique and highly recreated area. This project proposes an array of treatments and restoration.  To see the project in progress, provide comments, and see other comments on the project, visit the Plumas National Forest website. 

As this project develops, more updates will be posted here as well as discussion from the Coalition on the project. 

Learn more about aspects of the Lakes Basin project here.