Photo of the week

This #PlacerLife photo of the northern lights in North Lake Tahoe was taken by @kirstenalexisadventure on Instagram.

Featured story

PCCP celebrates Raccoon Creek conservation, restoration with kickoff event

The Placer County Conservation Program hosted a Raccoon Creek Ranch conservation and restoration kickoff event last week to celebrate the permanent protection and restoration of 4,245 acres of prime farmland, open space and streams north of Lincoln.

Leaders from the PCCP, Placer Conservation Authority, our Board of Supervisors, Placer Land Trust, City of Lincoln, Ecosystem Investment Partners and more came together to celebrate and enjoy the conserved habitat.

The Raccoon Creek Ranch project marks one of the most significant conservation milestones in Placer County history:

• 4,245 acres permanently protected from development and mining

• 1,299 acres of active agricultural production

• 6 miles of stream system supporting salmon and steelhead habitat

• $61 million total investment in conservation and restoration efforts

• Creates one of the largest contiguous blocks of protected land in West Placer County

Learn more about the PCCP, Racoon Creek Ranch and our plans to conserve 47,300 acres in West Placer. Watch video

Public safety

New fire chief appointed to lead CAL FIRE NEU and Placer County Fire

CAL FIRE has named Jim Hudson as the new fire chief for the CAL FIRE Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit and the chief of Placer County Fire. Hudson’s appointment comes as the current fire chief, Brian Estes, prepares to retire in December. Learn more

North Lake Tahoe

A community connecting point for North Lake Tahoe residents

Over 70 members of the public showed up to share feedback on important initiatives, ask questions and talk with project managers at the county's most recent Discover and Discuss community event in Kings Beach.
Watch video

Winter preparedness

Winter Weather Advisory: Prepare for incoming storm systems

A winter weather and wind advisory is in effect through early Friday. Prepare for future atmospheric rivers by updating your emergency plan, gathering supplies and staying informed. Visit ReadyPlacer for helpful tips and resources.
Read more

Building services

Implementation of updated building code begins Jan. 1

Our Building Services Division is reminding the community that the 2025 California Building Standards Code will go into effect Jan. 1 as required by the California Building Standards Commission. Updates include wildfire safety. Read more

In other news

The Mountain Mandarin Festival is just around the corner, Nov. 21-23

Add your business to our Love Local map on Engage Placer before Small Business Saturday
Groundwater Sustainability Agencies of the North American Groundwater Subbasin public workshop series
Enter K-12 Air Art Calendar Contest by Nov. 30 for chance to win cash prizes
National Recycling Day is Nov. 15 - Learn more about recycling in Placer County

This week in Placer County history

On Saturday, Nov. 12, 1955, snow began falling in the high Sierra and continued steadily over the weekend, dropping 10 inches before finally breaking early Monday morning. A blanket of snow fell as far as Auburn where earlier that week, temperatures were in the mid-80s. The sudden storm also came with high winds and gusts in the Sierra, reportedly up to 70 mph. Many travelers were caught off guard.

At the time, two local Sierra College students, David Ensinger and Terry Moore, were on a three-day camping trip in rugged back country near Emigrant Gap where they became stranded and sought shelter in an old miner’s cabin. Relatives reported them missing and as soon as the weather broke, Sheriff William A. Scott and pilot H.E. “Ace” Hibbard began searching by air. Fortunately, the stranded men had made distress signs in the snow which were soon spotted from above. The pilot dropped emergency food and supplies so the men could then hike back out to safety just before a second storm hit the area.

Meanwhile, dozens of Air Force and Navy planes began searching for a lost T-33 military jet en route to McClellan Air Force Base and piloted by Capt. David H. Henderson. The search ranged from Fresno to Chico in between heavy storms. The wreckage was finally discovered by fishermen the following July, in a remote area near Donner Summit.

Photo options: (Left) Clearing the roads in Dutch Flat, November 1955.

Advisory committees and commissions

Whether it’s representing your community or sharing your expertise on topics like agriculture or parks, there are always opportunities for you to help advise county leaders on the issues that matter to you most. Recruitment is open now to fill seats on the following committees or commissions, among others. Learn more and apply

Current recruitments include:

• Area 4 Agency on Aging Advisory Council

• Building Board of Appeals

• Colfax Cemetery District

• Economic Development Board

• Fish & Game Commission

• Gold Run Cemetery Committee

• Greater Lincoln Area Fire Safe Council

• Housing Development Advisory Taskforce

• In Home Support Services Advisory Committee

• Juvenile Justice / Delinquency Prevention

• Granite Bay Municipal Advisory Council

• Historical Advisory Board

• Horseshoe Bar-Penryn Municipal Advisory Council

• Donner Summit Municipal Advisory Council

• Central Municipal Advisory Council

• Newcastle Ophir Municipal Advisory Council

• North Auburn/Ophir Fire Safe Council

• Placer County Child Care Advisory Council

• Placer County Older Adult Advisory Commission

• Solid Waste Local Task Force

• Tahoe Basin Design Review Committee (DRC)

• Veterans Advisory Council

• Wastewater Advisory Committee

Fun things to do this week

Don’t miss the fun coming this next week in...

Roseville: Campfires and Rock Art Mysteries
Auburn: Music Around Town/ Market in the Square (weather permitting)

...and many Placer County Library and Placer County Museum events.

Visit our regional partners to discover more of the fun happening right here in Placer County!

Placer County Visitors' Bureau
North Tahoe Community Alliance
Tahoe City Downtown Association
The Arts Council of Placer County
Placer Valley Tourism
PlacerGROWN
Placer Wine Trail

Upcoming public meetings and events

Board of Supervisors meeting (Auburn), Nov. 17, 9 a.m. Information
Canceled - Rural Lincoln Municipal Advisory Council, Nov. 17
Board of Supervisors meeting (North Lake Tahoe), Nov. 18, 9 a.m. Information
Tahoe RCD: Firewise virtual office hours, Nov. 18, 12 p.m. Information
Foresthill / Iowa Hill Fire Safe Council, Nov. 18, 5:30 p.m. Information
Canceled - Horseshoe Bar-Penryn Municipal Advisory Council, Nov. 18
Placer County Fire Safe Alliance, Nov. 18, 6 p.m. Information
Canceled - West Placer Municipal Advisory Council, Nov. 19
Placer Conservation Authority, Nov. 20, 1 p.m. Information
Placer Sierra Fire Safe Council, Nov. 20, 6 p.m. Information

To learn about other Placer County committees and commissions and current opportunities to serve your community click here.

List of active projects throughout Placer County

Projects are listed alphabetically and by Board of Supervisors districts. A hard copy of the list is available at the Placer County Community Development Resource Agency, 3091 County Center Drive in Auburn. 

Active Projects

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