Sustain Placer

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June, 2020

The Placer County Sustainability Plan was selected by the Sacramento Valley Section APA (2020) for the Award of Merit in the category of Innovation in Green Community Planning. The Sacramento Valley Section will be honoring all 2020 award recipients at their annual Awards Ceremony later this year.

January 28, 2020

The Placer County Board of Supervisors approved the first-ever Placer County Sustainability Plan (PCSP) - a road map to meet California’s greenhouse gas emission reduction goals and reduce the county’s vulnerability to climate risks like worsening wildfire severity. The PCSP is a comprehensive program that outlines various programs and policies that will be undertaken by the community and the County as a whole, in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance community resiliency to long-term changes associated with climate-related hazards.

PCSP Info Graphic

Documents 

Public Hearings

January 28, 2020

The Placer County Board of Supervisors conducted a public hearing on January 28th. After receiving public testimony, the Board took action (4:0:1) to adopt a resolution approving the PCSP. 

“Climate change is very real and we need to do everything that we can,” said District 5 Supervisor Cindy Gustafson. “This plan is a great starting point that can be adapted in the future.”

“The Placer County Sustainability Plan is a great example of an intelligent strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said Vice Chair and District 2 Supervisor Robert Weygandt. “Forest management, one of the many initiatives in the plan, is our best value investment in carbon emission reductions.”

The Board of Supervisors agenda and meeting materials can be found here. 

December 12, 2019

The Placer County Planning Commission conducted a public hearing on December 12, 2019 to receive input from the public on the Final PCSP and voted to forward a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors to approve the PCSP. The Planning Commission agenda and meeting materials can be found here.

August 22, 2019

On August 22, 2019, the Planning Commission received a presentation on the status of the County’s Draft Sustainability Plan. The meeting can be viewed on the Planning Commission webpage here.

Overview

From the days of the Gold Rush to now, we in Placer County have a long tradition of self-sufficiency. We have sustained ourselves and cared for our families by rising to meet the daily challenges of Gold Country, working hard to live off the land, and prudently preserving our natural resources to provide healthy air and water for our families.

Historical Map of Placer County

Today, we are continuing our Placer County tradition by facing the issue of our changing climate head-on. While some groups in our community may be more concerned about damage to the climate than others, we can all agree that health, safety, and economic opportunity for our loved ones is what matters most. Through this challenge, we have an opportunity to create stronger communities in our County.

Effects of Climate Change

Placer County is already seeing the effects from damage to our climate. For example, the record-breaking California drought weakened our trees and caused unprecedented bark beetle infestations. Together, the drought and infestations caused the death of over 102 million trees throughout California.

Aerial Photo of Trees Demonstrating Tree Mortality

This incredible increase in tree mortality led the Governor to proclaim a State of Emergency. Dry, dead trees can pose many hazards, especially in Placer County where over one-third of our land is National Forest area. Dead and dying trees can fall and burn more easily, creating potentially dangerous situations for our communities.

Sustainability Plan Commitments

As part of Placer County’s commitment to a healthy, safe, and prosperous future for its residents, the Sustainability Plan:

  • Identifies key sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions within the unincorporated county.
  • Provides a strategy of goals, policies, actions, and projects to reduce GHG emissions and assist statewide goals.
  • Establishes a plan to help residents adapt to the effects of changing climate conditions.

This plan is intended to reflect a vision, goals, and actions consistent with Placer County values and continue the commitment to sustain Placer County’s quality of life for generations to come.