Board accepts nearly $900,000 in FEMA/Cal OES funds and approves contract for South Yuba Rim hazardous fuels plan

The Nevada County Office of Emergency Services presented a two‑item package to accept FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding under the Prepare California Match and approve a contract with the Yuba Watershed Institute for Phase 1 of the South Yuba Rim Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project.

Staff said Phase 1 is a 18‑month, $900,000 planning effort to deliver treatment designs and environmental compliance to make the larger landscape shovel‑ready. Project funding described included a FEMA federal share of $772,799, FEMA management cost funds of $42,933 and a Cal OES non‑federal match of $85,866; the recommended contract with Yuba Watershed Institute is $710,000 to carry out planning activities.

Presenters described a 6,000‑acre planning area along the North Rim of the South Yuba River Canyon, designed to tie together existing CAL FIRE vegetation management projects, BLM parcels and private lands. The goal of Phase 1 is to identify and document treatment prescriptions so FEMA can approve Phase 2 implementation funds (Phase 2 was scoped at $3.2 million to treat about 800 acres). Speakers described community engagement, right‑of‑entry agreements with landowners and a proposed steering committee to prioritize the 800 acres for Phase 2.

Board members asked about funding timing, maintenance plans and how gaps on federal land would be handled; staff described Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC) funds ($214,000) to be rescoped for federal lands and said Phase 1 obligations began 02/07/2024 with deliverables due to FEMA by 07/19/2025. The Board approved both resolutions (accepting the grant and authorizing the contract) by roll call vote.