The National Forest Foundation has signed a memorandum of understanding with the United States Forest Service as one of four entities, forming a public-private partnership to increase the pace and scale of forest management in the Middle Truckee River Watershed. The Middle Truckee River Watershed Forest Partnership (MTRWFP) includes the National Forest Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, Truckee Meadows Water Authority, Truckee River Watershed Council, and the United States Forest Service.
Signing of the memorandum of understanding. From Left to Right: Eli Ilano Forest Supervisor – Tahoe National Forest, Rachel Hutchinson - District Ranger, Tahoe National Forest, Sierraville District Jonathan Fisher – District Ranger, Tahoe National Forest, Sierraville District, Dan Alvey – California Program Manager, Tahoe Area, National Forest Foundation, Matt Millar, Sierra Nevada Program Senior Manager, National Forest Foundation, Mickey Hazelwood - Conservation Director, The Nature Conservancy, Kara Steeland - Hydrologist, Truckee Meadows Water Authority, Stefanie Morris, Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs, Truckee Meadows Water Authority, Lisa Wallace - Executive Director, Truckee River Watershed Council.
The Middle Truckee Watershed spans roughly 315,000 acres, of which 260,825 acres are National Forest System lands. This important watershed bridges three California counties, one Nevada county, and encompasses important forest and meadow ecosystems, the Truckee River, recreational resources, communities, and water supply reservoirs.
Middle Truckee River Watershed Forest Partnership Goals:
- develop a 10-year vegetation management plan;
- improve and restore forest health and resilience;
- reduce the risk of high severity wildfire;
- protect communities from wildfire impacts;
- protect and secure water supplies and infrastructure; and
- identify and augment resources gaps to achieve implementation at an increased pace and scale.
“The history of fire suppression in the region has resulted in increased forest density and less fire frequency. These conditions lead to greater risk of high-severity wildfires and threaten recreation and communities surrounded by the Tahoe National Forest,” said Jonathan Cook-Fisher, District Ranger for the Tahoe National Forest, Truckee Ranger District.
Photo from current forest management work
Matt Millar, National Forest Foundation Sierra Nevada Program Senior Manager, stated, “This is an example of the public-private partnerships that are advancing fuels reduction projects throughout the West and helping the National Forest Foundation implement our mission to bring people together to restore and enhance our National Forests.”
Photo from current forest management work
Collaborative forest management work is already underway throughout the watershed, including the Ladybug Project, a 2,500-acre project near Stampede Reservoir, and 7,000 acres of corridor work along Hwy-89 between Truckee and Lake Tahoe.
Cover photo by the NFF.
--------
Bringing people together has always been a superpower of the NFF. But we can’t do it without our supporters, and that includes you. Please consider making an unrestricted gift today so we can provide the absolute best collaborative services tomorrow. Simply click here. We – and all our partners – thank you!
