Memorandum
Date: July 7, 2026
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Jessica Pyska, District 5 Supervisor
Eddie Crandell, District 3 Supervisor
Subject: Approve a Letter of Commitment for the “Enhancing Wildfire Prevention through Targeted Defensible Space and Fuels Reduction Projects in Lake County’s High-Risk Clearlake and North Shore Neighborhoods” Project of the Lake County Resource Conservation District- CAL FIRE Wildfire Prevention Grant (#78873218) and authorize the Chair to sign
Executive Summary:
The Lake County Resource Conservation District (LCRCD) is submitting a collaborative grant application to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Wildfire Prevention Grant Program for the “Enhancing Wildfire Prevention through Targeted Defensible Space and Fuels Reduction Projects in Lake County’s High-Risk Clearlake and North Shore Neighborhoods” project.
When funded, this project will:
• Complete defensible space implementation on approximately 100 lots in the North Shore area, including targeted fuels reduction on approximately 45 abandoned/tax default properties and “paper lots” that pose a long-standing and intractable wildfire risk to residents;
• Complete defensible space implementation on approximately 100 lots in the City of Clearlake, focusing on the densely vegetated “Avenues” neighborhood;
• Serve as CEQA Lead Agency for proposed fuels reduction activities. Treatments will focus on properties located within the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone and prioritize connectivity with critical evacuation routes wherever possible;
• Allow the Lake County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) to deliver “Operation Lake Co Ready,” a bilingual public education campaign featuring open firehouse events across Lake County at which residents can receive preparedness information, hands-on training, and free equipment such as fire extinguishers and McLeod tools; and
• North Coast Opportunities, Inc (NCO), which leads one of the most successful home hardening programs in California, will deliver an all-day, community-focused Wildfire Prevention Summit focused on proactive wildfire risk reduction through home hardening, defensible space, and neighborhood coordination.
If not budgeted, fill in the blanks below only:
Estimated Cost: _17,813____Amount Budgeted: __17,813___ Additional Requested: __0____ Future Annual Cost: ________
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☐ Economic Development ☒ Infrastructure ☐ County Workforce
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Recommended Action: Approve a Letter of Commitment for the “Enhancing Wildfire Prevention through Targeted Defensible Space and Fuels Reduction Projects in Lake County’s High-Risk Clearlake and North Shore Neighborhoods” Project of the Lake County Resource Conservation District- CAL FIRE Wildfire Prevention Grant (#78873218) and authorize the Chair to sign.