Cal Fire awards nearly $72 million to landscape-scale forest health projects across California

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has awarded nearly $72 million to support landscape-scale, regionally based land management projects that will restore forest health and resilience throughout California, while enhancing long-term carbon storage.

Through its Forest Health Program, Cal Fire has awarded 12 grants to local and regional partners carrying out projects on state, local, tribal, federal, and private lands.

Designed to address critical forest health needs, these initiatives will reduce wildfire risk, improve ecosystem resilience, and enhance carbon sequestration across California’s diverse landscapes.

Forest Health grant projects must focus on large, landscape-scale forestlands that are composed of one or more landowners and may cover multiple jurisdictions. Landscape-scale forestlands are no less than 800 acres in size and usually include watersheds, firesheds, or larger logical management units. Grant-funded activities must be applied across large landscapes to achieve regional forest resilience, and projects that implement a mix of activities with multiple, experienced partners are given priority.

In Lake County, the Clear Lake Environmental Research Center, or CLERC, received $4,612,722.

Its project will include proposed treatments such as fuels reduction, prescribed fire, pest management and reforestation on 800 acres of very high fire-risk forestland.

The grant announcement said CLERC’s treatment areas are being maintained and expanded from previously funded projects to ensure the sustainability of the initial investment.

“Cal Fire is proud to award Forest Health grants that will increase the wildfire resilience of California’s landscapes and communities and help restore ecosystems following wildfire," said Alan Talhelm, Assistant Deputy Director of Climate and Energy at Cal Fire. "These grants will provide our partners around the state with funds to complete projects that support local economies, protect watersheds, increase public safety, and sequester carbon.”

The projects will employ a wide array of forest management strategies, with goals of wildfire resilience, watershed protection, habitat conservation for endangered species, recovery of fire-scarred and drought-impacted forests, and the reintroduction of fire as a natural ecological process.

Several of the funded projects also include community outreach and long-term strategic planning through the California Vegetation Treatment Program, or CalVTP.

CalVTP enables efficiencies in the CEQA process that can reduce review timelines from multiple years to just months, reducing redundancies without sacrificing environmental quality by allowing project sponsors to build on known and verified environmental analysis as they begin their site-specific environmental review for individual projects.

Cal Fire said these efforts are designed to promote lasting forest health, provide support for disadvantaged communities, and build on previous treatment efforts to ensure continuity and long-term effectiveness.

Three-fourths of the awarded projects will benefit disadvantaged or low-income communities. In addition to the environmental and safety benefits of forest management, such as reducing the threat of catastrophic wildfires, protecting nearby communities, improving water quality and wildlife habitat, and contributing to climate change mitigation, these projects also present valuable economic opportunities.

Another awardee in the region is the Northern Mendocino County Forest Health Collaborative - Phase II project with the Redwood Forest Foundation Inc.

At 867 acres of forest fuel treatment, this project will provide over 80 forestry jobs for local community members, including jobs for thinning crews, equipment operators, fire crews, cultural management crews and reforestation crews.

Trail work with the California Conservation Corps will provide additional jobs and learning opportunities for large crews of young adults.

The majority of Cal Fire’s Forest Health grants are funded through the Timber Regulation and Forest Restoration Fund, with additional support provided by California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative that directs billions of cap-and-trade dollars toward achieving the state’s climate goals.

California Climate Investments prioritizes investments that strengthen the economy, improve public health, and enhance the environment — especially in California’s most vulnerable communities.

Free adoption event finds homes for half of Lake County shelter animals

Ysabella Ruiz, left, and a friend hang out with “Carlo” at Lake County Animal Care and Control in Lakeport, California, on Saturday, June 7, 2025. Photo by Yitian Tong.

 

LAKEPORT, Calif. — A free adoption event on Saturday emptied half of the shelter at Lake County Animal Care and Control.

Animal Control Officer Wenceslao Rojas told Lake County News on Monday afternoon that 25 animals — 15 dogs and 10 cats — were adopted at the event, among about 50 animals available at the start.

“It’s been a fantastic time,” said Rojas. “I really do appreciate the county community for doing their part and showing up, and actually helping out and adopting a lot of the animals we have here.”

A Monday morning post on the department’s Facebook page indicated a slightly different final number — that “27 animals were sent to their forever homes.”

This was the second year that Animal Care and Control took part in the free adoption day. Last year’s event sent 21 animals to new homes.

The event was sponsored by the American Society for Prevention and Cruelty of Animals — or the ASPCA — along with the San Francisco SPCA and Cal-Animals.

Adoptions included spay and neuter, microchip, rabies vaccination, a heartworm test and a license.

 

A dog at Lake County Animal Care and Control in Lakeport, California, waits to meet potential adopters on Saturday, June 7, 2025. Photo by Yitian Tong.

 

Emptied shelter space, high community interest

The event took place on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the shelter located in Lakeport. Rojas said it drew waves of potential adopters from the very start.

Visitors stopped by to see the animals. At their request, they could have the chance to play with those they liked for a while in a large fenced space right outside the kennel hall. Some decided to take one home on the spot.

As Rojas showed Lake County News around the kennels, Frank — a German shepherd — and Carlo were out in the play area with visitors who seemed interested in them.

Ysabella Ruiz, who was playing with Carlo, said she recently bought a new home and had been coming to the shelter for the past three months to look for adopting a dog.

For latecomers, choice became limited.

By around 2:30 p.m., 14 dogs and 10 cats had been adopted, leaving no cats in the shelter, Rojas said.

“All the cats have been adopted,” Rojas said, standing beside where the dogs played with potential adopters, while the chorus of barking rose and fell at the back from the kennels.

The turnout and adoption count, Rojas said, were “very, very good.”

“It actually helps us out now that we have a lot more open spaces here at the shelter,” he said, adding that the shelter has a total of 34 kennels to host dogs.

A dog shows off his smile to a visitor at Lake County Animal Care and Control in Lakeport, California, on Saturday, June 7, 2025. Photo by Yitian Tong.

 

Animal care concerns

Rojas said the department right now has four animal control officers on staff, patrolling and answering calls, setting up appointments to check on animals.

Speaking of the issue of animal mistreatment, Rojas emphasized the role of communities being alert, talking with pet owners, and “trying to figure something out” prior to calling Animal Care and Control.

“So if I get a call and I'm in Upper Lake, it's going to take me at least 30 minutes to get from Upper Lake all the way to Clearlake, because I still have to make that drive,” Rojas said, giving an example to highlight the importance of community action that can address concerns more quickly.

“My concern is owners actually doing their job and taking care of their dogs and cats,” Rojas said. “If they are taking care of their dogs and cats, there's no reason for us to go out there.”

Email staff reporter Lingzi Chen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Senate Leader McGuire announces agreement reached for pro tem designee, transition to occur in 2026

On Monday, Senate President pro Tempore Mike McGuire (D-North Coast) announced that the Senate Democratic Caucus convened and determined that Sen. Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) will be the Pro Tem Designee, with a transition to be held early in 2026.

“Serving as the Leader of the State Senate is the honor of a lifetime,” Senate Leader Mike McGuire said Monday. “And today, the Senate unanimously elected Senator Limón as the Pro Tem Designee. Sen. Limón always puts people first, she’s a bridge builder and never stops fighting for progress. We are going to be well served under her leadership and the Golden State will be stronger thanks to Sen. Limón’s commitment to the communities of this great state.”

“I am grateful to have the support of my colleagues to be the next President pro Tempore of the California State Senate. At this critical time in our state, I am committed to working with my colleagues and remain dedicated to defending our California values and uplifting all of our communities,” said Senator Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara). “Together, we will build diverse coalitions and develop solutions to the most pressing issues of our time. I want to thank President pro Tempore Mike McGuire for his continuous steady leadership and unwavering commitment to Californians.”

Mike McGuire is President pro Tempore of the California Senate. He represents the North Coast of California, which stretches from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon border, including Del Norte, Trinity, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma, and Marin counties.

Monique Limón represents the 21st Senate District, which includes Santa Barbara, Ventura, Goleta, Buellton, Carpinteria, Guadalupe, Lompoc, Santa Maria, Solvang, Camarillo, Fillmore, Ojai, Oxnard, Santa Paula, Port Hueneme, Blacklake, Callender, Grover Beach, Los Berros, Nipomo, Oceano, Woodlands. She currently serves as the Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus, Chair of the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee, Vice Chair of the California Legislative Women’s Caucus and Vice Chair of the Central Coast Caucus, and Chair of the Senate Select Committee on the Nonprofit Sector.