Placer County approved $1.6 million to fund the French Meadows Ecological Forest Restoration Project. The project, which started in 2019, covers 22,000 acres of National Forest System lands and aims to reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health, according to the Placer County.
Placer County awarded forest management contracts to Acres Land Management LLC for $1,504,950 and McKellar Tree Service and Logging, Inc. for $163,750. The work, including thinning, meadow restoration, and mastication services, started this year and is planned to finish by the end of 2026, depending on conditions. About 7,200 acres were identified for treatment, with roughly 80% already completed. Placer County Regional Forest Health Coordinator Kerri Timmer said, "By thinning overgrown areas and reducing hazardous fuels, we’re not only lowering the risk of catastrophic wildfire but also safeguarding water supplies, wildlife habitat and the communities that depend on them."
The project is funded through grants, state funds, and income from timber and biomass sales. Acres Land Management receives support from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy’s Wildfire Recovery and Forest Resilience Grant Program, and McKellar’s work is funded by a CAL FIRE grant. Placer County added a $607,075 budget amendment. Partners include Tahoe National Forest, Placer County Water Agency, and The Nature Conservancy. The project focuses on protecting local ecosystems and nearby communities, as reported by the Placer County.
