NEVADA CITY, Calif. (July 30, 2024) — Targeted grazing is planned to start on the Tahoe National Forest surrounding the Sawtooth Trail above the Sierra Meadows neighborhood in Truckee, Calif. Residents and visitors can expect to see approximately 1,000 goats and sheep in the area as well as livestock protection dogs and electric fencing. The project is expected to start in mid-August 2024 and will accomplish over 117 acres of critical fuels reduction directly in the wildland urban interface defense zone. This targeted grazing project is a follow-up treatment to Tahoe National Forest’s 2,000-acre Big Jack East wildfire risk reduction project that was completed in Aug. 2021.
“Targeted grazing is an effective tool to reduce fuels and is often used in shrub-oak and grassy urban areas across California,” said Tahoe National Forest Truckee District Ranger Jonathan Cook-Fisher. “While this is the first time in recent history we are implementing targeted grazing as a treatment within the wildland urban interface on Tahoe National Forest, we are hopeful it will produce results comparable to mechanized efforts in our forested areas. Grazing is also a low-impact, sustainable treatment option, especially adjacent to homes and communities.”
Visitors to the project area are advised of the following:
A community information session will be held Aug. 5 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Sawtooth Trailhead parking lot (11632 06 Fire Rd, Truckee, CA 96161). Interested parties are invited to come ask questions and learn more about the upcoming targeted grazing wildfire reduction project.
This project is being collaboratively undertaken by the Middle Truckee River Watershed Forest Partnership. Together, partners are working to restore the health of Truckee-area forests and the Middle Truckee River Watershed to enhance public safety, reduce potential wildfire severity, protect water resources and restore forest health in this area. Over the next 10 years, the Middle Truckee River Watershed Forest Partnership will work to restore over 60,000 acres of Truckee-area forests. Learn more about the partnership and upcoming projects at www.truckeeforests.org.
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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.
“Targeted grazing is an effective tool to reduce fuels and is often used in shrub-oak and grassy urban areas across California,” said Tahoe National Forest Truckee District Ranger Jonathan Cook-Fisher. “While this is the first time in recent history we are implementing targeted grazing as a treatment within the wildland urban interface on Tahoe National Forest, we are hopeful it will produce results comparable to mechanized efforts in our forested areas. Grazing is also a low-impact, sustainable treatment option, especially adjacent to homes and communities.”
Visitors to the project area are advised of the following:
- Please use caution as livestock and guardian dogs will be enclosed by electric fencing
- Please keep pets on a leash in an effort to avoid any negative interactions with livestock or guardian dogs
- Please do not pet or feed livestock or guardian dogs
- Livestock guardian dogs can be expected to bark when they see or hear people or other animals
- There will be a herder onsite throughout project implementation
A community information session will be held Aug. 5 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Sawtooth Trailhead parking lot (11632 06 Fire Rd, Truckee, CA 96161). Interested parties are invited to come ask questions and learn more about the upcoming targeted grazing wildfire reduction project.
This project is being collaboratively undertaken by the Middle Truckee River Watershed Forest Partnership. Together, partners are working to restore the health of Truckee-area forests and the Middle Truckee River Watershed to enhance public safety, reduce potential wildfire severity, protect water resources and restore forest health in this area. Over the next 10 years, the Middle Truckee River Watershed Forest Partnership will work to restore over 60,000 acres of Truckee-area forests. Learn more about the partnership and upcoming projects at www.truckeeforests.org.
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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.
