Fuel Reduction Projects

District Projects

In 2022, the District approved the Olympic Valley Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). The plan identifies and prioritizes the fuels reduction and wildfire prevention strategy within Olympic Valley Fire Department’s service area. Five major fuels reduction projects were prioritized:

OV-1: Olympic Valley North Forest Thinning – COMPLETE

Funded by a grant from CAL FIRE (Project Tracking Number: 21-FP-NEU-0209), this shaded fuel break covers 120 acres on the ridgeline north of the community. The fuel break was completed using primarily mechanical thinning and mastication methods and was completed in July, 2024. This break will significantly reduce flame length, intensity, rate of spread and potential duration of wildfire in the area. For more information about OV-1 please look at our July 2023 Board Exhibit F-3, August 2022 Board Exhibit F-2, and October 2022 Board Exhibit F-3.

Informational Resources:

Slideshow Presented August 14th, 2023

August 14th, 2023 Community Meeting Recording (note- recording started about 5 minutes into meeting)

USFS – Fuels Project Saves Homes (slideshow page #9 video)

The Olympic Valley Fuel Reduction Project is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing GHG emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment- particularly in disadvantaged communities. The Cap-and-Trade program also creates a financial incentive for industries to invest in clean technologies and develop innovative ways to reduce pollution. California Climate Investments projects include affordable housing, renewable energy, public transportation, zero-emission vehicles, environmental restoration, more sustainable agriculture, recycling, and much more. At least 35 percent of these investments are located within and benefiting residents of disadvantaged communities, low-income communities, and low-income households across California. For more information, visit the California Climate Investments website at: www.caclimateinvestments.ca.gov

OV-2: North Valley Prescribed Burns and Thinning

Project area OV-2 (between the OV-4 community buffer and the OV-1 north forest thinning project) is a recommended place to use prescribed burning. Mechanical and hand thinning of fuels is also recommended in this area. This project would be a focus after the OV-1 and OV-4 shaded fuel breaks have been completed.

OV-3: Roadside Wildfire Safety – IN PROGRESS

In the event of a fire emergency, movement into and out of the valley is of paramount importance. Clear and safe roads are essential for ingress of fire personnel and egress of evacuees. Currently, there is one entrance and exit into the valley, a potential traffic bottleneck. For efficient travel, roadside hazard reduction along Olympic Valley Road and Resort Road is needed to reduce the risk of trees or other objects (signs, structures, etc.) falling into the roadway if they catch fire. The Evacuation Route Roadside Hazard Fuels Reduction Project (OV-3/S-Turns) aims to reduce a 2.7 acre stand of lodge pole pine on the south side of Olympic Valley Road in the Washeshu Creek meadow.  The Project was started in December 2021 by the Friends of Squaw Creek using funding from Trout Unlimited. Phase two of the project is funded through a grant from the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation Forest Futures Program.  For more information about OV-3 please look at some of our past Board Reports including: September 2022 Board Exhibit F-6; June 2022 Board Exhibit F-9; and August 2024, F-6 and F-7. 

OV-4: Olympic Valley Community Wildfire Buffer Project – IN PROGRESS

A fuels reduction project surrounding the perimeter of homes, buildings, and other structures in the valley. In the event of an encroaching fire, this will provide the community an additional layer of safety on top of individual lot maintenance. This buffer would be constructed through a combination of hand cut piling and burning, chipping and mechanical thinning. In 2023 the District received a grant from the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation (TTCF) and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Wildfire Resilience Program (CAL FIRE) to complete layout, design, and CEQA compliance for a minimum 150-foot wide fuel break surrounding the perimeter of residential properties, buildings, and other structures in the valley on private parcels greater than 3 acres totaling approximately 100-acres. The Truckee Tahoe Airport District has generously provided $400,000 and TTCF/CAL FIRE has provided $350,000 of implementation funding for the project. To learn more about the project please review past Board Reports including the July, 2023 Board Exhibit F-2, the June, 2023 Board Exhibit F-15, and August, 2024 F-5.

Informational Resources:

Slideshow Presented September 28th, 2023

September 28th, 2023 Community Meeting Recording 

OV-5: Olympic Valley North Forest Thinning

This break will cover approximately 120 acres on the ridgeline south of the community using mechanical thinning methods. This project will likely be prioritized in conjunction with the USFS-led project described below as the Alpine Meadow / Olympic Valley Project. The District has applied for implementation funding for the project from the CAL FIRE Fire Prevention Program.

The District has been awarded over $1.4M in grant funding as of August, 2024. These funds are dedicated to the planning and implementation of fuels management projects as summarized below:

Fuels Management on National Forest Lands Adjacent to Olympic Valley:

Five Creeks Project

The Five Creeks Project promises to be a major fuels management initiative to provide protection for the Olympic Valley community. The project area aligns with the Truckee River and the State Route 89 corridor, south of Truckee and north of the Olympic Valley, approximately five miles northwest of Lake Tahoe. More information on the project can be found on the USFS website, here.

Alpine Meadows and Olympic Valley Fire Protection Project

This 1,080-acre project is planned to reduce fuel loading and promote forest health on the Tahoe National Forest surrounding the communities of Alpine Meadows and Olympic Valley. The National Forest Foundation entered into a grant agreement with the Sierra Nevada Conservancy which will provide 2.45M for the implementation of the project. More information on the project can be found on the USFS website, here.