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Lower Deer Creek-Penn Valley Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project

Lower Deer Creek-Penn Valley Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project Phase 1 Town Hall Meeting

WHEN:  February 25, 2026 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.  

WHERE: Penn Valley Fire Protection District Headquarters, 10513 Spenceville Rd, Penn Valley, CA 95946. 

WHAT TO EXPECT: Project overview, project timeline, meet the project team, fire experts, community support and involvement opportunities. 

What  

The Lower Deer Creek-Penn Valley Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project is a 1,011-acre project designed to protect critical infrastructure, create safe ingress for first responders and egress for evacuating residents, and support watershed protection. The project, when complete will treat 107 acres around sanitation and water treatment facilities, mitigate 726 acres of roadside vegetation, and reduce fuel loading on 178 acres in and around the Deer Creek Canyon. 

If your parcel is in the project area, download and print the Right-of-Entry form here. Return the signed form to nate.alcorn@ncrcd.org or mail to: Nevada County OES, 950 Maidu Ave. Nevada City, CA 95959. 

Where

This project is focused on areas adjacent to the Lake Wildwood community in Penn Valley. Lake Wildwood is one of five communities identified in the 2024 Evacuation Study as the most evacuation limited county-wide. To improve evacuation outcomes, most of the project work is focused on fuel mitigation on private parcels adjacent to primary arteries, notably Pleasant Valley Road, Mooney Flat Road, and Bitney Springs Road.  

LowerDeerCreekPennValleyHazardous Fuels ReductionAdjacent FWC Map

Design  Secure Funding CEQA/NEPA Community Outreach  Implementation & Maintenance
Treatment design for 1,100 acres of hazardous fuels reduction will take place during
Phase I
 Funding has been secured from
FEMA for Phase I, Planning. Phase II,
Implementation is contingent upon successful completion of
Phase 1.
 Environmental and cultural review is expected to take 18 months and is part of Phase 1. Engagement will take place over the life of the project. Phase Il
implementation will begin after
FEMA review and approval of Phase I deliverables. The timeline is currently TBD.

Click the link below to download the Lower Deer Creek Factsheet:

Lower Deer Creek Factsheet

Phase I

Phase I, Planning is expected to take 18 months and will consist of project management, community engagement, collection of right-of-entry, treatment design, and environmental compliance.   

Phase II 

Phase II, Implementation is expected to take 18 months and will consist of Phase II project management, hazardous fuels reduction and development of a plan for maintenance, and biomass disposal. NEPA analysis will be a FEMA responsibility and take place between phases. This mitigation solution is not dependent on other grants or projects.  

 

Impact 

  • Priority community in the 2024 Evacuation Study 
  • Project Priority Area in the 2025 Community Wildfire Protection Plan
  • Leverages efforts of 13 Firewise Communities 
  • 520 parcels are slated to participate in the public-private partnership 
  • Reduced risk to 3,235 parcels within a 2-mile radius 
  • Five communities protected 

Project Funders and Partners

As the result of a Presidential Disaster Declaration, FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds plans and projects that reduce the effects of future natural disasters. In California, these funds are administered by the Cal OES Hazard Mitigation Section. Eligible subapplicants include state agencies, local governments, special districts, and some private non-profits.  The County of Nevada was awarded funds for this project via the HMGP program.  

 

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