Photo of the week

This #PlacerLife photo of the alpenglow through the trees in Tahoma was taken by @tahoerobin on Instagram. 

Featured story

Healthy forests, resilient communities: explore our new Regional Forest Health story map

Our Regional Forest Health Division is taking a major step forward in sharing the work happening across our forests and watersheds. This week, we launched our new “Healthy Forests, Resilient Communities” interactive story map experience.

The story map provides an inside look at our mission, partnerships, priority project areas, and the science and innovation driving forest health work in the region. Through photos, videos, and interactive maps, you can explore the challenges facing our forests — and the solutions underway to protect communities, watersheds and natural resources. View story map

This launch comes alongside two major updates this week highlighting our progress:

Regional Forest Health Annual Report: Placer County’s Regional Forest Health program reports significant progress in reducing wildfire risk and expanding forest resilience efforts across the region. Read more

French Meadows Restoration: The county recently awarded $1.3 million in contracts to accelerate ecological restoration work in the French Meadows area. Read more

We’re also piloting a new Digital Marketplace designed to strengthen connections between landowners and the forestry workforce. Two new tools are now available:

Forest Industry Directory – A map-based directory where forestry and fuels reduction professionals can list more than 180 products, services and equipment offerings, helping landowners and practitioners quickly find qualified providers working locally. Learn more

Working Forest Planner – An interactive planning tool that guides private landowners through assessing their property, exploring forest management options and connecting with registered professional foresters. Learn more

Together, these efforts are helping scale the partnerships, workforce capacity and on-the-ground work needed to build healthier forests and more resilient communities across Placer County.

Public safety

New law enforcement training academy coming to Placer County

The Placer County Sheriff’s Office will host a new regional training academy in Auburn starting in August. This is the first new option in 20 years for Peace Officer Standards and Training academy instruction in California. Read more

Outdoor recreation

Placer goes on offense for wildfire resilience, outdoor recreation

This week we adopted a statewide strategy to protect natural resources, boost recreation access and support climate-resilient economies — unlocking eligibility for funding to keep Placer's outdoors healthy for generations to come.
Read more

Government

Placer County celebrates 175th anniversary of incorporation

Established on April 25, 1851, Placer County is celebrating its 175th anniversary this year. You're invited to celebrate our remarkable history and participate in a series of events planned for the months ahead. Learn more

Transportation

PCTPA set to update community on draft zero emission vehicle planning

The PCTPA will host a virtual workshop (choose one of two sessions to attend) outlining a draft zero emission vehicle plan that includes 30 priority EV charging and hydrogen refueling locations across Placer County.
Learn more

In other news

Explore new career opportunities at Tri County Job Fair on March 19

Regional measles outbreak: Ongoing updates from Public Health

Groundwater Awareness Week: Learn how Placer is doing its part to manage our groundwater basin

Placer County Chipper Program: Low cost, low wait times. Act now!

ICYMI: Second Local Roadway Safety Plan virtual workshop slated for March 18

Draft Environmental Impact Report available for public review for Granite View Condominiums project in Olympic Valley

This week in Placer County history

The following entry was recorded in Griffith Griffith’s personal diary March 17, 1865:

“Mr. Chamberlain and Mr. Quade and Graves, bosses on Pacific Railroad, were at Quarry. They were on new engine, the Conness. They stopped at Derrick and took the view of the place. Myself and Judge Crocker stood together while taken so we appear in it.”

Griffith Griffith was a 24-year old Welsh immigrant who came to the United States in 1847 before heading to California during the Gold Rush. In Wales, Griffith was the foreman in a slate quarry where he had worked to help support his family after the passing of his father, the quarry’s superintendent, when Griffith was 14 years old. Griffith brought his expertise to California and quickly turned from gold to granite, establishing a quarry at Big Gulch near Folsom in 1853.

A skilled businessman, Griffith’s quarry supplied granite for the construction of Fort Alcatraz and Fort Point in San Francisco. As the Sacramento Valley Railroad moved on, so did Griffith, who opened the first quarry in Placer County near present-day Granite Bay in 1862. By 1864, the Central Pacific’s Transcontinental Railroad was taking shape and Griffith once again moved to a new quarry site along the railroad line and opened the Penryn Granite Works, from which the town of Penryn is named.

Griffith leased property from the Central Pacific, where a spur track was built and linked the quarry to the main line. He secured many lucrative contracts and opened the first polishing mill in California in 1874.

The quarry stopped operations in 1918. Griffith’s grandniece, Enid, donated the former Penryn Granite Works to Placer County in 1976. It is now listed in the National Register of Historic Places, a Placer County park, and the site of the Griffith Quarry Museum. Plan your visit at www.placer.ca.gov/6001/Griffith-Quarry-Park.

Photo: Judge Charles Crocker stands with Griffith Griffith at the Penryn Granite Works’ spur to the Central Pacific Railroad. March 17, 1865. Placer County Museums collection.

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:

• Agricultural Commission

• Area 4 Agency on Aging Advisory Council

• Building Board of Appeals

• Cemetery Tahoe District

• Colfax Cemetery District

• Economic Development Board

• Fish & Game Commission

• First 5 Placer Children & Families Commission

• Flood Control & Water Conservation District Board

• Gold Run Cemetery Committee

• Greater Auburn Area Fire Safe Council

• Greater Lincoln Area Fire Safe Council

• In Home Support Services Advisory Committee

• Juvenile Justice / Delinquency Prevention

• Library Advisory Board

• Donner Summit Municipal Advisory Council

• Municipal Advisory Council - Granite Bay

• Municipal Advisory Council - Olympic Valley

• Municipal Advisory Council - Rural Lincoln

• Newcastle Ophir Municipal Advisory Council

•  North Auburn/Ophir Fire Safe Council

• Placer County Behavioral Health Advisory Board

• Placer County Child Care Advisory Council

• Placer County Older Adult Advisory Commission

• Solid Waste Local Task Force

• Veterans Advisory Council

• Wastewater Advisory Committee

Fun things to do this week

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

Roseville: Mahany Park Certified Farmers' Market, Maidu Park Farmers' Market, Roseville Fountains Farmers' Market, Kaiser Riverside Farmers' Market, Kaiser Eureka Farmers' Market, Green & Clean - 2026 Community Cleanup

Lincoln: Farmers’ Market at Fowler Ranch, Kaiser Lincoln Farmers' Market

Loomis: Tomato Mastery

Auburn: Auburn Old Town Farmer’s Market – Placer Farmers Market, North Auburn Artists Reception, Farmers Market at Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital, Sidewalk Sale, St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Colfax: Community Craft Club, Coffee & Conversation

North Lake Tahoe: Smore’s O’clock, The Village at Northstar Après Music Series, KT Bass Bar Music Series, Throwback Thursdays, Pride Weekend at Northstar

...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

Click here to sign up for emergency notifications

Upcoming public meetings and events

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

North Tahoe Regional Advisory Council, March 12, 6 p.m. Information
Placer RCD: Prescribed Fire 101 Workshop, March 14, 8:30 a.m. Information
Newcastle/Ophir Supervisor Forum, March 16, 6 p.m. Information
Newcastle/Ophir Municipal Advisory Council, March 16, 6:15 p.m. Information
Rural Lincoln Community Forum, March 16, 6 p.m. Information
Rural Lincoln Municipal Advisory Council, March 16, 6:15 p.m. Information
Board of Supervisors,March 17, 9 a.m. Information
Foresthill/Iowa Hill Fire Safe Council, March 17, 5:30 p.m. Information
West Placer Community Forum, March 18, 6 p.m. Information
West Placer Municipal Advisory Council, March 18, 6:30 p.m. Information
Granite Bay residential burning town hall, March 18, 5:30 p.m. Information
Planning Commission, March 19, 9 a.m. Information
Placer County Fire Safe Alliance, March 19, 5 p.m. Information

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