Photo of the week

☀️🌳This #PlacerLife photo of a sunset shinning through a tree in Lincoln was snapped by @ihavemannyadventures on Instagram. 

Featured story

Celebrating our legacy at the 2026 State of the County

Nearly 200 community members, leaders and county staff joined Placer County for the 2026 State of the County address in Lincoln this week. Board Chair Shanti Landon celebrated the county’s 175th anniversary and outlined the priorities of the future: preserving the county’s rural character, strengthening the region’s agricultural roots and building on the already strong $242 million agro-tourism industry. Watch video

North Lake Tahoe

Community ribbon cutting and block party planned for Fanny Bridge

Join Placer County and community partners Sunday, May 17, for a once-in-a-lifetime celebration at the Fanny Bridge Ribbon Cutting and Block Party in Tahoe City. The first 500 attendees will receive a commemorative fanny pack.
Learn more

Infrastructure

Federal funding boosts Baseline Road improvement project

On Wednesday, Supervisors Shanti Landon and Bonnie Gore and Director of Public Works Derek Gade were presented with a $1 million check by Rep. Kevin Kiley - federal funding to support three new stoplights on Baseline Road.
Learn more

General plan

Placer County launches next phase of General Plan Update

Our Community Development Resource Agency is advancing into the next phase of its General Plan Update project, focusing on efficient planning for communities and identifying where jobs, housing and services should be located. Read more

Wildfire preparedness

Read the Fire Safe Alliance newsletter and be wildfire ready now

The Fire Safe Alliance of Placer County's May newsletter is out. Learn how ember cast from wildfire can impact your home and property, help shape the Community Wildfire Protection Plan and find upcoming go-bag workshops near you.
Read more

In other news

The Placer lifestyle: Leaning into local at the 2026 Quality of Life Summit by Visit Placer on May 13

Join the Placer County Air Pollution Control District in recognizing Spare the Air Week

City of Roseville hosts Grand Opening for Dry Creek Greenway East Trail
2025 Water Year North American Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Plan Annual Report

Help prioritize wildfire reduction activities - Community Wildfire Protection Plan

175 years of Placer County history

The Hidden Treasure Mine located on the Foresthill Divide was the most productive drift mine in California. Drift mines tunnel horizontally into the buried gold-bearing gravel of ancient river channels that have been encased underground. It is estimated that between $4 million and $5 million in gold was extracted by this operation from 1875 to 1910, which would be between $870 million and $1.1 billion in 2026.

The town of Sunny South was a company town, founded at the entrance of the mine on the south-facing hillside above El Dorado Canyon. Miners working for wages brought their families to this rugged location, and the town’s population grew to a peak of about 350 people, with nearly 50 families.

In 1896, when the Hidden Treasure tunnel was nearly 2 miles deep, a new tunnel was dug 2 miles above Sunny South. At the new entrance, the town of Bullion was built, and the residents of Sunny South abandoned the old townsite. A hydroelectric power station was installed to provide electricity to the mine at Bullion, which now included an electric locomotive that ran on rails through the main working tunnel.

In June 1910, a cave-in forced the mine to close, and operations never reopened. The town of Bullion was abandoned. A major fire in 1924 destroyed what was left of Sunny South, and very little remains to mark the site of the famous Hidden Treasure Mine.

Photo: Hidden Treasure Mine at Sunny South. Circa 1880. Placer County Museums, Placer County Historical Society collection.

Explore our new interactive timeline — updated every Thursday with photographs, milestones and the stories of people who built this county. Explore timeline

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

• Cemetery Auburn District

• Cemetery Tahoe 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 - Horseshoe Bar Penryn

• Municipal Advisory Council - Olympic Valley

• Municipal Advisory Council - Rural Lincoln

• Municipal Advisory Council - West Placer Citizens

• Newcastle Ophir Municipal Advisory Council

• North Auburn/Ophir Fire Safe Council

• Placer County Child Care Advisory Council

• Placer County Older Adult Advisory Commission

• Placer Sierra Fire Safe Council

• 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, Sutter Roseville Farmers Market, Dry Creek Greenway East Grand Opening

Rocklin: 26 Parks in 2026, Firefighter storytimes, Rocklin Community Festival

Lincoln: Farmers’ Market at Fowler Ranch, Kaiser Lincoln Farmers' Market, 2026 National Competition “Feats Of Clay”

Loomis: Loomis Beer Fest

Auburn: Auburn Old Town Farmer’s Market – Placer Farmers Market, Farmers Market at Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital, Auburn Music On The Square, Auburn Cruise Night, State Theater Presents: The Golden Age Of Radio, Auburn Bike Month Speaker Series, Stories Underfoot - Central Square Tiles

Colfax: Colfax Farmers’ Market

North Lake Tahoe: Throwback Thursdays, Line Dancing Fridays

...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 - Tahoe, May 11, 9 a.m. Information
Board of Supervisors - Tahoe, May 12, 9 a.m. Information
Sheridan Municipal Advisory Council, May 13, 6 p.m. Information
Planning Commission, May 14, 9 a.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

Click here to sign up for emergency notifications