Two Major Forest Restoration Projects Receive Approval

The Sierra Institute for Community and Environment is thrilled to share exciting news: two significant landscape restoration efforts in Northern California—the North Fork Forest Recovery Project and the West Lassen Headwaters Project—have reached major milestones with the completion of their environmental reviews and the signing of their Decision Notices. These approvals mark the transition from planning to implementation, paving the way for on-the-ground work that will restore fire-adapted forests, protect communities, and strengthen watersheds.

Both projects reflect the power of collaboration—between federal agencies, tribal partners, local communities, and conservation organizations—and demonstrate a shared commitment to building resilient forests and communities in the wake of past wildfire impacts.

North Fork Forest Recovery Project: Restoring Landscapes After the Dixie Fire

The North Fork Forest Recovery Project, a partnership between the Sierra Institute and the Plumas National Forest, has officially received approval to move forward. Covering more than 166,000 acres within the Mount Hough Ranger District, this project focuses on areas affected by the 2021 Dixie Fire, which burned nearly one million acres and significantly altered the northern Sierra landscape.

Through science-based planning and extensive local input, the project will:

• Reduce hazardous fuels and remove dangerous trees near communities, roads, and infrastructure.
• Replant native trees in areas where natural regeneration may be limited.
• Restore streams, meadows, and wildlife habitat.
• Manage invasive species and encourage native vegetation growth.
• Improve recreation access through new and restored trails.

“This project reflects what’s possible when the people who live here have a voice in how forests recover,” said Isabella Bledsoe, Project Manager at the Sierra Institute. “It’s about restoring the land while strengthening the connections between community, forest, and water.”

Implementation has begun this year, prioritizing high-risk areas and locations near communities, with ongoing collaboration between the Sierra Institute, the Plumas National Forest, and local partners.

West Lassen Headwaters Landscape Restoration Project: Protecting People, Forests, and Water

The West Lassen Headwaters Project (WLHP) spans 172,765 acres southwest of Lassen Peak, including roughly 101,000 acres on the Lassen National Forest. One-third of this landscape lies near communities, emphasizing the importance of proactive work to protect lives, property, and infrastructure.

The project uses a variety of restoration approaches to reduce wildfire risk and support long-term forest and watershed health:

• Hand and mechanical thinning, surface fuel reduction, and reforestation.
• Prescribed fire to maintain fire-adapted ecosystems.
• Meadow and stream restoration to improve salmon and aquatic habitat.

Community input has been central from the start. The South Lassen Watersheds Group and other partners have helped define project priorities, refine proposed actions, and guide ongoing planning through collaborative meetings, workshops, and field tours.
The project also received Emergency Authority in 2024 to conduct critical fuels reduction near Mineral and Mill Creek. This allowed critical thinning to begin immediately, reducing wildfire threats while full NEPA planning continued.

As Forest Supervisor Richard Hopson notes, “Your collective commitment has carried this project to the finish line. It stands as an example of what’s possible when we work together toward shared goals.”