Winter Work on the Ground and at Home

While much of Lake County feels quiet this time of year, winter is one of the most important seasons for forest health and wildfire resilience work. Behind the scenes, our team is coordinating with biologists, landowners, agency partners, and contractors to prepare projects for the 2026 field season. By the time crews mobilize in spring, months of careful planning and compliance work are already in place to ensure projects support long-term stewardship across our landscapes.

You can learn more about this work through our Fire and Forestry Program.

Winter is also one of the best times for residents to prepare their own properties. Cooler weather and the period before peak nesting season make this an ideal window for defensible-space clearing. As you prune and clean up vegetation, remember to look before you prune. Many species begin nesting early, and shrubs and brush can provide important habitat.

Once your piles are ready, you can sign up for our free chipping program and we will remove the material for you. Preparing now helps your property and your community enter the fire season safer and more resilient.

Building Local Implementation Capacity

As we prepare for the upcoming season, we're continuing to expand our network of pre-qualified contractors.

This month, bid packages will be released to contractors who have already completed our pre-qualification process. Pre-qualified contractors receive direct notifications of upcoming opportunities and are eligible to submit bids on qualifying projects.

Contractors may submit pre-qualification materials at any time. The earlier a contractor becomes pre-qualified, the sooner they gain access to future bid opportunities.

By strengthening our local contractor network, we help ensure projects are implemented safely, efficiently, and in alignment with professional forestry standards.