Portola City Council
June 10, 2026

Plumas County 4-490
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Jurisdiction / Fire Hazard Severity Zones Critical Facility Category Facility Count At Risk Populations Facilities 0
Hazardous Materials Facilities 0
No Data Available Total 1
Unincorporated Butte County Total 4
Unincorporated Lassen County
Very High
Essential Services Facilities 9
At Risk Populations Facilities 0
Hazardous Materials Facilities 0
Very High Total 9
High
Essential Services Facilities 5
At Risk Populations Facilities 0
Hazardous Materials Facilities 0
High Total 5
Moderate
Essential Services Facilities 2
At Risk Populations Facilities 0
Hazardous Materials Facilities 0
Moderate Total 2
Outside of Federal / State Responsibility Area
Essential Services Facilities 16
At Risk Populations Facilities 0
Hazardous Materials Facilities 0
Outside of Federal / State Responsibility
Area Total
16 No Data Available
Essential Services Facilities 2
At Risk Populations Facilities 0
Hazardous Materials Facilities 0
No Data Available Total 2
Unincorporated Lassen County Total 34
Unincorporated Sierra County
High
Essential Services Facilities 2
At Risk Populations Facilities 0
Hazardous Materials Facilities 0
High Total 2
Outside of Federal / State Responsibility Area
Essential Services Facilities 2
At Risk Populations Facilities 0
Hazardous Materials Facilities 0
Outside of Federal / State Responsibility
Area Total
2 Unincorporated Sierra County Total 4

Plumas County 4-491
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Jurisdiction / Fire Hazard Severity Zones Critical Facility Category Facility Count Unincorporated Tehama County
Very High
Essential Services Facilities 2
At Risk Populations Facilities 0
Hazardous Materials Facilities 0
Very High Total 2
Unincorporated Tehama County Total 2
Grand Total 934
Source: CAL FIRE, Plumas County GIS

Plumas County 4-492
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Figure 4-208 Plumas County Planning Area – Critical Facilities in LRA Fire Hazard Severity Zones (Overview Map with Insets)

Plumas County 4-493
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Figure 4-209 Plumas County Planning Area – Critical Facilities in LRA Fire Hazard Severity Zones (Map Inset 1)

Plumas County 4-494
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Figure 4-210 Plumas County Planning Area – Critical Facilities in LRA Fire Hazard Severity Zones (Map Inset 2)

Plumas County 4-495
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Figure 4-211 Plumas County Planning Area – Critical Facilities in LRA Fire Hazard Severity Zones (Map Inset 3)

Plumas County 4-496
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Table 4-133 Plumas County Planning Area – Critical Facilities in LRA Fire Hazard Severity Zones by Jurisdiction and Critical Facility Category
Jurisdiction / Fire Hazard Severity Zones Critical Facility Category Facility Count Portola
Very High
Essential Services Facilities 11
At Risk Populations Facilities 7
Hazardous Materials Facilities 0
Very High Total 18
High
Essential Services Facilities 5
At Risk Populations Facilities 1
Hazardous Materials Facilities 0
High Total 6
Portola Total 24
Unincorporated Plumas County
Very High
Essential Services Facilities 79
At Risk Populations Facilities 12
Hazardous Materials Facilities 1
Very High Total 92
High
Essential Services Facilities 19
At Risk Populations Facilities 6
Hazardous Materials Facilities 0
High Total 25
Moderate
Essential Services Facilities 2
At Risk Populations Facilities 0
Hazardous Materials Facilities 0
Moderate Total 2
Non-Wildland
Essential Services Facilities 30
At Risk Populations Facilities 2
Hazardous Materials Facilities
Non-Wildland Total 32
Outside of Local Responsibility Area
Essential Services Facilities 699
At Risk Populations Facilities 13
Hazardous Materials Facilities 3
Outside of Local Responsibility Area Total 715
Unincorporated Plumas County Total 866
Unincorporated Butte County
Outside of Local Responsibility Area Essential Services Facilities 4 At Risk Populations Facilities 0

Plumas County 4-497
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Jurisdiction / Fire Hazard Severity Zones Critical Facility Category Facility Count Hazardous Materials Facilities 0
Outside of Local Responsibility Area Total 4
Unincorporated Butte County Total 4
Unincorporated Lassen County
Very High
Essential Services Facilities 3
At Risk Populations Facilities 0
Hazardous Materials Facilities 0
Very High Total 3
Moderate
Essential Services Facilities 1
At Risk Populations Facilities 0
Hazardous Materials Facilities 0
Moderate Total 1
Non-Wildland
Essential Services Facilities 12
At Risk Populations Facilities 0
Hazardous Materials Facilities 0
Non-Wildland Total 12
Outside of Local Responsibility Area
Essential Services Facilities 18
At Risk Populations Facilities 0
Hazardous Materials Facilities 0
Outside of Local Responsibility Area Total 18
Unincorporated Lassen County Total 34
Unincorporated Sierra County
High
Essential Services Facilities 1
At Risk Populations Facilities 0
Hazardous Materials Facilities 0
High Total 1
Non-Wildland
Essential Services Facilities 1
At Risk Populations Facilities 0
Hazardous Materials Facilities 0
Non-Wildland Total 1
Outside of Local Responsibility Area
Essential Services Facilities 2
At Risk Populations Facilities 0
Hazardous Materials Facilities 0
Outside of Local Responsibility Area Total 2
Unincorporated Sierra County Total 4
Unincorporated Tehama County
Outside of Local Responsibility Area Essential Services Facilities 2

Plumas County 4-498
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Jurisdiction / Fire Hazard Severity Zones Critical Facility Category Facility Count At Risk Populations Facilities 0
Hazardous Materials Facilities 0
Outside of Local Responsibility Area Total 2
Unincorporated Tehama County Total 2
Grand Total 934
Source: CAL FIRE, Plumas County GIS
Natural, Historic, and Cultural Resources
Natural, historic, and cultural resources located within areas at risk to wildfire would be vulnerable. Should a wildfire occur in the Planning Area, the impacts to natural, historic, and cultural resources could be extensive and include loss of forested areas, air pollution, contamination from water runoff containing toxic products, and other environmental discharges or releases from burned materials affecting soils, habitat areas, wildlife, and aquatic resources. Historic and cultural resources can be affected and are often more vulnerable due to their older age, construction type, and lack of fire prevention infrastructure such as sprinklers.

FEMA NRI Hazard Vulnerability Assessment
The HMPC looked at the FEMA NRI for additional specific data on Plumas County’s vulnerability to Wildfire. The NRI contains data and analysis for 18 separate natural hazards, including wildfire. As shown in Table 4-134, wildfires could cause a total of $7,840,595 in expected annual losses, with a historic loss rating of relatively high. Wildfire has a relatively low rating for social vulnerability and a relatively high community resilience, with a risk index score of 97.6 out of 100. According to the NRI, there have been 0 wildfire events during the 2021 data set with 0.80% annual chance per year.

Table 4-134 Plumas County Planning Area – Wildfire Vulnerability Ratings from FEMA NRI NRI Hazard Hazard Risk Index
Rating
Expected Annual
Loss Values
(total)**
Exposure Value
(total)***
Historic Loss Ratio
Rating
Wildfire 97.6 $7,840,595 $67,542,484,158 Relatively high Source: FEMA NRI Report
*Hazard Risk Index is calculated using data for only a single hazard type, and reflects a communities expected annual loss value, community risk factors, and the adjustment factor used to calculate the risk value. **Expected annual loss represents the average economic loss in dollars resulting from natural hazards each year. ***Exposure is a natural hazard consequence factor that is the representative value of buildings, populations, or agriculture potentially exposed to a natural hazard occurrence.

Additional information on the FEMA NRI can be found in Section 4.2 and Appendix H.

Plumas County 4-499
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Impacts from Wildfire
Potential impacts from wildfire include loss of life and injuries; damage to structures (commercial, industrial, and residential) and other improvements, natural and cultural resources, croplands, and timber; and loss of recreational opportunities. Wildfires can cause short-term and long-term disruption to the Plumas County Planning Area. Fires can have devastating effects on watersheds through loss of vegetation and soil erosion, which may impact the Planning Area by changing runoff patterns, increasing sedimentation, reducing natural and reservoir water storage capacity, and degrading water quality. Fires can also affect air quality in the Planning Area; smoke and air pollution from wildfires can be a severe health hazard.

Although the physical damages and casualties arising from wildland-urban interface fires may be severe, it is important to recognize that they also cause significant economic impacts by resulting in a loss of function of buildings and infrastructure. Economic impacts of loss of transportation and utility services may include traffic delays/detours from road and bridge closures and loss of electric power, potable water, and wastewater services. Schools and businesses can be forced to close for extended periods of time. Recently, the threat of wildfire, combined with the potential for high winds, heat, and low humidity, has caused PG&E to initiate a PSPS which can also significantly impact a community through loss of services, business closures, and other impacts associated with loss of power for an extended period. In addition, catastrophic wildfire can create favorable conditions for other hazards such as flooding, landslides, and erosion during the rainy season.

The impacts of a fire are felt long after the fire is extinguished. In addition to the loss of property in fires, the loss in vegetation and changes in surface soils alters the environment. When supporting vegetation is burned, hillsides become destabilized and prone to erosion. The burnt surface soils are harder and absorb less water. When winter rains come, this leads to increased runoff, erosion, and landslides in hilly areas.

Impacts that are not quantified, but can be anticipated in large future events, include:
➢ Injury and loss of life;
➢ Commercial and residential structural and property damage; ➢ Disruption of and damage to public infrastructure, utilities, and services; ➢ Damage to roads/bridges resulting in loss of mobility; ➢ Significant economic impact (jobs, sales, tax revenue) to the community; and ➢ Negative impact on commercial and residential property values Wildfire smoke can also have negative effects to those who live in or near a fire burn area. Smoke and air pollution from wildfires can be a severe health hazard. Significant wildfires occurring in nearby northern California communities since the previous LHMP Update have created significant air pollution affecting area residents. Planning Area residents have been affected by wildfire smoke and poor air quality, from fires both within the County and from those much further away.

The Plumas County Air District noted that wildfire smoke impacts populations for days and weeks at a time. The County has no control on what wildfires burn or for how long. Poor air quality poses a health risk to all individuals. However, children, adolescents, pregnant women, the elderly, the immunocompromised and those with pre-existing chronic diseases and lung conditions are especially

Plumas County 4-500
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
vulnerable to the compounding detrimental health impacts of poor air quality events. Wildfire smoke creates and often exacerbates poor air quality situations. Of the many harmful components that exist in wildfire smoke, one of the most dangerous is PM, specifically fine PM2.5. The microscopic particles of PM2.5 are so fine that they are inhaled deep into the lungs and cross the blood-air barrier to enter the bloodstream.

Short-term exposure over hours or days can lead to increased asthma attacks, acute bronchitis, increased susceptibility to respiratory infections and can lead to an increased risk of heart attack for individuals with lung disease.

Ground-level ozone is another air pollutant of concern because it is a strong irritant that can cause constriction of the airways, forcing the respiratory system to work harder to provide oxygen. It can also cause other health problems including aggravated respiratory disease such as emphysema, bronchitis and asthma, lung damage, wheezing, chest pain, dry throat, headache, nausea, reduced resistance to infection, increased fatigue and weakened athletic performance. While ozone is typically seen at its highest levels during the summer, wildfire plumes can increase ozone formation. With an increased number of prolonged wildfire smoke events impacting populations near and far from fire epicenters, it has become imperative to understand the health impact from acute and extended exposure to wildfire smoke.

Impacts to identified assets at risk to this hazard and the overall vulnerability of the County may be affected in the future by climate change (which was discussed in the hazard profile section above), changes in population patterns, and changes in land use and development. The influencing effects of these factors on this hazard are discussed further in the Future Conditions/Future Development discussion below.

Future Conditions/Future Development
This section provides a discussion of how future conditions will influence or affect the hazard over time and also discusses future development relative to each hazard.

Future Conditions
Future conditions may be affected by climate change, changes in population patterns (migration, density, or the makeup of socially vulnerable populations), and changes in land use and development. Findings on this for Plumas County include the following:
➢ Climate change is likely to exacerbate future wildfire conditions and associated impacts and vulnerability of the County to wildfire.
➢ Future population growth should be considered, as having more or less people in a community affects the overall hazard vulnerability to the County. Population is expected to decrease in Plumas County.

Changes in population and population patterns may or may not increase the impacts and vulnerability of the County to this hazard depending on the location and nature of growth and continued planning for future hazard conditions.
➢ Land use planning should be proactive to address future hazard conditions. Locating new development, structures and critical facilities and infrastructure within or near areas of wildfire risk may put additional development at risk. However, County building codes are in effect to reduce this risk and should be updated as necessary to continue to address future wildfire conditions. Thus, depending on the location of new development and adherence to protective building codes, changes in land use and development may or may not increase the impacts and associated vulnerabilities of the County to this hazard.

Plumas County 4-501
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Future Development
Future development considerations should be ongoing and proactive. Ensuring that comprehensive land use planning is conducted, regulatory requirements, such as building codes, are followed, and varying needs for different demographic groups with intersecting identities that reside within the County are considered can help to make for a more resilient community.

GIS Analysis
Plumas County provided 13 future development areas which were used as the basis for the inventory of future development for the unincorporated County. These were mapped in GIS. Figure 4-212 show the locations of the future development areas and SRA/FRA FHSZs. Table 4-135 shows the details of the future development areas that are located in each SRA/FRA FHSZ. Figure 4-213 shows the locations of the future development areas in the LRA FHSZ. Table 4-136 shows the details of the future development areas that are located in the LRA FHSZ. As shown, all future development areas in the County fall in the moderate or higher FHSZ.

Plumas County 4-502
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Figure 4-212 Unincorporated Plumas County – Future Development in CAL FIRE SRA/FRA Fire Hazard Severity Zones

Plumas County 4-503
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Table 4-135 Unincorporated Plumas County – Future Development in SRA/FRA FHSZs with Parcel Counts and Acreages
Fire Hazard
Severity
Zone /
Future
Development
Status and
Type
Site / Map
ID and
Future
Development
Name
Total
Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel
Count
Unimproved
Parcel Count
Total
Acres
Total
Improved
Acres
Total
Unimproved
Acres
Very High
Approved
Commercial

A - CHP
Station 1 0 1 5.00 0.00 5.00
B - Greenville
Cy Hall
Memorial
Museum
1 0 1 0.11 0.00 0.11
C - Greenville
Rancheria
Medical,
Dental Clinic,
and Pharmacy
1 0 1 1.58 0.00 1.58
E - Plumas
County Search
and Rescue
1 1 0 4.50 4.50 0.00
F - Plumas
District
Hospital
Skilled
Nursing
Facility
1 0 1 4.12 0.00 4.12
G - Seneca
Hospital 1 0 1 11.80 0.00 11.80
H - Way
Station 1 0 1 0.28 0.00 0.28
I - Indian
Valley Public
Safety Center
1 0 1 5.00 0.00 5.00
Commercial
Total 8 1 7 32.39 4.50 27.89
Approved Total 8 1 7 32.39 4.50 27.89
Conceptual
Residential M - Housing
Element
RHNA Site
1 1 0 3.64 3.64 0.00
Residential
Total 1 1 0 3.64 3.64 0.00

Plumas County 4-504
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Fire Hazard
Severity
Zone /
Future
Development
Status and
Type
Site / Map
ID and
Future
Development
Name
Total
Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel
Count
Unimproved
Parcel Count
Total
Acres
Total
Improved
Acres
Total
Unimproved
Acres
Conceptual Total 1 1 0 3.64 3.64 0.00
Very High Total 9 2 7 36.03 8.14 27.89
Moderate
Approved
Residential J - Meadow
Edge Mobile
Home Park
1 1 0 42.74 42.74 0.00
Residential
Total 1 1 0 42.74 42.74 0.00
Approved Total 1 1 0 42.74 42.74 0.00
Moderate Total 1 1 0 42.74 42.74 0.00
Grand Total 10 3 7 78.77 50.88 27.89
Source: CAL FIRE, Plumas County GIS

Plumas County 4-505
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Figure 4-213 Unincorporated Plumas County – Future Development in CAL FIRE LRA Fire Hazard Severity Zones

Plumas County 4-506
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Table 4-136 Unincorporated Plumas County – Future Development in LRA FHSZs with Parcel Counts and Acreages
Fire Hazard
Severity
Zone /
Future
Development
Status and
Type
Site / Map
ID and
Future
Development
Name
Total
Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel
Count
Unimproved
Parcel Count
Total
Acres
Total
Improved
Acres
Total
Unimproved
Acres
Very High
Approved
Commercial

A - CHP
Station 1 0 1 5.00 0.00 5.00
D - Plumas
Charter
School
1 0 1 0.89 0.00 0.89
F - Plumas
District
Hospital
Skilled
Nursing
Facility
1 0 1 4.12 0.00 4.12
G - Seneca
Hospital 1 0 1 11.80 0.00 11.80
Commercial
Total 4 0 4 21.81 0.00 21.81
Residential
K - North
Star
Navigation
Center - Phase
2 1 1 0 1.00 1.00 0.00
Residential
Total 1 1 0 1.00 1.00 0.00
Approved Total 5 1 4 22.81 1.00 21.81
Proposed
Commercial
L - Plumas
County
Courthouse
1 1 0 2.86 2.86 0.00
Commercial
Total 1 1 0 2.86 2.86 0.00
Proposed Total 1 1 0 2.86 2.86 0.00
Conceptual
Residential
M - Housing
Element
RHNA Site
1 1 0 3.64 3.64 0.00
Residential
Total 1 1 0 3.64 3.64 0.00

Plumas County 4-507
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Fire Hazard
Severity
Zone /
Future
Development
Status and
Type
Site / Map
ID and
Future
Development
Name
Total
Parcel
Count
Improved
Parcel
Count
Unimproved
Parcel Count
Total
Acres
Total
Improved
Acres
Total
Unimproved
Acres
Conceptual Total 1 1 0 3.64 3.64 0.00
Very High Total 7 3 4 29.31 7.50 21.81
Grand Total 7 3 4 29.31 7.50 21.81
Source: CAL FIRE, Plumas County GIS

4.4 Capability Assessment
Thus far, the planning process has identified the natural hazards posing a threat to the Plumas County Planning Area and described, in general, the vulnerability of the County to these risks. The next step is to assess what loss prevention mechanisms are already in place. This part of the planning process is the capability assessment. Combining the risk assessment with the capability assessment provides an overview of the County’s net vulnerability to disasters, and more accurately focuses the goals, objectives, and proposed actions of this Plan.

A two-step approach is used to conduct the Capability Assessment for each participating jurisdiction to this LHMP Update. First, an inventory of common mitigation activities was made through the use of matrixes.

The purpose of this effort was to identify policies and programs that were either in place, needed improvement, or could be undertaken if deemed appropriate. Second, an inventory and review of existing policies, regulations, plans, and programs was conducted to determine if they contributed to reducing hazard-related losses or if they inadvertently contributed to increasing such losses.

This section presents the County’s mitigation capabilities that are applicable to the unincorporated County.

These are in addition to, and supplement, the many plans, reports, and technical information reviewed and used for this LHMP Update as identified in Chapter 3 and in Chapter 4.

This assessment is divided into four sections: regulatory mitigation capabilities are discussed in Section

4.4.1; administrative and technical mitigation capabilities are discussed in Section 4.4.3; fiscal mitigation capabilities are discussed in Section 4.4.3; and mitigation education, outreach, and partnerships are discussed in Section 4.4.4.

4.4.1. Plumas County’s Regulatory Mitigation Capabilities Table 4-137 lists planning and land management tools typically used by local jurisdictions to implement hazard mitigation activities and indicates those that are in place in unincorporated Plumas County. Excerpts from applicable policies, regulations, plans and program descriptions follow to provide more detail on existing mitigation capabilities.

Plumas County 4-508
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Table 4-137 Plumas County Regulatory Mitigation Capabilities Plans
In Place
Y/N
Does the plan address hazards? Can the plan be used to
carry out mitigation actions? When was it last updated?? Capital Improvements Plan Y Draft is still being edited but the RTP contains most of what is in the Capital Improvements Plan
Climate Change Adaptation Plan Y See Plumas County 2035 General Plan Conservation & Open Space Element Policy 7.10.2 Climate Action Plan states: The County shall establish a Climate Action Plan that identifies strategies for increasing energy efficiency, carbon sequestration, GHG emissions reductions, and land use and transportation strategies that are consistent with appropriate climate change regulations (i.e. State of California’s Global Warming Solution Act). Conservation & Open Space Element Implementation
Measure #18 states: As part of the County’s Climate Change Strategy, the County shall develop a Plan for the County to identify its emission sources, its reduction potential, economic and social adaptation to the effects of climate change, and its potential regional carbon sequestration potential. Development of the plan shall include the following steps:
a. conduct a baseline analysis of GHG emissions for 1990 or the most appropriate baseline year.
b. Adopt an emissions reduction target.
c. Develop strategies and actions for reducing emissions. d. Develop strategies and actions for adaptation to climate change.
e. Implement strategies and actions.
f. Monitor emissions and verify results a minimum of every five years starting in 2015.

Conservation & Open Space Element Implementation Measure #19 states: The County shall continue to monitor and update the General Plan and Zoning Code, as appropriate, to reflect the County’s Plan that identifies strategies for increasing energy efficiency, carbon sequestrations, GHG emissions reductions, and land use and transportation strategies that are consistent with the State of California’s Global Warming Solutions Act and new State laws and regulations for GHG emissions as they become available.

Community Wildfire Protection Plan Y See link: https://www.plumasfiresafe.org/wildfire-planningdocuments.html

Plumas County 4-509
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Comprehensive/Master Plan Y Yes – see Element 6 “Public Health & Safety” Section 6.1: General Health and Safety Policies
Section 6.2: Geologic and Seismic Hazards
Section 6.3: Wildland Fire Hazards and Fire Protection
Section 6.4: Flood and Dam Inundation
Section 6.5: Hazardous Wastes
Section 6.6: Airport Hazards
Section 6.7: Emergency Operations
Section 6.8: Healthy Communities
See page 148 for implementation measures re: potential projects Plan goals, policies, and implementation measures can be used to implement mitigation actions. 2013
Continuity of Operations Plan Y See EOP “Basic Plan” “Continuity of Government” plan starting on page 23
Economic Development Plan Y See Plumas County 2035 General Plan Economics Element for economic development goals, policies, and implementation measures. Additionally, in June 2024 the Comprehensive
Economic Development Strategy (2023-2027) was published for the Sierra Economic Development District which includes the counties and incorporated cities of Placer, Nevada, El Dorado, Sierra, and Plumas. Lastly, in September 2024 the California Jobs First, North State Regional Strategies document was published consisting of 10 counties in northern California including Plumas.

Land Use Plan
Local Emergency Operations Plan Y See link to County website:
https://www.plumascounty.us/1941/Emergency-OperationsPlan Stormwater Management Plan N No master plan as far storm water goes, very few actual storm water systems, mostly surface run-off
Transportation Plan Y Plumas County Transportation Commission https://www.plumascounty.us/1900/Regional-TransportationPlan Other
Land Use Planning and Ordinances Y/N
Is the ordinance an effective way to reduce hazard
impacts?
Is the ordinance adequately administered and enforced?
Acquisition of land for open space and
public recreation use
N
Building code Y Yes (2025 CA Building Code and Title 24) Flood insurance rate maps Y However, most of the County is not FEMA mapped, so there’s a lot of Zone “A” (100-year) areas generally determined using approximate methodologies. Because detailed hydraulic analyses have not been performed, no Base Flood Elevation (BFE) or flood depths are known.

Plumas County 4-510
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Floodplain ordinance Y Chapter 2, Zoning; Article 35 – Floodplain combining zone (FP)
But the original comprehensive flood plain ordinance was adopted in 1998 and was based on the Model Flood Plain
ordinance produced by the Department of Water Resources (CA DWR). At the last audit conducted by CA DWR and the FEMA, it was recommended that the ordinance be updated to the latest state/federal Model Flood Plain ordinance.

Update Title 8 (Building Regulations), Chapter 17 (Flood) of the Plumas County Code re: Flood Plain Ordinance and
applicable Title 9 (Planning and Zoning) sections.

Issue identified during 2011 audit by CA DWR and FEMA.

Update Flood Plain Ordinance to the latest August 2020 CA DWR CA Model Flood Plain Ordinance.

Coordinate with Public Works.

Related General Plan policies:

PHS 6.4.1 Coordination with Federal Emergency Management Agency, United States Army Corps of Engineers and
Department of Water Resources Division of Flood
Management
PHS 6.4.2 Development in Floodways and Dam Inundation
Areas
PHS 6.4.4 Floodplain Development Restrictions
PHS 6.4.7 Limit Surface Runoff
PHS Implementation Measures 1, 10, 20
COS 7.2.4 Stream Corridor Development
W 9.7.2 Downstream Peak Flows
Natural hazard-specific ordinance
(stormwater, steep slope, wildfire)
Y Implement SRAs Fire Safe Regulations, various County Code sections
Subdivision ordinance N But look to develop an ordinance in 2027/2028 The Subdivision Ordinance should:

Update the Plumas County Code to be in conformance with the California Subdivision Map Act, including language regarding procedures for processing Certificate of Compliance and Reversion to Acreage proposals.

Clarify the responsibilities of the Planning Director, Zoning Administrator, County Engineer, Road Commissioner, and
County Surveyor in processing tentative and final maps.

Incorporate the application requirements as approved by the Board of Supervisors in previous resolutions.

Provide for a streamlined process that leads to development of standard conditions of approval as delineated in the wording of the ordinance.

Incorporate goals, policies and implementation measures from the 2035 Plumas County General Plan.

Plumas County 4-511
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Zoning ordinance Y Title 4, Public Safety, Chapter 1 – Disaster Response and Emergency Organization; Chapter 2 – Fire Prevention; Title 9, Planning and Zoning, Chapter 2, Zoning; Section 9-2.407.5- Flood; Article 35 Flood Plain Combining Zone (FP); Chapter 3 Subdivisions; Section 9-3.309-Flood Hazards: Drainage;
Chapter 9 – State Responsibility Area Fire Safe Regulations; and Title 8, Building Regulations, Chapter 17 – Flood
Other
How can these capabilities be expanded and improved to reduce risk? Develop a climate action plan / climate resilience and adaptation plan. Develop subdivision ordinance. Develop grading and drainage ordinance.

FEMA needs to map more of the County, so property owners are not burdened with paying for a flood study to determine BFE to get an elevation certificate. Additional contractors need to be found to be on call during hazard events.

Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule (BCEGS) Scores by Fire Protection Agency BCEGS scores vary by fire protection agency. This can be seen in Table 4-138.

Table 4-138 Plumas County – Fire Protection Agency BCEGS Scores ISO Rating Department
4/9 Beckwourth Fire Protection District
10 C-Road Comm. Services District
4 Chester Public Utility District
9 Crescent Mills Fire Protection District
5/5X Eastern Plumas Rural Fire District
4/8b Graeagle Fire Protection District
5 Greenhorn Creek CSD
4/4Y Hamilton Branch Fire Protection District
4/8 Indian Valley CSD
7/9 La Porte Fire Protection District
8B Long Valley CSD
8B/10 Meadow Valley Fire District
3 Peninsula Fire Protection District
4/4Y Plumas Eureka CSD
5 Portola City Fire Department
10 Prattville-Almanor Fire District
3/3Y Quincy Fire Protection District
8B Sierra Valley Fire District
3 West Almanor CSD
Source: Plumas County OES

Plumas County 4-512
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
As indicated in the tables above, Plumas County has several plans and programs that guide the County’s mitigation of development of hazard-prone areas. Starting with the Plumas County General Plan, which is the most comprehensive of the County’s plans when it comes to mitigation, some of these are described in more detail below.
2035 Plumas County General Plan (Adopted December 2013) A general plan is a legal document, required by state law, that serves as a community's "constitution" for land use and development. The plan must be a comprehensive, long-term document, detailing proposals for the "physical development of the county or city, and of any land outside its boundaries which in the planning agency's judgment bears relation to its planning" (Government Code §65300 et seq.). Time horizons vary, but the typical general plan looks 10 to 20 years into the future. The law specifically requires that the general plan address seven topics or "elements." These are land use, circulation (transportation), housing, conservation, open space, noise, and safety. The plan must analyze issues of importance to the community, set forth policies in text and diagrams for conservation and development, and outline specific programs for implementing these policies.

Goals and policies related to mitigation from the General Plan include the following:

Land Use Element
Goal LU-5 To promote a development pattern that maximizes the use of existing infrastructure prior to the construction of new infrastructure. Develop a land use pattern to facilitate the delivery of community services in the most cost-effective manner possible for infrastructure construction and maintenance, fire protection, emergency medical and police.

Policy 1.5.3 Provision for Fire and Life Safety Services – The County shall require development to be located adjacent to, or within, areas where fire and life safety services exist, or can be efficiently and economically provided.

Goal LU 1.11 To promote development patterns that recognize the need to conserve water resources, consistent with other stated goals.

Policy 1.11.1 Groundwater Management Plans – The County shall support the development and implementation of a regional groundwater management plan and shall work with water resources agencies, water users, and other affected parties to develop basin-specific plans for high priority groundwater basins to ensure a sustainable, adequate, safe and economically viable groundwater supply for existing and future uses within the County.

Public Health & Safety Element
Goal PHS 6.1 To protect local communities from injury and damage resulting from natural catastrophes and man-made hazardous conditions.

Policy 6.1.1 Development Constraints – The County shall limit the density and intensity of development in areas to the levels needed to reduce hazards to public health and safety.

Plumas County 4-513
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Goal PHS 6.1 To protect local communities from injury and damage resulting from natural catastrophes and man-made hazardous conditions.

Policy 6.1.2 Building and Code Updates – Except as otherwise noted by State law, the County shall ensure that all new structures intended for human habitation are designed in compliance with the latest adopted editions of the California Building Standards Code.

Policy 6.1.3 Hazard Awareness and Public Education – The County shall continue to promote awareness and education among residents regarding possible natural hazards, including soil conditions, landslides, earthquakes, flooding, wildfire hazards and emergency procedures.

Policy 6.1.4 Public Safety Programs – The County shall promote all applicable public safety programs, including neighborhood-watch programs, hazards materials disposal, public awareness and prevention of wildfire hazards, and other public-education efforts.

Goal PHS 6.2 To identify and prevent development in “areas of unstable geologic conditions,” which include: active faults, landslides and areas of potential ground failure such as liquefaction, mudslides and subsidence.

Policy6.2.1 Maintenance of Updated Geologic and Seismic Hazard Information – The County shall maintain updated geologic, seismic and avalanche hazard maps and other hazard inventory information in cooperation with the State Office of Emergency Services, California Department of Conservation— Division of Mines and Geology, United States Forest Service, California Department of Transportation and other agencies as this information is made available.

Policy6.2.2 Design Measures – The County shall require earthquake resistant designs consistent with the requirements of the California Building Standards Code for all critical structures, such as fire stations, emergency communication centers, private schools, high occupancy buildings, and nonhighway bridges.

Policy6.2.3 Seismic Retrofitting – The County shall support and encourage seismic upgrades to older buildings that may be structurally deficient. Upgrades shall consider any applicable historic building preservation requirements.

Policy6.2.4 Development on Slopes – The County shall not allow development on slopes 30 percent or greater, unless the applicant can sufficiently mitigate the inherent problems associated with developing on steep slopes.

Policy6.2.5 Avalanche, Landslide and Mudflow Hazards – The County shall prohibit new subdivisions in high risk areas of known avalanche, landslide or mudflow hazards.

Policy6.2.6 Naturally Occurring Asbestos – The County shall work with the Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District to map locations of naturally occurring asbestos and to mitigate potential hazards from development.

Policy6.2.7 Development Requirements – The County shall continue to address seismic standards of dam safety as required by the State Division of Safety and Dams.

Goal PHS 6.3 To minimize the possibility of the loss of life, injury, damage to property, and loss of habitat and natural resources as a result of fire.

Policy 6.3.1 Defensible Space – The County shall review and update its Fire Safe ordinance to attain and maintain defensible space through conditioning of tentative maps and in new development at the final map and/or building-permit stage.

Plumas County 4-514
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Goal PHS 6.3 To minimize the possibility of the loss of life, injury, damage to property, and loss of habitat and natural resources as a result of fire.

Policy 6.3.2 Limitations in Fire Hazard Areas – The County shall consult the current Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps during the review of all projects so that standards and mitigation measures appropriate to each hazard classification can be applied. Land use densities and intensities shall be determined by mitigation measures in areas designated with a high or very high fire hazard rating. Intensive development in areas with high or very high fire hazard rating shall be discouraged.

Policy 6.3.3 Structural Fire Protection – All developments within the service boundaries of an entity which provides structural fire protection may be required to make contribution to the maintenance of the existing level of structural service proportionate to the increase in demand for service structural fire protection and Emergency Medical Services resulting from the development.

Policy 6.3.4 New Development Requirements – As a requirement for approving new development, the County must find (based on information provided by the applicant and the responsible fire protection district), that concurrent with development, adequate emergency water flow, fire access – Public Health & Safety Element| 140 – and fire-fighting personnel and equipment, will be available in accordance with applicable State, County, and local fire district standards.

Policy 6.3.5 Emergency Access – As a requirement of new development, the applicant must demonstrate that adequate emergency access exists or can be provided to ensure that emergency vehicles can access the site and that private vehicles can evacuate the area.

Policy 6.3.6 Fire Protection and Roadside Maintenance – As a condition of development, the County shall require the long-term maintenance of private roads, including roadside vegetation management, to the standards of original improvements.

Policy 6.3.7 Rural Fire Protection Water System – The County shall research the feasibility of a countywide rural fire protection water system that provides a cost-effective, adequate water supply.

Policy 6.3.8 Fire Protection Facility Upgrades – The County shall encourage upgrading facilities within existing fire protection districts and encourage expansion of existing districts where warranted by population density allowed under the General Plan.

Policy 6.3.9 Fuel Modification – The County shall require new development within high and very high fire hazard areas to designate fuel break zones that comply with defensible space requirements to benefit the new and, where possible, existing development.

Policy 6.3.10 Prescribed Burning – The County shall encourage the use of prescribed burning as a management tool for hazardous fuels reduction, timber management purposes, livestock production and enhancement of wildlife habitat. The County shall support removal of fuels and chipping and onsite distribution of chipped materials as an alternative to burning.

Policy 6.3.11 Regional Cooperation – The County shall cooperate with Federal, State, community fire safety groups and other fire protection entities in fire prevention programs and in identifying opportunities for hazardous fuel reduction projects in zones of high and very high fire hazard either prior to or as a component of project review.

Policy 6.3.12 Fire Prevention Education – The County, in cooperation with Federal and State agencies, community fire safety groups, and the local fire protection districts, shall educate the public about the hazards of wildfires, methods to reduce the potential for fires to occur, and mitigation measures, including reducing fuel loads, to lessen the impacts of wildfires.

Policy 6.3.13 Landscape-Scale Fuel Modification – The County shall support fuel modification across public and private forestlands to reduce the potential for catastrophic wildfires, with the highest priority directed toward reducing hazardous fuel levels in the wildland-urban interface.

Plumas County 4-515
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Goal PHS 6.4 To minimize the loss of life, injury or damage to property as a result of floods in Plumas County.

Policy 6.4.1 Coordination with Federal Emergency Management Agency, United States Army Corps of Engineers and Department of Water Resources Division of Flood Management – The County shall continue participation in the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Flood Insurance Program, utilizing the Flood Insurance Rate Maps and the County’s floodplain ordinances that implement Federal and State flood management standards. The County shall continue to utilize floodplain management and flood control information provided by the Department of Water Resources Division of Flood Management and the United States Army Corps of Engineers and coordinate with these agencies when undertaking updates to the County’s floodplain ordinances and policies.

Policy 6.4.2 Development in Floodways and Dam Inundation Areas – The County shall prohibit the development of new critical or high-occupancy structures within the floodway of any river, stream or other body of water. Similar structures should not be located within the inundation area resulting from failure of dams identified by the State Department of Water Resources Division of Safety of Dams.

Policy 6.4.3 New Parcels in Floodplain – The County shall strongly discourage the creation of new residential parcels which lie entirely within Special Flood Hazard Areas as identified on the most current version of the Flood Insurance Rate Maps provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Proposals for new parcels that are partially located within designated Special Flood Hazard Areas must be evaluated to determine if sufficient land is available outside the Special Flood Hazard Area to support residential development and that potential flood impacts can be sufficiently mitigated.

Policy 6.4.4 Floodplain Development Restrictions – The County shall ensure that riparian areas and drainage areas within floodplains are free from development that may adversely affect floodway capacity or characteristics of natural/riparian areas or natural groundwater recharge areas.

Policy 6.4.5 Multi-Purpose Flood Control Measures – The County shall encourage multi-purpose flood control projects that incorporate recreation, resource conservation, preservation of natural riparian habitat and scenic values of the County’s waterways.

Policy 6.4.6 Flood Control Design – The County shall avoid flood control projects involving further channeling, straightening or lining of waterways until alternative multi-purpose modes of treatment, such as wider berms and landscaped areas in combination with recreation amenities, are studied.

Policy 6.4.7 Limit Surface Runoff – The County shall review development projects to determine that such development can be permitted without alteration of off-site historical flood patterns or contribution to flooding hazards for downstream users. Each project with the potential to create off-site drainage shall be required to submit a plan showing how the impacts of such drainage will be addressed, both on-site and off-site.

Policy 6.4.8 Storm Water Retention/Detention and Groundwater Infiltration – As appropriate, the County shall require development to incorporate storm-water retention/detention ponds to encourage groundwater recharge and to make efficient use of storm water.

Goal PHS 6.7 To provide effective emergency response to natural or human-made hazards and disasters.

Policy 6.7.1 Emergency Response Services Coordination with Government Agencies – The County shall coordinate emergency response with local, State and Federal governmental agencies, community organizations, volunteer agencies and other response partners during emergencies or disasters utilizing the Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS) and the National Incident Management System (NIMS).

Plumas County 4-516
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Goal PHS 6.7 To provide effective emergency response to natural or human-made hazards and disasters.

Policy 6.7.2 Mutual Aid Agreement – The County shall participate in established local, State and Federal mutual aid systems. Where necessary and appropriate, the County shall enter into agreements to ensure the effective provision of emergency services, such as mass care, heavy rescue, hazardous materials or other specialized functions.

Policy 6.7.3 Maintenance of Emergency Evacuation Plans – The County shall continue to create, revise and maintain emergency plans for the broad range of natural and human-made disasters and response activities that could be foreseen to impact Plumas County. This shall include, but not be limited to, flooding, dam failure, extreme weather, evacuation/transportation, mass care and shelter, and animal evacuation and sheltering. Emergency Planning projects shall be in line with the County’s Emergency Operations Plan and incorporate current guidance and initiatives from State and Federal Emergency Management Agencies.

Policy 6.7.4 Streets and Highways Upgrades – The County shall evaluate and strive to upgrade vital streets and highways to an acceptable level for emergency services and for public safety.

Policy 6.7.5 Search and Rescue – The County should continue to provide search and rescue operation capabilities through the Plumas County Sheriff's Department.

Policy 6.7.6 Joint Exercises – The County shall encourage fire, law enforcement, emergency medical services, resource management, public health and other governmental and non-governmental response partners to periodically conduct joint training exercises with the goal of developing the best possible coordinated action and effective response times in the event of a natural or human-made disaster across all local jurisdictions.

Conservation & Open Space Element
Goal COS 7.10 To address climate change and manage its effects by pursuing programs and strategies in order to meet or exceed state requirements for reductions in GHG emissions.

Policy 7.10.1 Inventory and Monitor GHG Emissions – The County shall inventory and monitor GHG emissions in County operations and in the community, consistent with Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District and/or State guidelines.

Policy 7.10.2 Climate Action Plan – The County shall establish a Climate Action Plan that identifies strategies for increasing energy efficiency, carbon sequestration, GHG emissions reductions, and land use and transportation strategies that are consistent with appropriate climate change regulations (i.e. State of California’s Global Warming Solution Act).

Policy 7.10.3 Support Statewide Climate Change Solutions – The County shall monitor and support the efforts of CAL EPA, CARB, and the NSAQMB, under AB 32 (Health and Safety Code §38501 et seq.), to formulate mitigation strategies, if any, that may be implemented by local government, and further require the County to ultimately consider any such strategies once they become available and are appropriate for rural adaptation.

Policy 7.10.4 Forest Sequestration and Biomass Energy – The County shall investigate providing incentives for increased carbon sequestration on forest lands and encourage the use of forest biomass for sustainable energy generation.

Policy 7.10.5 Sustainable Business Practices – The County shall encourage all businesses to take the following actions as appropriate for each business: replace high mileage fleet vehicles with hybrid and/or alternative fuel vehicles, increase the energy efficiency of facilities, transition to the use of renewable energy instead of non-renewable energy sources, adopt purchasing practices that promote emissions reductions, and reusable materials and increased recycling.

Plumas County 4-517
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Goal COS 7.10 To address climate change and manage its effects by pursuing programs and strategies in order to meet or exceed state requirements for reductions in GHG emissions.

Policy 7.10.6 Sustainable Agricultural Practices – The County shall promote GHG emission reductions by encouraging carbon efficient farming methods, such as no-till farming, crop rotation, cover cropping, installation of renewable energy technologies, protection of grasslands, open space, riparian, and forest lands from conversion to other uses, and development of energy-efficient structures.

Policy 7.10.7 Public Awareness and Education – The County shall work to increase public awareness regarding climate change and encourage County residents and businesses to become involved in activities and lifestyle changes that will aid in the reduction of GHG emissions.

Agriculture and Forestry Element
Goal AG/FOR

8.5 Protect the supply and quality of the County’s water resources, by maintaining the proper ecological function of watersheds, including sediment transport groundwater recharge and filtration, biological processes, flood mitigations, and maintaining enough water for local and agricultural needs and uses.

Policy 8.5.1 Water for Agricultural Uses – Protect sustainable supplies of water for agricultural uses.

Goal AG/FOR

8.11 Promote the utilization of forested lands to address GHG emissions.

Policy 8.11.1 Forestlands as Locations for Carbon Sequestration - The County shall work through the CEQA process to comply with GHG reductions as set forth in AB 32 to create policies that encourage utilization of forestlands to serve as locations for carbon sequestration.

Policy 8.11.2 GHG Emissions Mitigation – The County shall determine impacts of development projects on GHG emissions and require enforceable mitigation measures. If, after analyzing and requiring all reasonable and feasible on-site mitigation measures for avoiding or reducing GHG-related impacts, the lead agency determines that additional mitigation is required, the agency shall consider additional off-site mitigation. Priority for off-site mitigation shall be given to agricultural and forested lands serving as locations for carbon sequestration.

Water Resources Element
Goal W 9.1 To manage groundwater as a valuable and limited resource and to ensure its sustainability as a reliable water supply sufficient to meet the existing and future needs of Plumas County.

Policy 9.1.1 Groundwater Management – The County shall support the development and implementation of a regional groundwater management plan and shall work with water resource agencies, such as the Sierra Valley Groundwater Management District, water users and other affected parties to develop basin-specific plans for high priority groundwater basins to ensure a sustainable, adequate, safe and economically viable groundwater supply for existing and future uses within the County.

Policy 9.1.2 Groundwater Recharge Area Protection – The County shall require that all projects be designed to maintain or increase the site’s pre-development absorption of rainfall (minimize runoff), and to recharge groundwater where appropriate. Implementation would include standards that could regulate impervious surfaces, provide for water impoundments (retention/detention structures), protecting and planting vegetation, use of permeable paving materials, bioswales, water gardens, and cisterns, and other measures to increase runoff retention, protect water quality, and enhance groundwater recharge.

Plumas County 4-518
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Goal W 9.1 To manage groundwater as a valuable and limited resource and to ensure its sustainability as a reliable water supply sufficient to meet the existing and future needs of Plumas County.

Policy 9.1.3 Groundwater Demand Reductions – The County shall encourage the use of alternate sources of water supply as appropriate and to the maximum extent feasible in an effort to reduce demand on key groundwater resources in the county.

Goal W 9.2 To protect, restore and enhance the quality of surface and groundwater resources to meet the needs of all reasonable beneficial uses.

Policy 9.2.1 Participation in Water Quality Objectives – The County shall support and assist in the development of reasonable and prudent Total Maximum Daily Loads for the impaired water bodies and pollutants of concern identified by the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board to achieve compliance with adopted Total Maximum Daily Loads. Work with the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board to develop and implement measures consistent with the adopted Total Maximum Daily Loads. The County shall also work closely with the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board, the City of Portola, public water supply purveyors and other interested parties in the development and implementation of water quality plans and measures.

Policy 9.2.2 Background Water Quality – The County shall encourage the use of water management strategies, biological remediation and the best available technology to address naturally occurring water quality problems.

Policy 9.2.3 County Facilities – The County shall design, construct and maintain County buildings, roads, bridges, drainage and other facilities to minimize sediment and other pollutants in stormwater flows.

Policy 9.2.4 Wildfire and Water Quality Controls
The County shall, in cooperation with wildfire management agencies, such as Cal Fire, United States Forest Service and local fire protection agencies, develop a variety of land-use planning, site design and vegetation management techniques to reduce the risk of wildfires. This risk reduction shall also include post-fire erosion, sedimentation and water-quality conditions.

Policy 9.2.5 Wastewater Standards and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) The County shall support wastewater agencies’ efforts to meet applicable NPDES permit requirements and waste discharge requirements in compliance with the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and California’s Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act.

Policy 9.2.6 Erosion and Sediment Control Measures
The County shall ensure that Best Management Practices to control erosion and sediment will be incorporated into development design and improvements.

Policy 9.2.7 Wastewater Application Management
The County shall approach all wastewater applications, both individual on-site and community systems, in a manner that supports Federal, State and local wastewater regulations to ensure the protection of public health and the environment.

Goal W 9.3 To ensure that the County proactively develops and supports programs and policies for forest and watershed management to counteract trends in declining snowpack storage, accelerated Spring runoff, and declining overall runoff that threaten both larger flood events and diminished late-season water supplies.

Policy 9.3.1 Water Resource Adaptation – The County shall encourage water purveyors to develop plans for responding to potential changes in weather patterns resulting from climate change effects, the sharing of water resources to improve water supply reliability and the allocation of water supply to priority users. Climate patterns will also be monitored for their ability to affect existing drainage patterns and their resultant effects to flood-prone areas.

Plumas County 4-519
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Goal W 9.3 To ensure that the County proactively develops and supports programs and policies for forest and watershed management to counteract trends in declining snowpack storage, accelerated Spring runoff, and declining overall runoff that threaten both larger flood events and diminished late-season water supplies.

Policy 9.3.2 Forest Management – The County shall support plans and projects to improve the conditions of overstocked forestlands, especially around communities-at-risk, to reduce the potential adverse impacts from wildfires, to protect watersheds, habitats and reduce excessive evapotranspiration losses.

Goal W 9.4 To maintain sound management of the water resources in Plumas County's diverse watersheds and assure that any proposals for surface and groundwater exports are stringently reviewed to ensure that they do not undermine the County’s ability to sustain an adequate supply of high-quality water for all its water users and dependent natural resources.

Policy 9.4.1 Watershed Protection – The County shall require new development projects to mitigate potential impacts on surface water, recreation areas, agriculture and wildlife habitat areas.

Policy 9.4.2 In-stream Flow Rate Management – The County shall support reasonable in-stream flow standards to protect aquatic habitat and fisheries while balancing water supply needs and protecting water rights within the Feather River watershed.

Policy 9.4.3 Watershed and Community-Based Efforts – The County shall support the efforts of local community-based watershed groups to protect water resources and work with local groups to ensure decisions and programs take into account local opinions, priorities and needs.

Policy 9.4.4 Regional Water Management – The County shall support regional efforts through the Upper Feather River Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (UFRIRWMP) to ensure coordination and adaptive management between statewide water resource planning efforts, regional priorities and local needs. The goals and objectives of the UFRIRWMP shall be considered in establishing County water resource priorities and policies.

Policy 9.4.5 Watershed Program Funding – The County shall support efforts to obtain grant funding for locally sponsored watershed programs and planning efforts and projects that enhance and protect the Feather River Watershed.

Policy 9.4.6 Water Export Projects on Plumas County Watercourses – The County, prior to giving its approval and support to export projects on county watercourses, will require the following information to demonstrate the export project’s adherence to the requirements of California Water Code Section 10505 protecting development rights and Section 11460 protecting beneficial needs of the watersheds.

Policy 9.4.7 Minimizing the Effects of Water Exports – The County shall require that exports not damage the County’s environmental and economic setting by ensuring that “no unreasonable effect” occurs in the transfer and withdrawal of water resources pursuant to Section 1810 of the State Water Code.

Policy 9.4.8 Hydroelectric Project Relicensing – The County shall encourage that dam relicensing projects effectively balance development values, such as electric power, flood control and water supply, with non-developmental values, such as environmental resource protection, recreation, habitat restoration and water quality, and other values that best reflect the public interest. Efforts to mitigate project impacts should not impose redirected impacts on other public or private resources.

Plumas County 4-520
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Goal W 9.5 To encourage public water systems and their sources to provide an adequate supply to meet long-term needs and that is provided in a manner that maintains water resources for other water users while protecting the natural environment.

Policy 9.5.1 Adequate Water Supply Facilities and Services – The County shall support water purveyors’ plans to develop new reliable future sources of supply, while promoting water conservation and water recycling/reuse. Additionally, through the development review process, the County shall ensure that public water facilities and services will be adequate and operational to serve new development and meet capacity demands when needed. Such needs shall include capacities necessary to comply with public safety.

Policy 9.5.2 Cooperative Planning for Water Supply – The County shall work with public water supply purveyors to disseminate and discuss information on the limits of available water supplies, how the supplies can be used efficiently, the possible effects of drought conditions, acceptable levels of risk of shortage for various water users, priorities for allocation of the available water supply, conditions for use of limited supplies, and limits of alternate sources that could be used or developed.

Policy 9.5.3 Urban Water Management Plans – The County shall encourage and assist in the preparation of master facilities plans, and urban water management plans where required by State law, for all public water suppliers, to design and construct all facilities in accordance with sustainable yields and the planning documents of applicable jurisdictions.

Policy 9.5.4 Water Supply for New Development – The County shall ensure a sufficient water supply for all new residential/non-residential development. To do this, the County shall comply with Water Code Section 10910 (Senate Bill 610) and Government Code Section 66473.7 (Senate Bill 221), or more current state code requirements. Where these codes do not apply (i.e., because the “projects” at issue do not meet the minimum size requirements for triggering duties under Senate Bill 610 or Senate Bill 221), the County shall impose conditions similar to those required by Water Code Section 10910 (Senate Bill 610) and Government Code Section 66473.7 (Senate Bill 221), or more current state code requirements, and suitable for the size and scale of the development. For projects requiring discretionary approvals from the County, the County shall identify the resultant significant environmental impacts associated with these projects, if any, along with available and feasible means to address these impacts.

Policy 9.5.5 Water Rights Protection – The County shall support public agencies and private entities within Plumas County in their efforts to protect their water rights and water supply contracts.

Policy 9.5.6 Consistent Fire Protection Standards – The County, in coordination with local water service purveyors, wildfire protection agencies and local fire protection agencies, shall ensure consistent and adequate standards for fire flows and fire protection for new development, with the protection of human life and property as the primary objectives.

Policy 9.5.7 Community Water Systems – The County shall require any new community water system, in the unincorporated area of the county, serving residential, industrial or commercial development to be owned and operated by a public or private entity that can demonstrate to the County adequate financial, managerial and operational resources.

Policy 9.5.8 Level of Service Impacts – The County shall ensure that any new development projects do not create significant adverse impacts on existing water and wastewater infrastructure.

Policy 9.5.9 Funding for Water Supply Improvements – The County shall support water/wastewater purveyors use of all appropriate and equitable financing methods (e.g., grant funding, assessment districts and development fees) to finance public facility design, construction, operation and maintenance.

Plumas County 4-521
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Goal W 9.7 To manage stormwater from existing and future development in an efficient manner through methods that maintain natural water quality, enhance percolation for groundwater recharge, reduce potential flooding, support natural wetlands and provide opportunities for reuse.

Policy 9.7.1 Natural Stormwater Drainage Courses – The County shall require that natural drainage courses, including ephemeral streams, be retained and protected from development impacts which would alter the natural drainage courses, increase erosion or sedimentation or have a significant adverse effect on flow rates or water quality. Natural vegetation within riparian and wetland protection zones shall be maintained to preserve natural drainage characteristics consistent with the policies provided in the Conservation Element. Storm-water discharges from outfalls, culverts, gutters and other drainage control facilities that discharge into natural drainage courses shall be dissipated so that they make no contribution to additional erosion and, where feasible, are filtered and cleaned of pollutants.

Policy 9.7.2 Downstream Peak Flows – For new development, the County shall require that peak stormwater discharge not exceed the capacity limits of off-site drainage systems or cause downstream erosion, flooding, habitat destruction or impacts to wetlands and riparian areas.

Policy 9.7.3 Maintenance of Stormwater Runoff Systems – The County shall maintain its existing stormwater runoff systems to the extent possible, to assure that these systems do not fall into a state of disrepair such that they are causing water quality degradation inconsistent with their original design function.

Policy 9.7.4 Runoff Quality – The County shall require all drainage systems in new development and redevelopment to comply with applicable state and federal non-point source pollutant discharge requirements.

Policy 9.7.5 Best Management Practices – The County shall require best management practices in new development and redevelopment to reduce pollutants from entering natural water bodies while allowing stormwater reuse.

Policy 9.7.6 Interagency Cooperation – The County shall work with the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board and local, state, and Federal flood control and water resources management agencies to adopt effective stormwater management measures.

Goal W 9.8 To increase the role of conservation and water-use efficiency to help meet domestic or municipal water supply needs.

Policy 9.8.1 Water Conservation – The County shall work with local water purveyors and managers to implement a variety of water conservation measures appropriate for existing and future needs that comply with state and federal legislation and the California Urban Water Conservation Council.

Policy 9.8.2 Recycled Water Use – The County shall encourage new development, redevelopment, and landscape and agricultural irrigators to use recycled water wherever practical and available; this includes striving for the highest possible quality of wastewater treatment to increase the potential use of recycled water for existing and future needs of the county.

Policy 9.8.3 Compact Development – The County shall support and encourage compact forms of development and shall focus new growth within existing community plan areas to help reduce water demands, reduce landscape areas and reduce the costs of water and wastewater infrastructure.

Policy 9.8.4 Existing Development – The County shall promote programs for retrofitting plumbing, providing cost rebates, identifying leaks, changing landscaping, irrigating efficiently and other methods of reducing water consumption by existing users. As appropriate, the County will assist existing users seeking grants or other funding opportunities for such water conservation projects.

Policy 9.8.5 County Buildings – The County shall assess its water use in County buildings and facilities and reduce water consumption to the maximum extent possible.

Plumas County 4-522
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Goal W 9.8 To increase the role of conservation and water-use efficiency to help meet domestic or municipal water supply needs.

Policy 9.8.6 Agricultural Water Use – The County shall encourage and support water conservation for agricultural activities that increase the efficiency of water use for crop irrigation and livestock maintenance.

Policy 9.8.7 Sustainable Water Practices – The County shall encourage the use of sustainable, affordable water management practices that meet state and local standards, such as greywater reuse, rainwater capture/harvest, watershed management and stormwater infiltration to reduce demands on potable supply.

Policy 9.8.8 County Codes – The County shall establish a program to revise County Codes to increase, as appropriate, the use of recycled water for new commercial, residential, industrial and agricultural development.

Other Plumas County Plans/Studies/Programs
Plumas County Drought Resilience Plan (In Process in 2025) Plumas County is developing a Drought Resilience Plan (County DRP) to facilitate drought and water shortage preparedness for SSWS and domestic wells within the County’s jurisdiction. The County DRP will include a water shortage risk assessment, a range of short-term responses, long-term mitigation strategies and actions, and other supporting capacity building that the County should consider and adapt, as appropriate, to achieve meaningful, long-term water resilience improvements for their residents.

Plumas County Climate Change and Health Profile Report (2017) The CCHPR seeks to provide a county-level summary of information on current and projected risks from climate change and potential health impacts. This report represents a synthesis of information on climate change and health for California communities based on recently published reports of state agencies and other public data.

The content of this report was guided by a cooperative agreement between CDPH and the CDC ClimateReady States and Cities Initiative’s program Building Resilience Against Climate Effects (BRACE). The goals of BRACE are to assist state health departments to build capacity for climate and health adaptation planning. This includes using the best available climate science to project likely climate impacts, identifying climate-related health risks and populations vulnerable to these impacts, assessing the added burden of disease and injury that climate change may cause, identifying appropriate interventions, planning more resilient communities, and evaluating to improve the planning effort. Communities with economic, environmental, and social disadvantages are likely to bear disproportionate health impacts of climate change.

This Climate Change and Health Profile Report is intended to inform, empower, and nurture collaboration that seeks to protect and enhance the health and well-being of all California residents. This report is part of a suite of tools that is being developed by the California Department of Public Health to support local, regional, and statewide efforts of the public health sector to build healthy, equitable, resilient, and adaptive communities ready to meet the challenges of climate change. Along with a county-level climate change and health vulnerability assessment and state guidance documents, such as Preparing California for Extreme

Plumas County 4-523
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Heat: Guidance and Recommendations, the profile provides a knowledge base for taking informed action to address climate change.

Plumas County Communities Wildfire Protection Plan (2019) The purpose of this plan is to outline the risks and hazards associated with a wildland fire threat to Plumas County communities and to identify potential mitigation measures. The Plumas County CWPP is intended to provide documentation of implementing actions designed to reduce risk to homes and communities from wildfire through education and outreach programs, the development of partnerships, and implementation of preventative activities such as hazardous fuel reduction, defensible space, land use, or building codes.

The emphasis of this plan is to work from the home outward into the Wildland Urban Interface, so that man-made and natural resources survive the eventual intrusion of a wildfire.

This plan is intended to: 1) meet the requirements of the Healthy Forest Restoration Act (HFRA) of 2003, 2) make the County eligible for National Fire Plan funding assistance from the Departments of Agriculture and Interior (by meeting the requirements of HFRA), 3) provide information to assist communities in developing fuel reduction projects on private and public lands, 4) continue to serve as the Wildfire Hazard Mitigation portion of Plumas County’s Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan, which is required after November 1, 2004, for counties to be eligible to receive FEMA disaster assistance funding, and 5) provide direction in implementing the Plumas County Fire Safe Council’s Mission: To reduce the loss of natural and human made resources caused by wildfire through Firewise community programs and pre-fire activities." Lassen-Modoc Unit Strategic Fire Plan (2025)
Plumas County is served by the Lassen-Modoc Unit of CAL FIRE. The Lassen-Modoc Unit Fire Management Plan documents the assessment of the fire situation in the Unit. It includes stakeholder contributions and priorities which identify strategic targets for proactive approaches and project-based solutions. While the Unit Fire Management Plan addresses local needs, the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection also has legislative mandates dating back to 1945 requiring it to determine the "intensity" or appropriate level of fire protection for all state responsibility areas in California (Public Resources Code §4130). The Unit Fire Management Plan is the means of focusing efforts on local needs while working within the framework of the California Fire Plan as adopted by the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection.

It is intended to be an ever-evolving working document which can be used to identify potentially hazardous areas or communities at risk, provide guidelines for fire prevention and protection projects and to assist the Fire Safe Councils and community groups with useful information in making their communities fire safe.

This document should be used as a guide that can be amended over the years as necessary and as the basic framework for fire prevention projects within the Lassen-Modoc Unit. The California Fire Plan is outlined within this document. It is the goal of the Unit to apply the California Fire Plan to accomplish a systematic assessment of the fire problem. Through this assessment, the Unit strives to develop "fire safe" communities and reduce the potential occurrence of devastating wildfires. In an effort to implement the California Fire Plan, the Lassen-Modoc Unit utilizes computer-based data and GIS to comprehensively analyze fire hazards, assets at risk and the level of service, all of which are included in the Unit Fire Management Plan.

The Unit Fire Management Plan systematically assesses the existing levels of wild/and protection services,

Plumas County 4-524
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
identifies high-risk and high value areas that are potential locations for costly and damaging wildfires, ranks the areas in terms of priority needs, and prescribes actions that can be taken to reduce future losses.

Plumas County Fire Chiefs Association – Local Fire Service Mutual Aid & Rescue Plan (2023) The purpose of this Plan is to:
➢ To provide for rapid, systematic, and safe mobilization, organization, and operation of necessary local government fire and rescue resources to mitigate the effects of extraordinary events; ➢ To provide an annually updated fire and rescue inventory of all personnel, apparatus, and equipment; ➢ To promote recommended, standardized training and/or exercises for and between plan participants.

The plan is intended to provide a common mutual aid operating system for all incidents, which will require a minimum of transition from day-to-day operations. Basic Incident Command System (ICS) positions are included as a beginning point in which to build an organizational structure and manage the incident.

Agencies requiring an enhanced ICS structure should refer to ICS Field Operations guide 420-1.

The effectiveness of mutual aid resources is determined by the application of a predetermined system familiar to all agencies, thus basic systems have been included to provide an integrated approach known to all involved agencies.

This plan is not intended to deplete any department of apparatus beyond that to which it has agreed and committed. Companies that are already provided to the requesting agency by automatic aid or day-to-day mutual aid agreements are considered part of the maximum commitment under this plan.

Participating Agencies include the following as shown on Figure 4-214:

Plumas County 4-525
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Figure 4-214 Participating Agencies and Signatories
Dam Failure Plan (Draft in 2023)
The County has a draft dam failure plan that would be instituted if a dam failure were to occur. This document is still in draft state but could be used during an actual dam failure event.

Dixie/Beckwourth Fire Burn Area Debris Flow/Flash Flood Emergency Operations Plan (2021)
This document establishes a uniform plan for a joint response by local governments, special districts, and allied agencies in Plumas County to the threat of or actual soil movement (debris flow) and/or flash flooding in the areas recently burned in the Dixie and Beckwourth Fires

Plumas County 4-526
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Extreme Weather Response Plan (Draft in September 2024) The Extreme Weather Response plan aims to identify actions needed during extreme weather events in Plumas County. Through pre-planning and resource sharing, the goal is to mitigate damage and minimize extreme weather-related health impacts within the county.

This plan is designed to identify and address the health risks of Plumas County residents during extreme weather events. This plan should also be considered during prolonged utility outages that may result during extreme weather emergencies and the potential health related issues that may arise.

The plan describes local operations during periods of extreme weather and guides local government(s) and supporting agencies.

Plumas County Hazardous Materials Response Plan (2023)
The Plumas County Hazardous Materials Response Plan ensures a coordinated response to emergency situations involving a hazardous materials release. It provides operational concepts, management structure, resources, and roles and responsibilities of all agencies charged with responding to and mitigating an incident. Following this plan will help protect human health, public and private property, and the environment.

The plan provides specific statutory authorities for local, state, and federal agencies, and the private sector.

It also identifies sources of outside support which might be provided through service contracts or mutual aid. The plan should be considered as a preparedness document, intended to be read and understood before a hazmat incident occurs. It should always be used in conjunction with the Plumas County Emergency Operations Plan prepared by the Plumas County OES.

Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (2016)
This IRWM Plan articulates a coherent and durable vision for the management of water resources in the Upper Feather River Region that highlights important actions needed to accomplish that vision through the year 2035--the planning horizon. This document is intended to be an ongoing adaptive planning tool that can evolve with a dynamic water future. It does not authorize or provide discretionary approval for any given project, nor does it establish new prescriptive compliance requirements. Rather, it provides a locally developed framework for improving understanding and undertaking the coordinated actions that will be needed to address the major water-related challenges/needs and conflicts facing the Region through the planning horizon.

The focus and direction described within this IRWM Plan provides participating entities and individuals with an opportunity to envision the integration of water management across the Region and thereby accomplish more to benefit the needs of the Region. The integrated array of goals and objectives, resource management strategies (RMS), implementation projects, and the Plan’s implementation framework demonstrate the potential for further strengthening and broadening the collaborative working relationships for integrated water and watershed management that have been fostered throughout the 24-month plan development process.

Plumas County 4-527
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Plumas County Ordinances
The Plumas County General Plan provides policy direction for land use, development, open space protection, and environmental quality; however, this policy direction must be carried out through numerous ordinances, programs, and agreements. The following ordinances are among the most important tools for implementing the General Plan and/or are critical to the mitigation of hazards identified in this plan.

Disaster Response and Emergency Organization (Title 4, Chapter 1) The Plumas County Board of Supervisors acknowledges the serious responsibility of protecting the citizens of Plumas County. The Board of Supervisors understands that citizens will rely on County government to make decisions that will directly affect their lives during a disaster. The purpose of this chapter is to provide for the preparation, maintenance, exercise and implementation of plans for the protection of persons and property within this County in the event of an emergency. This chapter also authorizes the Plumas County Office of Emergency Services and Disaster Council. (§ 1, Ord. 92-790, eff. September 3, 1992) As used in this chapter, "emergency" means the actual or threatened existence of an event bringing great damage and possible loss of life. The words emergency and disaster are interchangeable. Some of the hazards which could cause disasters in Plumas County are hazardous materials, wild land fire, severe winter storm, landslide, flood, earthquake, volcanic eruption, multi-casualty accident and nuclear, biochemical or conventional attack.

Fire Prevention Ordinance (Title 4, Chapter 2)
Every person owning, controlling, renting, occupying with or without permission of the owner thereof, or operating any cabin, tent, store, residence, hotel, or other structure in any unincorporated territory in the County, except all territory located within the boundaries of townsites and additions to townsites as the same are laid out and designated on the official plats of maps on file of record in the office of the County Recorder, shall maintain a firebreak or clearing free from all inflammable material for thirty (30') feet from any portion of such cabin, tent, residence, store, hotel, or other occupied structure and shall keep the roofs of all such buildings or other structures free from needles, leaves, or other debris during the period from April 1 to October 31 of each year; provided, however, where a natural firebreak is declared to exist by Federal or State forestry officers, no further clearing of inflammable materials shall be required. (§ 51300, P.C.O.C.)
Building Regulations (Title 8)
The current California Building Standards Code Part 1, Part 2 [including Appendix Chapter 1, Appendix C and Appendix J (formerly Appendix 33)], Part 3 [including Annex A], Part 4 [including appendix chapters thereto, except chapter 1], Part 5 [including Appendix I], Part 6 [including appendix chapters thereto], Part 8 [with appendices], Part 9 [including Appendix Chapter 4 and Appendix H, Part 10 [including appendix thereto], Part 12 [including appendix thereto] of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations and the Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Code, 2006 edition, as published by IAPMO are hereby adopted as the Building Standards Code of the County of Plumas. For purposes of this section, "current" means the most recent edition and any subsequent triennial edition of the California Building Standards Code. The

Plumas County 4-528
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
County's Building Standards Code also shall include by operation of law any subsequent revisions, recompilations, or supplements of the California Building Standards Code or the Uniform Swimming Pool, Spa and Hot Tub Code, which shall be deemed effective and operative in Plumas County when they become effective and operative in the State of California. A copy shall be available for public inspection in the Office of the County Building Official. (§ 1, Ord. 82-487, eff. March 11, 1982, as amended by § 1, Ord. 85-609, eff. June 20, 1985, § 1, Ord. 89-708, eff. April 20, 1989, § 1, Ord. 90-726, eff. April 12, 1990, Ord. 91-754, eff. May 16, 1991, § 1, Ord. 92-785, eff. July 16, 1992, § 1, Ord. 96-857, eff. April 5, 1996, § 2, Ord. 99-922, eff. September 16, 1999, § 1, Ord. 01-958, eff. November 22, 2001, and § 2, Ord. 02-984, adopted November 12, 2002, § 1, Ord. 04-1017, adopted September 14, 2004, § 2, Ord. 05-1023, § 2, adopted March 1, 2005; § 1, Ord. No. 06-1043, adopted January 24, 2006; and § 1, Ord. No. 08-1067, adopted September 23, 2008)
Floodplain Ordinance (Title 8, Chapter 17)
The areas of special flood hazard identified by the Federal Insurance Administration of the Federal Emergency Management Agency on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps dated September 24, 1984, and all subsequent amendments and revisions and any subsequent Flood Insurance Study, are hereby adopted by reference and made a part of this chapter as though set forth in this chapter in full. The areas of special flood hazard are the minimum area to which the provisions of this chapter shall apply. The County shall obtain, review and reasonably utilize any base flood elevation and floodway data available from a federal, state, or other source as criteria for requiring that new construction, substantial improvements, or other man-made changes in areas of special flood hazard meet the standards of this chapter.

The County Engineer, the Building Official, the Director of Environmental Health and the Planning Director may make interpretations where needed, as to the exact location of the boundaries of the areas of special flood hazard, including where there appears to be a conflict between a mapped boundary and actual field conditions. (§ 1 (Exh. A), Ord. 98-902, eff. September 10, 1998, and § 1 (Exh. A), Ord. 01-961, eff.

December 20, 2001)
Note: there are also floodplain regulations in the Zoning Ordinance (Title 9) below.

Zoning Ordinance (Title 9, Chapter 2)
The provisions of this chapter are adopted to implement the General Plan by providing a precise delineation of permitted land uses, precluding land use conflicts, and by establishing general site development standards. This chapter shall specify the uses of land in a manner which conveys full knowledge of potential uses. The application of the provisions of this chapter shall be held to be only the minimum requirements for the promotion of the public health, safety, and general welfare and to protect property owners' rights to develop consistently with the General Plan. The provisions of this chapter are not intended to repeal or in any way interfere with other existing laws, ordinances, regulations, or permits. The County is hereby divided into the following zones:
➢ Single-Family Residential (2-R, 3-R, 7-R);
➢ Multiple-Family Residential (M-R);
➢ Suburban (S-1);

Plumas County 4-529
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
➢ Secondary Suburban (S-3);
➢ Rural (R-10);
➢ Rural (R-20);
➢ Core Commercial (C-1);
➢ Periphery Commercial (C-2);
➢ Convenience Commercial (C-3);
➢ Recreation Commercial (R-C);
➢ Recreation (Rec-P, Rec-1, Rec-3, Rec-10, Rec-20);
➢ Recreation-Open Space (Res-OS);
➢ Heavy Industrial (I-1);
➢ Light Industrial (I-2);
➢ Limited Combining (Ltd);
➢ Open Space (OS);
➢ Lake (L);
➢ Agricultural Preserve (AP);
➢ General Agriculture (GA);
➢ Timberland Production (TPZ);
➢ General Forest (GF);
➢ Mining (M);
➢ Flood Plain Combining (FP);
➢ Special Plan Combining (SP) (DRA, ScA, ScR, HA, HB);
➢ Manufactured Home Combining (MH);
➢ Business Exclusion Combining (BX); and
➢ Farm Animal Combining (F).

The Planning and Development Agency shall maintain a County-wide set of Zoning Plan Maps which shall show the zones which apply to all property in the County. Any change in the zones shown on the Zoning Plan Maps shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 65500 et seq. and 65853 of the Government Code of the State. The Planning and Development Agency shall establish and show on the Zoning Plan Maps street addresses for parcels or buildings, as necessary, and shall maintain a file of street addresses. (§ 3, Ord. 84-593, eff. January 3, 1985, as amended by § 13, Ord. 99-924, eff. November 11, 1999) Subdivisions (Title 9, Chapter 3)
The provisions of this chapter are adopted for the purpose of adopting subdivision regulations in accordance with the provisions of the Subdivision Map Act of the State, set forth in Division 2 of Title 7 of the Government Code of the State. The provisions of this chapter are adopted to regulate the subdivision of land within the County for the purposes of sale, lease, or financing in all instances except those which are exempt under the provisions of Sections 66411, 66412, 66424, and 66428 of the Government Code of the State. The general policy governing the subdivision of land in the County shall be to permit orderly, reasonable, and beneficial growth, to discourage overdevelopment and ill-conceived subdivisions, to protect and enhance in every way possible the public health, safety, and general welfare of the citizens, and to conserve the outstanding resources of land, water, air, timber, and scenic beauty.

The Board shall have the overall legislative and governing authority regarding land subdivisions in the County, and the rulings and decisions of the Board shall be final except as an appeal or recourse to law is

Plumas County 4-530
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
provided in the Map Act, or as otherwise provided by law. The various County officers designated by the Map Act or by the provisions of Chapter 4 of Title 2 of this Code shall perform such functions and make such recommendations as are provided for in the Map Act or as are more specifically provided for in this chapter and in the various County departmental subdivision regulations approved by the Board. (§ 61202, P.C.O.C., as amended by Ord. 664 § 2, Ord. 74-64, eff. September 19, 1974, § 1, Ord. 75-99, eff. May 8, 1975, § 1, Ord. 77-211, eff. August 4, 1977, § 1, Ord. 89-714, eff. August 31, 1989, § 1, Ord. 91-762, eff.

October 3, 1991, § 8(Exh. A), Ord. 98-902, eff. September 10, 1998, and § 5, Ord. 05-1026, adopted March 29, 2005)
Development Standards (Title 9, Chapter 4)
The provisions of this chapter are adopted to implement the General Plan by providing a precise delineation of its development standards and to provide for the control and design of improvements for development in accord with the Subdivision Map Act and Chapters 2 and 3 of this title. The application of the provisions of this chapter shall be held to be only the minimum requirements for the promotion of the public health, safety, and general welfare and to protect owners' rights to develop consistent with the General Plan, the Subdivision Map Act, and Chapters 2 and 3 of this title. It shall be the duty of the Department of Planning and Building Services and the Department of Public Works to administer the provisions of this chapter.

The headquarters of the Ranger Units of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection which administer State Responsibility Area Fire protection in Plumas County shall be given reports of violations of those sections of this chapter which implement the SRA Fire Safe Regulations. Those sections are enumerated in Section 9-9.103 of Chapter 9 of Title 9 of this Code. (§ 1, Ord. 91-762, eff. October 3, 1991; § 1, Ord. No. 05-1036, § 1, adopted August 16, 2005)
SRA Fire Safe Regulations (Title 9, Chapter 9)
The provisions of this chapter are to complete integration of the SRA Fire Safe Regulations into this Code and to specify those portions of this Code which implement those regulations. The application of the provisions of this chapter and those portions of this Code which implement the SRA Fire Safe Regulations shall be held to be only the minimum requirements for the promotion of the public health, safety and general welfare. The purpose of this article is to provide for exceptions from the provisions of this Code which implement the SRA Fire Safe Regulations in a manner consistent with the General Plan and public health, safety, and welfare, where the exceptions provide the same overall practical effect as these regulations towards providing defensible space. This ordinance is certified by the Board of Forestry in lieu of SRA regulations in the County. (§ 1, Ord. 91-762, eff. October 3, 1991)

4.4.2. Plumas County’s Administrative/Technical Mitigation Capabilities Table 4-139 identifies the County personnel responsible for activities related to mitigation and loss prevention in the County.

Plumas County 4-531
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Table 4-139 Plumas County Administrative/Technical Mitigation Capabilities Administration
In
Place
Y/N
Describe capability
Is coordination effective?
Staff
Is staffing adequate to enforce regulations?
Is staff trained on hazards and mitigation?
Is coordination between agencies and staff effective?
Chief Building Official Y Chief Building Official is also Director of Building Services and is trained on hazards and mitigation.

Civil Engineer, including dam and levee
safety
Y Staff is trained on regulation enforcement with a hazard focus.

Coordination is effective.

Community Planner Y Planning Director has experience with hazard mitigation.

Emergency Manager Y The Director of Risk Management is the “Director of OES” All County employees are Disaster Service Workers:

According to California Government Code Sections 3100-3109, all public employees are designated as Disaster Service Workers.

In Plumas County, all county employees take an oath of
affirmation to ensure the county has the resources and readiness to help protect public health and safety and to protect lives and property during disasters or emergencies.

Floodplain Administrator Y Staff (Public Works Director) is adequate and trained.

Coordination is being worked on to increase effectiveness.

GIS Coordinator Y GIS capabilities are strong, and the GIS Department serves all County departments with mapping needs; GIS County portal:
https://mangomap.com/plumasgis/maps
Maps on the portal include:
-fire district query
-Firewise communities map
-snow load and fire hazard
-Sheriff Evacuation Area Maps
Static PDF Maps:
https://plumascounty.us/2206/Static-PDF-Maps
-State Responsibility Areas (SRA) lands for fire protection -various maps created for Fire Safe Council
Link for FEMA FIRM Maps:
https://plumascounty.us/2295/FEMA-Flood-Insurance-RateMaps-Informati

Plumas County 4-532
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Planning Commission Y Coordination is effective with Commission, although only recommendation authority to Board of Supervisors on:

Periodically review and recommend action on the general plan for the County;
Periodically review and recommend action on any specific plans for the County;
Periodically review and recommend action on the zoning
ordinances of the County; and
Initiate amendments to boundaries of zones and provisions of Chapter 2 of Title 9 of this Code pursuant to Section 9-2.902 of Article 9 of Chapter 2 of Title 9 of this Code.

Other
Technical Y/N
Has capability been used to assess/mitigate risk in the past?
Grant writing Y Grant Manager, OES, Planning, and Public Works Hazard data and information Y OES
GIS analysis Y County GIS provides hazard analysis support as needed Mutual aid agreements Y --Mutual Aid Radio Systems
--Plumas County Fire Chiefs Association Local Fire Service Mutual Aid & Rescue Plan (updated 2016)
Other
How can these capabilities be expanded and improved to reduce risk? The County is seeking to integrate Capital Improvement Funding with the LHMP and Hazard Mitigation funding to assist in providing additional funding for LHMP implementation. The County is also considering mechanisms for assessing project fees to better support LHMP implementation.

4.4.3. Plumas County’s Fiscal Mitigation Capabilities
Table 4-140 identifies financial tools or resources that the County could potentially use to help fund mitigation activities.

Table 4-140 Plumas County Fiscal Mitigation Capabilities Funding Resource
In Place
Y/N
Has the funding resource been used in past
and for what type of activities?
Could the resource be used to fund future
mitigation actions?
Capital improvements project funding N
Community Development Block Grant Y Plumas County received 2022 annual Economic Development ($750,000) and
Planning ($250,000) CDBG grants, in addition,
HCD managed post 2021 Dixie Fire
Community Development Block Grant
[CDBG]-DR (disaster recovery) funding ($24
million) allocated to Plumas County.

Plumas County 4-533
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Funding Resource
In Place
Y/N
Has the funding resource been used in past
and for what type of activities?
Could the resource be used to fund future
mitigation actions?
Federal funding programs (non-FEMA) Y --Homeland Security Grant --EMPG – Emergency Management
Performance Grant
--Title III Funding-Federal funding to County
of Plumas
Fees for water, sewer, gas, or electric services Y Various community and public utility districts (see website for more information), along with
Environmental Health (just did a fee study and
raised fees) – see County department websites
for fee schedules
Impact fees for new development N
State funding programs Y Cal Fire, Cal Trans, Cal EPA, Cal DWR, Cal OES, and others
Stormwater utility fee N
Other
How can these capabilities be expanded and improved to reduce risk? The County is seeking to integrate Capital Improvement Funding with the LHMP and Hazard Mitigation funding to assist in providing additional funding for LHMP implementation. The County is also considering mechanisms for assessing project fees to better support LHMP implementation.

4.4.4. Plumas County Mitigation Education, Outreach, and Partnerships Table 4-141 identifies education and outreach programs and methods already in place that could be/or are used to implement mitigation activities and communicate hazard-related information.

Table 4-141 Plumas County Mitigation Education, Outreach, and Partnerships Program/Organization
In Place
Y/N
How widespread are each of these in your
community?
Community newsletters N
Hazard awareness campaigns (such as Firewise,
Storm Ready, Severe Weather Awareness Week,
school programs, public events)
Y Firewise communities, as of 3/30/2020 – there
are 30 certified communities, with 4 others in
process. Fire Safe council.

Local news Y County works with local news agencies to
inform public. This is on a case by case basis.

Organizations that interact with underserved and
vulnerable communities
Y County works closed with the new County
VOAD group. County OES works with AFN
Committee, PCIRC, PRS, and others.

Plumas County 4-534
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Program/Organization
In Place
Y/N
How widespread are each of these in your
community?
Social media Y The County uses social media platforms to community hazard and preparedness
information and information related to hazard
events and disaster declarations including
information on evacuation routes and process
How can these capabilities be expanded and improved to reduce risk? The County is seeking to expand knowledge of evacuation routes and plans. There is a desire to put publications, mailings, and other education outreach ideas into place. There will be continued efforts to expand FireWise communities. The County is also developing a Public Information Office group.

4.4.5. Other Mitigation Efforts
The County has pursued and previously implemented other mitigation efforts not already captured in the capability assessment above. These include:
➢ The County noted a document completed titled Evaluating Treatment Longevity and Maintenance Needs for Fuel Reduction Projects Implemented in the Wildland Urban Interface of Plumas County, CA” was completed in 2021. This project assessed the current maintenance needs for projects implemented, funded, or otherwise supported by the PCFSC. This assessment will allow critical questions described in the Effectiveness Monitoring Committee Strategic Plan (Husari and Henly 2018) to be answered spatially and quantitatively over all PCFSC treated lands in Plumas County. In addition, the project assessed treatment utilization by fire fighters and post fire severity resulting from both the North Complex (2019) and Dixie Fire (2021).
➢ Plumas County supports the U.S.D.A. Farm Service Agency County Emergency Board that provides technical assistance and assessment of local disasters. The team can quantify forage losses, analyzes grazing infrastructure losses, certify livestock death and other associated impacted to livestock grazing operations from drought and wildfires. The Emergency Board includes representation from the US Forest Service (Rangeland Team), University of California Cooperative Extension local livestock and natural resources advisors (Plumas-Sierra), and the Natural Resources Conservation Services (Quincy), under the leadership of the Farm Service Agency. The County Emergency Board also works with the "County Committee" that is a board of local livestock and agricultural producers that advise the local Farm Service Agency (based in Susanville).
➢ Evacuation maps have been created for several communities in case of wildfire. These maps show suggested primary and secondary evacuation routes out of each community. Depending on the type of emergency, there may be more than one route out of the area. Residents are asked to familiarize themselves with their surrounding neighborhood and listen for instructions from emergency personnel when asked to evacuate.
➢ Plumas County OES, in coordination with County GIS and Fire Safe Council, have put together a FIREWISE Program for many of the communities in the County. An interactive map of FireWise community boundaries has been put together online. This map (one of the first of its kind) can be found at https://mangomap.com/plumasgis/maps/104226/firewise-communities-#. ➢ Plumas County has EAPs on file for many of the dams in the County.

Plumas County 4-535
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
➢ In 2019, the County participated in a large, multi-agency wildfire exercise. There were hundreds of participants included: OES, Sheriff's Department, Cal-Fire, USFS, CHP, Peninsula Fire, PG&E, County Search/Rescue, local fire departments, community members. The County has functional exercises
➢ Public Works also participated with the wildfire exercise at Almanor and a couple of years prior all players also held one in the Meadow Valley area.
➢ Plumas County's newly updated (2020) Living with Fire publication is available online. It includes evacuation information that could be handy for many folks right now. Hard copies are available from business racks where citizens would usually find the Plumas County Visitors Guide, post offices, fire departments, the Feather Publishing office in Quincy, or at the Fire Safe Council office. ➢ Plumas County Fire Save Council (PCFSC) has provided 698.1 acres of Hazardous Fuel Reduction on private lands with state and federal dollars
➢ PCFSC has treated 8,028.5 acres of public land (Plumas National Forest) for fuel reduction and forest health using state dollars
➢ PCFSC has provided annual Senior/Disabled Defensible Space services, providing treatment for hundreds of participants
➢ Starting in 2017, PCFSC has provided annual chipping services across Plumas County. In 2019 alone the program chipped 4,720 linear feet of material across 326 locations. ➢ Since 2014 PCFSC has secured $13 million in grant funds to support wildfire risk reduction activities. ➢ PCFSC has regularly produced Living with Fire publications for public outreach and education ➢ PCFSC has held multiple public showings of the documentary Wilder than Wild, as well as other public events
➢ 16 of Plumas County's 21 Firewise communities have been certified since 2014 ➢ Plumas County OES hosted a Fire Preparedness Virtual Town Hall ➢ In 2019, inundation maps and an Emergency Action Plan were completed related to the Chester Diversion Dam.
➢ The County has an annual FireWise community event
➢ The County has put together home hardening workshops to mitigate against hazards like wildfire. ➢ The County has put together wildfire preparedness town hall events. These have been on Zoom recently due to the Covid outbreak.

4.5 Natural Hazards Summary
As detailed in the hazard identification section, those hazards identified as a high or medium significance in Table 4-142 are considered priority hazards for mitigation planning. Those hazards that occur infrequently or have little or no impact in the Plumas County Planning Area were determined to be of low significance and not considered a priority hazard. Significance was determined based on the hazard profile, focusing on key criteria such as frequency, extent, and resulting damage, including deaths/injuries and property, natural and cultural resources, and economic damage. The ability of a jurisdiction to reduce losses through implementation of existing and new mitigation measures was also considered as to the significance and priority of a hazard. This assessment was used to prioritize those hazards of greatest significance in the Plumas County Planning Area, enabling the County and participating jurisdictions to focus resources where they are most needed.

Plumas County 4-536
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Table 4-142 Hazard Identification and Initial Determination of Priority Hazards Hazard Likelihood of Future
Occurrence
Vulnerability Priority
Hazard
Ag Hazard: Severe Weather/ Pests/Weeds Highly Likely Medium Y Climate Change Likely High Y
Dam Failure Unlikely High Y
Drought & Water Shortage (w/tree mortality) Likely High Y Earthquake Unlikely/Occasional High Y
Flood: 1%/0.2% annual chance (w/levee failure) Occasional/Unlikely High Y Flood: Localized Stormwater Highly Likely Medium Y
Haz Mat Transportation Occasional Medium Y
Landslide, Mudslide, and Debris Flow Likely Medium Y
Severe Weather: Extreme Cold, Freeze, and Snow
(w/avalanche)
Highly Likely Medium
Y
Severe Weather: Extreme Heat Highly Likely Medium Y
Severe Weather: Heavy Rains and Storms Highly Likely Medium Y Severe Weather: High Winds and Tornadoes Highly Likely Medium Y Volcano Unlikely Low N
Wildfire (w/smoke and air quality) Highly Likely Extremely High
Y

Plumas County 5-1
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Chapter 5 Mitigation Strategy
44 CFR §201.6(c)(3) and §201.7(c)(3): [The plan shall include] a mitigation strategy that provides the jurisdiction’s blueprint for reducing the potential losses identified in the risk assessment, based on existing authorities, policies, programs and resources, and its ability to expand on and improve these existing tools.

This section describes the mitigation strategy process and mitigation action plan for this 2026 Plumas County LHMP Update. It describes how all the participating jurisdictions met the following requirements from the 10-step planning process:
➢ Planning Step 6: Set Goals
➢ Planning Step 7: Review Possible Activities
➢ Planning Step 8: Draft an Action Plan

5.1 Mitigation Strategy: Overview
The results of the planning process, the risk assessment, the goal setting, the identification of mitigation actions, and the hard work of the HMPC led to the mitigation strategy and mitigation action plan for this LHMP Update. As part of the LHMP Update process, a comprehensive review and update of the mitigation strategy portions of the 2020 Plumas County and 2019 City of Portola LHMPs was conducted. Some of the initial goals and objectives from the previous LHMPs were refined and reaffirmed, some goals and objectives were deleted, and others were added. The end result is a new set of goals and objectives, to reflect the completion of, or progress towards the 2020/2019 mitigation actions, the updated risk assessment, and the new priorities of the County, the City, and all participating jurisdictions and this 2026 LHMP Update.

To support the updated mitigation strategy including updated goals, the mitigation actions from the 2020/2019 LHMPs were reviewed and assessed for their value in reducing risk and vulnerability to the Plumas County Planning Area from identified hazards and further evaluated for their inclusion in this LHMP Update (See Chapter 2 What’s New). Section 5.2 below identifies the new goals and objectives of this 2026 LHMP Update and Section 5.4 details the new mitigation action plan.

Taking all of the above into consideration, the participating jurisdictions and HMPC developed the following umbrella mitigation strategy for this LHMP Update:
➢ Communicate the hazard information collected and analyzed through this planning process as well as mitigation success stories so that the community better understands what can happen where and what they themselves can do to be better prepared.
➢ Implement the mitigation action plan recommendations of this Plan. ➢ Use existing rules, regulations, policies, and procedures already in place. ➢ Monitor multi-objective management opportunities so that funding opportunities may be shared and packaged, and broader constituent support may be garnered.

Plumas County 5-2
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026

5.1.1. Continued Compliance with the NFIP
Given the nature and extent of the flood hazard in the Plumas County Planning Area, an emphasis will be placed on continued compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) by all communities.

This Chapter 5 of the Base Plan for Plumas County and the jurisdictional annex for the City of Portola, as the two eligible NFIP communities, provides an overview of their flood management programs and continued compliance with the NFIP. Although the participating districts to this LHMP Update are not eligible NFIP communities, many of their mitigation actions and projects contain measures to promote effective floodplain management throughout the Plumas County Planning Area.

To participate in the NFIP a community must adopt and enforce floodplain management regulations that meet or exceed the minimum requirements of the Program. These requirements are intended to prevent loss of life and property and to reduce taxpayer’s costs for disaster relief as well as to minimize economic and social hardships that result from flooding. Participation in the NFIP provides a community with access to flood insurance.

Detailed below is a description of the County’s flood management program to ensure continued compliance with the NFIP. Also to be considered are the flood mitigation actions contained in this LHMP that support the ongoing efforts by the County to minimize the risk and vulnerability of the community to the flood hazard and to enhance their overall floodplain management program.

Plumas County’s Flood Management Program
Plumas County has participated in the Regular Phase of the NFIP since September 24, 1984. Since then, the County has administered floodplain management regulations that meet the minimum requirements of the NFIP. Under that arrangement, residents and businesses paid the same flood insurance premium rates as most other communities in the country.

The Community Rating System (CRS), a voluntary program under the NFIP, was created in 1990. It is designed to recognize floodplain management activities that go above and beyond the NFIP’s minimum requirements. If a community implements public information, mapping, regulatory, loss reduction and/or flood preparedness activities and submits the appropriate documentation to FEMA, then its residents can qualify for a flood insurance premium rate reduction. The County does not currently participate in the CRS program.

Presently, the County manages its floodplains in compliance with NFIP requirements and implements a floodplain management program designed to protect the people and property of the County. Floodplain regulations are a critical element in local floodplain management and are a primary component in the County’s participation in the NFIP.

The County will continue to manage their floodplains in continued compliance with the NFIP. An overview of the County’s NFIP status and floodplain management program is discussed on Table 5-1.

Plumas County 5-3
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Table 5-1 Plumas County NFIP Status
NFIP Topic Comments
Staff Resources
Who is responsible for floodplain management in your
community? Provide Department/Title. Do they serve any
roles other than Community Floodplain Administrator
(FPA)?
Flood Control Manager and Public Works Director.

They serve in other roles as well.

Is the Community FPA or NFIP Coordinator a Certified
Floodplain Manager?
No
Is floodplain management an auxiliary function? Auxiliary Provide an explanation of NFIP administration services
(e.g., permit review, GIS, education or outreach, inspections, engineering capability)
Permit review is done. Inspections are done for work
built in floodplain to ensure it conforms to regs.

What are the barriers to running an effective NFIP program in the community, if any?
The County currently lacks the capacity for someone to
work w/NFIP to improve floodplain ordinance.

Insurance Summary
How many NFIP policies are in the community? What is the total premium and coverage?
93 policies
$159,286 in annual premiums
$61,661,100 of insurance in force
How many claims have been paid in the community? What
is the total amount of paid claims? How many of the claims were for substantial damage?
59 paid losses
$1,099,373.04 in paid claims.
9 substantial damage claims
How many structures (residential and non-residential) are exposed to flood risk within the community?
1,714 in 1% annual chance flood zone
787 in 0.2% annual chance flood zone
Are there Repetitive Loss (RL) and Severe Repetitive Loss Properties (SRL) structures in the community?
4 RL
0 SRL
Describe any areas of flood risk with limited NFIP policy coverage
No known places of limited coverage
How does the community teach property owners or other
stakeholders about the importance flood insurance?
There is currently no program in place to teach
property owners about flood insurance.

What digital sources (like the FEMA Map Service Center, National Flood Hazard Layer) or non-regulatory tools does the community use?
FEMA Map Service Center.

Compliance History
Is the community in good standing with the NFIP? Y
Are there any outstanding compliance issues (i.e., current violations)?
N
Who is responsible (Department, Title) for making
substantial damage/improvement determinations? How does the community identify substantially damaged/improved
structures? What is the process to make sure these
structures are brought into compliance?
Building Department makes substantial damage
determinations. This is done during post-flood
inspections. The Building Department ensures
structures are brought into compliance. Environmental
Health may be called upon during these times to add
additional inspections.

When was the most recent Community Assistance Visit
(CAV) or Community Assistance Contact (CAC)?
October 2022 CAV

Plumas County 5-4
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
NFIP Topic Comments
Is a CAV or CAC scheduled or needed? No
Regulation
When did the community enter the NFIP? 9/24/1984
Are the FIRMs digital or paper? Digital
Has the community adopted the NFIP minimum floodplain
management criteria via local regulation? Date of current local regulation?
Community has adopted minimum flood control
regulations. Ordinance has been effective since
9/10/1998.

Has the community adopted the latest effective FIRM? Date adopted?
No new FIRM’s since 2005 update
How does the community enforce local floodplain
regulations and monitor compliance?
Building Department enforces during the permit
process. If a structure is in the floodplain, the
floodplain manager meets with the developer to ensure
the floodplain ordinance is followed.

Do floodplain development regulations meet or exceed
FEMA or State minimum requirements? If so, in what ways? Meet minimum requirements.

How are Letters of Map Change (LOMCs) tracked and
compiled?
New DFIRMs are downloaded regularly which include
the latest LOMCs, LOMRs, and CLOMRs
Provide an explanation of the permitting process. Permit review is done by the building department. If a structure is in the floodplain, the floodplain manager
meets with the developer to ensure the floodplain
ordinance is followed.

Community Rating System
Does the community participate in CRS? If so, what is the community's CRS Class Ranking?
No
What categories and activities provide CRS points and how can the class be improved?
N/A
Does the plan include CRS planning requirements? N/A
Source: FEMA CIS, FEMA PIVOT, Plumas County
*FEMA CIS and PIVOT databases record this data differently; thus, results utilized differ depending on the source.

5.1.2. Integration of Mitigation with Post Disaster Recovery and Mitigation Strategy Funding Opportunities
Hazard mitigation actions are essential to weaving long-term resiliency into all community recovery efforts so that at-risk infrastructure, development, and other community assets are stronger and more resilient for the next severe storm or hazard event. Mitigation measures to reduce the risk and vulnerability of a community to future disaster losses can be implemented in advance of a disaster event and also as part of post-disaster recovery efforts.

Mitigation applied to recovery helps communities become more resilient and sustainable. It is often most efficient to fund eligible infrastructure mitigation through FEMA’s Public Assistance mitigation program if the asset was damaged in a storm event. Mitigation work can be added to project worksheets if they can be proven to be cost-beneficial.

Plumas County 5-5
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Integration of mitigation into post disaster recovery efforts should be considered by all communities as part of their post disaster redevelopment and mitigation policies and procedures. Post-disaster redevelopment and mitigation policies and procedures are evaluated and updated as part of the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) updates and other emergency management plans for each community.

These EOP’s and other emergency management documents, through its policies and procedures, seek to mitigate the effects of hazards, prepare for measures to be taken which will preserve life and minimize damage, enhance response during emergencies and provide necessary assistance, and establish a recovery system in order to return the community to their normal state of affairs. Mitigation is emphasized as a major component of recovery efforts.

Mitigation Strategy Funding Opportunities
An understanding of the various funding streams and opportunities enable the communities to match identified mitigation projects with the grant programs that are most likely to fund them. Additionally, some of the funding opportunities can be utilized together. Mitigation grant funding opportunities available preand post- disaster include the following.

FEMA HMA Grants
Cal OES administers four main types of HMA grants: (1) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, (2) PreDisaster Mitigation Program, (3) Flood Mitigation Assistance Program, and (4) Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities. Eligible applicants for the HMA include state and local governments, certain private non-profits, and federally recognized Indian tribal governments. While private citizens cannot apply directly for the grant programs, they can benefit from the programs if they are included in an application sponsored by an eligible applicant.

FEMA Public Assistance Section 406 Mitigation
The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act provides FEMA the authority to fund the restoration of eligible facilities that have sustained damage due to a presidentially declared disaster. The regulations contain a provision for the consideration of funding additional measures that will enhance a facility’s ability to resist similar damage in future events.

Community Development Block Grants
The California Department of Housing and Community Development administers the State’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program with funding provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The program is available to all non-entitlement communities that meet applicable threshold requirements. All projects must meet one of the national objectives of the program – projects must benefit 51 percent low- and moderate-income people, aid in the prevention or clearance of slum and blight, or meet an urgent need. Grant funds can generally be used in federally declared disaster areas for CDBG eligible activities including the replacement or repair of infrastructure and housing damaged during, or as a result of, the declared disaster.

Plumas County 5-6
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Small Business Loans
SBA offers low-interest, fixed-rate loans to disaster victims, enabling them to repair or replace property damaged or destroyed in declared disasters. It also offers such loans to affected small businesses to help them recover from economic injury caused by such disasters. Loans may also be increased up to 20 percent of the total amount of disaster damage to real estate and/or leasehold improvements to make improvements that lessen the risk of property damage by possible future disasters of the same kind.

Increased Cost of Compliance
Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC) coverage is one of several resources for flood insurance policyholders who need additional help rebuilding after a flood. It provides up to $30,000 to help cover the cost of mitigation measures that will reduce flood risk. ICC coverage is a part of most standard flood insurance policies available under NFIP.

5.2 Goals and Objectives
44 CFR §201.6(c)(3)(i) and §201.7(c)(3)(i): [The hazard mitigation strategy shall include a] description of mitigation goals to reduce or avoid long-term vulnerabilities to the identified hazards.

Up to this point in the planning process, the participating jurisdictions, along with the HMPC, have organized resources, assessed hazards and risks, and documented mitigation capabilities. The resulting goals, objectives, and mitigation actions were developed based on these tasks. The HMPC held a series of meetings and exercises designed to achieve a collaborative mitigation strategy as described further throughout this section. Appendix C documents the information covered in these mitigation strategy meetings, including information on the goals development and the identification and prioritization of mitigation alternatives by the HMPC and participating jurisdictions.

During the initial goal-setting meeting, the HMPC reviewed the results of the hazard identification, vulnerability assessment, and capability assessment. This analysis of the risk assessment identified areas where improvements could be made and provided the framework for the HMPC to formulate planning goals and objectives and to develop the mitigation strategy for the Plumas County Planning Area.

Goals were defined for the purpose of this mitigation plan as broad-based public policy statements that:
➢ Represent basic desires of the community;
➢ Encompass all aspects of community, public and private; ➢ Are nonspecific, in that they refer to the quality (not the quantity) of the outcome; ➢ Are future-oriented, in that they are achievable in the future; and ➢ Are time-independent, in that they are not scheduled events.

Goals are stated without regard to implementation. Implementation cost, schedule, and means are not considered. Goals are defined before considering how to accomplish them so that they are not dependent on the means of achievement. Goal statements form the basis for objectives and actions that will be used as means to achieve the goals. Objectives define strategies to attain the goals and are more specific and measurable.

Plumas County 5-7
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
HMPC members were provided with the list of goals from the 2020 and 2019 LHMPs as well as a list of other sample goals to consider. The team was told that they could use, combine, or revise the statements provided or develop new ones, keeping the risk assessment in mind. Each member was asked to provide three goal statements. Goal statements were collected and grouped into similar themes and provided to the HMPC. Some of the statements were determined to be better suited as objectives or actual mitigation actions and were set aside for later use. Next, the HMPC developed objectives that summarized strategies to achieve each goal. Edits and refinements to these new goals and resulting objectives were provided by the HMPC until the team came to consensus on the final goals and objectives for this 2026 LHMP Update.

Based on the risk assessment review and goal setting process, the HMPC identified the following goals, which provide the direction for reducing future hazard-related losses within the Plumas County Planning Area.

Goal #1: Minimize loss of life and injuries and protect public health, property, and the environment from natural hazards
➢ Minimize impact to all populations, including vulnerable and underserved populations ➢ Minimize impact to existing and future development, both public and private ➢ Minimize economic and natural resource impact
➢ Promote resiliency strategies
Goal #2: Minimize losses and damages, and provide protection for critical facilities, infrastructure, and services from hazard impacts
➢ Implement critical facility upgrades and mitigation measures to current standards and codes to better withstand future hazard events and to ensure reliability of critical services (e.g., communications, power, water)
➢ Update and maintain a GIS database of critical facilities to include: Essential Services, At-Risk Populations, and Hazardous Materials Facilities
Goal #3: Increase community and public awareness, education, preparedness, and self-reliance to natural hazards
➢ Enhance public and stakeholder outreach, education, and preparedness programs to include all hazards of concern
➢ Increase public and stakeholder knowledge about the risk and vulnerability to identified hazards and how to be more self-reliant in mitigating risks from natural hazards ➢ Provide viable local resources and information (i.e., training, technical assistance, education) to promote implementation of self-reliant mitigation actions and to support informed decision-making before, during, and after a disaster
➢ Provide public and stakeholder education and outreach specific to evacuation routes, available emergency communication modes, and roles and responsibilities

Plumas County 5-8
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Goal #4: Strengthen and improve communities' capabilities, capacity, and effectiveness to mitigate hazards, reduce losses, and be prepared for, respond to, and recover from a disaster event in Plumas County
➢ Improve coordination of local, state, and federal resources and community partners ➢ Enhance emergency communication capabilities (e.g., cell phones, radios, sirens, reverse 911) ➢ Ensure continuity of government operations
➢ Increase use of shared resources, enhance resource availability, and build local resources in a meaningful way to support all mitigation partners (i.e., government, community, individuals) ➢ Establish and maintain mutual aid agreements for all phases of emergency management Goal #5: Build capacity and capabilities to increase disaster resilience among historically underserved populations, individuals with access and functional needs, and communities disproportionately impacted by disasters and climate change ➢ Identify vulnerable and underserved populations and communities within the County ➢ Incorporate equity metrics, tools, and strategies into all mitigation planning, policy, funding, outreach, and implementation efforts
Goal #6: Minimize life safety issues, property loss and damage, environmental and natural resource impacts, and economic impacts associated with wildfires, the #1 natural hazard of concern in Plumas County
➢ Reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfire to lives, structures, and the environment through proactive management
➢ Reduce the wildfire risk and vulnerability and promote wildfire resilient communities ➢ Follow best available science to reduce the potential for catastrophic wildfire ➢ Implement a fire-adapted community concept approach at broader county-wide geographic and policy scales
➢ Develop a Countywide fuels management implementation strategy to reduce fuel loading and catastrophic wildfire in and surrounding Plumas communities ➢ Promote a wholistic approach to mitigating wildfire through restoration of the beneficial functions of natural resources and fire ecology
➢ Coordinate comprehensive fire protection strategies among all federal, state, and local agencies and across all property boundaries
➢ Increase community education and outreach of wildfire mitigation strategies (e.g., fuels management, defensible space, home hardening) including those to be undertaken by private property owners ➢ Promote and enhance fire-fighting capabilities (e.g., access roads, water supply, etc.) ➢ Improve community infrastructure for wildfire prevention, preparedness and response including locating safety zones, augmenting community water supplies, and reducing fire hazard along transportation, power, water, and other critical infrastructure ➢ Enhance and update the county wildfire hazard codes including enforcement capabilities to address new LRA and SRA mapping of fire hazard severity zones
➢ Continue land use planning efforts to ensure increased fire protection in new developments ➢ Update, maintain, and implement Community Wildfire Protection Plans

Plumas County 5-9
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Goal #7: Minimize the loss of agricultural and natural resource productivity (foundation of rural economy) from natural hazards
➢ Promote local research, education, and technical assistance on sustainable agriculture and forestry practices
➢ Support education and training of public and private land managers on hazard mitigation and disaster resilience
➢ Foster agricultural and natural resource resilience to natural hazards through implementation of best management practices and restoration activities
Goal #8: Apply best available science and authoritative data to design, implement, and prioritize projects that enhance resilience to natural hazards and climate change impacts
➢ Make better use of technology (e.g., GIS, public notification, alert and warning, communications) ➢ Identify and implement opportunities to build resilience to changing climate conditions ➢ Implement climate adaptation measures including enhanced standards to reduce the influence and consequences of climate change (e.g., increasing temperatures, changing hydrology) on natural hazards Goal #9: Maximize funding opportunities for natural hazard mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery
➢ Collaborate with all levels of local, state, and federal mitigation partners ➢ Identify and track mitigation grant funding opportunities and maintain eligibility for grant programs ➢ Identify, consolidate, and pursue eligible mitigation projects for multi-benefit (rather than competing against each other for similar projects and limited grant funding) ➢ Establish and implement a countywide multi-agency committee to promote, coordinate, and track mitigation action development and project implementation ➢ Improve community’s ability to be competitive/successful with grant funding opportunities from application development to project delivery

5.3 Identification and Analysis of Mitigation Actions
44 CFR §201.6(c)(3)(ii) and §201.6(c)(3)(ii): [The mitigation strategy shall include a] section that identifies and analyzes a comprehensive range of specific mitigation actions and projects being considered to reduce the effects of each hazard, with particular emphasis on new and existing buildings and infrastructure.

In order to identify and select mitigation actions to support the mitigation goals, each hazard identified in Section 4.1 was evaluated at the completion of the risk assessment as part of the second prioritization process to determine which hazards were priorities for mitigation strategy planning. Only those hazards that were determined to be a priority hazard for each participating jurisdiction were considered further in the development of hazard-specific mitigation actions. Those hazards not considered a priority for mitigation strategy development were eliminated from further consideration because the risk of a hazard event to the participating jurisdiction is unlikely, the vulnerability of the participating jurisdiction is low, or capabilities are already in place to mitigate adverse impacts. Further, the resulting mitigation strategy

Plumas County 5-10
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
presented in this Chapter focuses on those mitigation actions that each jurisdiction has the authority, resources, and capacity to consider for implementation over the next 5-years covered by this LHMP Update.

Table 5-2 and Table 5-3 provide a listing of priority hazards by jurisdiction to be addressed in the mitigation strategy portion of this Plan.

Table 5-2 Plumas County Planning Area: Mitigation Action Priority Hazards by Jurisdiction Hazard
Plumas
County
City of
Portola
Chester
PUD
Feather
River
RCD
Gold
Mountain
CSD
Indian
Valley
CSD
Ag Hazard: Severe Weather/ Pests/Weeds X
Climate Change X X X
Dam Failure X X X
Drought & Water Shortage (w/tree mortality) X X X X X
Earthquake X X X X
Flood: 1%/0.2% annual chance (w/levee
failure)

X X X X
Flood: Localized Stormwater X X X X X X
Hazardous Materials Transportation X X
Landslide, Mudslide, and Debris Flow X X X X X
Severe Weather: Extreme Cold, Freeze, and
Snow (w/avalanche)

X X X X
Severe Weather: Extreme Heat X X
Severe Weather: Heavy Rains and Storms X X X X
Severe Weather: High Winds and Tornadoes X X X X
Volcano
Wildfire (w/smoke and air quality) X X X X X X
Table 5-3 Plumas County Planning Area: Mitigation Action Priority Hazards by Jurisdiction Hazard
Plumas Corp Plumas Fire
Safe Council
Plumas Eureka
Community
Services District
South Feather
Water & Power
Agency
Ag Hazard: Severe Weather/
Pests/Weeds
X
Climate Change X X X X
Dam Failure X
Drought & Water Shortage (w/tree
mortality)
X X X
Earthquake X X
Flood: 1%/0.2% annual chance
(w/levee failure)
X

Plumas County 5-11
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Hazard
Plumas Corp Plumas Fire
Safe Council
Plumas Eureka
Community
Services District
South Feather
Water & Power
Agency
Flood: Localized Stormwater X X
Hazardous Materials Transportation
Landslide, Mudslide, and Debris Flow X X
Severe Weather: Extreme Cold, Freeze,
and Snow (w/avalanche)
X X
Severe Weather: Extreme Heat X X X
Severe Weather: Heavy Rains and
Storms
X X X
Severe Weather: High Winds and
Tornadoes
X X
Volcano
Wildfire (w/smoke and air quality) X X X X
It is important to note, however, that all the Hazards addressed in this LHMP are included in the multi-hazard public awareness mitigation actions as well as in other multi-hazard, emergency management actions, and other hazard-specific actions, providing benefits to all participating jurisdictions to this 2026 LHMP Update.

Once it was determined which hazards warranted the development of specific mitigation actions, the participating jurisdictions and HMPC analyzed viable mitigation options that supported the identified goals and objectives. The HMPC was provided with the following list of categories of mitigation actions, which originate from the Community Rating System:
➢ Prevention
➢ Property protection
➢ Structural projects
➢ Natural resource protection
➢ Emergency services
➢ Public information
The HMPC was provided with examples of potential mitigation actions for each of the above categories.

The HMPC was also instructed to consider both the existing built environment and future development in considering possible mitigation actions. A facilitated discussion then took place to examine and analyze the options. Appendix C provides a detailed review and discussion of the six mitigation categories to assist in the review and identification of possible mitigation activities or projects. Also utilized in the review of possible mitigation measures is FEMA’s publication on Mitigation Ideas, by hazard type. Prevention type mitigation alternatives were discussed for each of the priority hazards. This was followed by a brainstorming session that generated a list of preferred mitigation actions by hazard.

Plumas County 5-12
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026

5.3.1. Prioritization Process
Once the mitigation actions were identified, the HMPC was provided with several decision-making tools, including FEMA’s recommended prioritization criteria, STAPLEE sustainable disaster recovery criteria; Smart Growth principles; and others, to assist in deciding why one recommended action might be more important, more effective, or more likely to be implemented than another. STAPLEE stands for the following:
➢ Social: Does the measure treat people fairly? (e.g., different groups, different generations) ➢ Technical: Is the action technically feasible? Does it solve the problem? ➢ Administrative: Are there adequate staffing, funding, and other capabilities to implement the project? ➢ Political: Who are the stakeholders? Will there be adequate political and public support for the project? ➢ Legal: Does the jurisdiction have the legal authority to implement the action? Is it legal? ➢ Economic: Is the action cost-beneficial? Is there funding available? Will the action contribute to the local economy?
➢ Environmental: Does the action comply with environmental regulations? Will there be negative environmental consequences from the action?
In accordance with the DMA requirements, an emphasis was placed on the importance of a benefit-cost analysis in determining action priority. Other criteria used to assist in evaluating the benefit-cost of a mitigation action includes:
➢ Contribution of the action to save life or property
➢ Availability of funding and perceived cost-effectiveness ➢ Available resources for implementation
➢ Ability of the action to address the problem
The initial list of mitigation actions from the 2020 and 2019 LHMPs and new actions identified during this planning process were reviewed and prioritized using the criteria (alternatives and selection criteria) in Appendix C.

With these criteria in mind, the HMPC were each given a set of 18 colored dots, six each of red, blue, and green. The dots were assigned red for high priority (worth five points), blue for medium priority (worth three points), and green for low priority (worth one point). The HMPC was asked to use the dots to prioritize actions with the above criteria in mind. The point score for each action was totaled. Appendix C contains the total score given to each identified mitigation action.

The process of identification and analysis of mitigation alternatives allowed the HMPC to come to consensus and to prioritize recommended mitigation actions. During the voting process, emphasis was placed on the importance of a benefit-cost review in determining project priority; however, this was not a quantitative analysis. The team agreed that prioritizing the actions collectively enabled the actions to be ranked in order of relative importance and helped steer the development of additional actions that meet the more important objectives while eliminating some of the actions which did not garner much support.

Benefit-cost was also considered in the development of the Mitigation Action Plan detailed below in Section

5.4. The cost-effectiveness of any mitigation alternative will be considered in greater detail through

Plumas County 5-13
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
performing benefit-cost project analyses when seeking FEMA mitigation grant funding for eligible actions associated with this 2026 LHMP Update.

Recognizing the limitations in prioritizing actions from multiple jurisdictions and departments and the regulatory requirement to prioritize by benefit-cost to ensure cost-effectiveness, the participating jurisdictions and HMPC decided to pursue actions that contribute to saving lives and property as first and foremost, with additional consideration given to the benefit-cost aspect of a project. This process drove the development of a determination of a high, medium, or low priority for each mitigation action, and a comprehensive prioritized mitigation action plan for the Plumas County Planning Area.

5.4 Mitigation Action Plan
44 CFR §201.6(c)(3)(iii) and §201.7(c)(3)(iii): [The mitigation strategy section shall include] an action plan describing how the actions identified in section (c)(3)(ii) will be prioritized, implemented, and administered by the local jurisdiction. Prioritization shall include a special emphasis on the extent to which benefits are maximized according to a cost benefit review of the proposed projects and their associated costs.

This mitigation action plan was developed to present the recommendations developed by the HMPC for how the Plumas County Planning Area can reduce the risk and vulnerability of people, property, critical facilities and infrastructure, natural and cultural resources, and the economy to future disaster losses.

Emphasis was placed on both future and existing development. This mitigation action plan summarizes who is responsible for implementing each of the prioritized actions as well as when and how the actions will be implemented. Each action summary also includes a discussion of the benefit-cost review conducted to meet the regulatory requirements of the Disaster Mitigation Act.

Table 5-4 identifies all mitigation actions for participating jurisdictions to this LHMP Update. For each mitigation action item included in Table 5-4, a detailed mitigation implementation strategy has been developed. The detailed descriptions for each mitigation action are included below for the unincorporated County and within each respective jurisdictional annex to this LHMP.

The mitigation action plan summarized below contains both new action items developed for this 2026 LHMP Update as well as old actions that were yet to be completed from the 2020 and 2019 LHMPs. Table 5-4 indicates whether the action is new or from the 2020 or 2019 LHMP and Chapter 2 contains the details for each 2020 and 2019 mitigation action item indicating whether a given action item has been completed, deleted, or deferred.

As described throughout this 2026 LHMP Update, the Plumas County Planning Area has many risks and vulnerabilities to identified hazards. Although many possible mitigation actions, as detailed in Appendix C, were brainstormed and prioritized during the mitigation strategy meetings, the resulting mitigation strategy presented in this Chapter 5 of this LHMP focuses only on those mitigation actions that are both reasonable and realistic for the communities to consider for implementation over the next 5-years covered by this 2026 Update. Thus, only a portion of the actions identified in Appendix C have been carried forward into the mitigation strategy presented in Table 5-4. Although many good ideas were developed during the mitigation action brainstorming process, the reality of determining which priority actions to develop and

Plumas County 5-14
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
include in this LHMP Update came down to the actual priorities of jurisdictions, individuals and departments based in part on department direction, staffing, and potential funding. The overall value of the mitigation action table in Appendix C is that it represents a wide-range of mitigation actions that can be consulted and developed for this LHMP Update during annual plan reviews and the formal 5-year update process.

It is also important to note that the participating jurisdictions have numerous existing, detailed action descriptions, which include benefit-cost estimates, in other planning documents, such as flood and water management plans, fire plans, climate plans, and capital improvement budgets and reports. These actions are considered to be part of this LHMP, and the details, to avoid duplication, should be referenced in their original source document. The HMPC also realizes that new needs and priorities may arise as a result of a disaster or other circumstances and reserves the right to support new actions, as necessary, as long as they conform to the overall goals of this LHMP Update.

Further, it should be clarified that the actions included in this mitigation strategy are subject to further review and refinement; alternatives analyses; and reprioritization due to funding availability and/or other criteria. The participating jurisdictions are not obligated by this document to implement any or all of these projects. Rather this mitigation strategy represents the desires of the jurisdictions to mitigate the risks and vulnerabilities from identified hazards. The actual selection, prioritization, and implementation of these actions will also be further evaluated in accordance with the mitigation categories and criteria contained in Appendix C.

It should be noted that many of the projects submitted by each jurisdiction in Table 5-4 benefit all jurisdictions whether or not they are the lead agency. Further, many of these mitigation efforts are collaborative efforts among multiple local, state, and federal agencies. In addition, the public outreach actions, as well as many of the emergency services actions, apply to all hazards regardless of hazard priority.

Collectively, this multi-jurisdictional mitigation strategy includes only those actions and projects which reflect the actual priorities and capacity of each jurisdiction to implement over the next 5-years covered by this 2026 LHMP Update.

Table 5-4 Plumas County Planning Area Mitigation Actions Action Title
New Action/
Previous
Action
Address
Current
Development
Address
Future
Development
Continued
NFIP
Compliance Mitigation Type
Plumas County
Multi-Hazard Actions
Action 1. Enhance Public
Education and Awareness of Natural
Hazards and Public Understanding of
Disaster Preparedness
Previous
Action
X X X Prevention
Public Education
Action 2. Integrate Local Hazard
Mitigation Plan into Safety Element of
General Plan
Previous
Action
X X Prevention

Plumas County 5-15
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Action Title
New Action/
Previous
Action
Address
Current
Development
Address
Future
Development
Continued
NFIP
Compliance Mitigation Type
Action 3. Resilient Community
Systems Initiative
New Action X X X Prevention
Property Protection
Structural Projects
Natural Resource
Protection
Emergency Services
Public Information
Action 4. Designation of Minor
County Roads and Forest Service
Roads to be used as Alternate Routes
around Road Closures during Wildfire
and other Hazard Events. Plumas and
Lassen National Forests have funding
for new Road Connections to Form
Alternate Routes.

New Action X X Property Protection
Emergency Services
Action 5. Continue Bridge
Replacement Program using Federal
Funding Source for Evacuation and
Emergency Services Access.

Previous
Action
X X X Property Protection
Structural Projects
Emergency Services
Action 6. Continue to Reach out to
the Community Countywide to Sign
Up for Emergency Alerts through the
Genasys Program
New Action X X Emergency Services
Action 7. Plumas County General
Plan Public Health & Safety Element
update to incorporate Senate Bill (SB)
379 requirements
Previous
Action
X X Prevention
Action 8. Secure Interoperability
Public Safety Communications and
Infrastructure
New Action X X Emergency Services
Action 9. Prepare Emergency Food
Access Plan as a Complement to the
Plumas County EOP Annex B: Mass
Care & Shelter
Previous
Action
X X Emergency Services
Prevention
Agricultural Hazard Actions
Action 10. Wildlife Conflict
Mitigation Tools and Equipment
New Action X X Prevention
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 11. Invasive Weed Control
and Eradication
Previous
Action
X X Prevention
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 12. Wildlife Conflict
Mitigation Tools
New Action X X Prevention
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Climate Change Actions

Plumas County 5-16
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Action Title
New Action/
Previous
Action
Address
Current
Development
Address
Future
Development
Continued
NFIP
Compliance Mitigation Type
Action 13. Develop a Climate
Action Plan
Previous
Action
X X Prevention
Dam Failure Actions
Action 14. Evaluate Options for
Obtaining 100-year Level of
Certification for the Diversion Dam
(East and West Chester Levees)
Previous
Action
X X Property Protection
Structural Projects
Natural Resource
Protection
Drought and Water Shortage Actions
Action 15. County Wide Drought
Resilience Plan
Previous
Action
X X Prevention
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Earthquake Actions
Action 16. Hospital Seismic
Compliance (SB-1953)
Previous
Action
X X Structural
Property Protection
Floods: 1%/0.2% Annual Chance, Floods: Localized Flooding, Landslide, Mudslide and Debris Flow, Severe Weather Heavy Rains and Storms Actions
Action 17. Evaluate and implement
Wolf Creek Channel Stabilization
Projects through Greenville and Indian
Valley Areas
Previous
Action
X X X Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 18. Identify and Implement
Bank Stabilization Projects.

Previous
Action
X X X Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 19. Develop a Countywide
Drainage Master Plan
Previous
Action
X X X Property Protection
Structural Projects
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 20. FEMA Mapping Update Previous
Action
X X X Prevention
Action 21. Evaluate Options to
Repair and Maintain Levee Crown for
Emergency Access Vehicles (Gates,
Crown Repair, Vegetation
Maintenance, etc.)
Previous
Action
X X X Property Protection
Structural Projects
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 22. County Wide Stormwater
Drainage and Grading Ordinance.

Previous
Action
X X X Prevention
Property Protection
Structural Projects
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 23. Ongoing Implementation
of Stream Clearing and Culvert
Maintenance Programs
Previous
Action
X X X Prevention
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection

Plumas County 5-17
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Action Title
New Action/
Previous
Action
Address
Current
Development
Address
Future
Development
Continued
NFIP
Compliance Mitigation Type
Action 24. Review and Update, as
Needed, Title 8 (Building Regulations),
Chapter 17 (Flood) of the Plumas
County Code re: Floodplain Ordinance
and Applicable Title 9 (Planning and
Zoning) Sections
Previous
Action
X X X Property Protection
Structural Projects
Natural Resource
Protection
Hazardous Materials Transportation Actions
Action 25. Hazardous Material
Transport Mitigation
New Action X X Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Landslide Actions
Action 26. Identify and Implement
Projects to Address Areas of
Landslides Affecting Roadway and
Railroad
Previous
Action
X X Property Protection
Structural Projects
Natural Resource
Protection
Severe Weather: Extreme Cold, Freeze, and Snow (w/avalanche) Cold Actions Action 27. Back Up Power
Redundancy Project – Resilient and
Continued Outpatient Medical Services
at Lake Almanor Clinic, and Continued
Operation of a Cooling/Warming
Station for the General Public during
Electrical Power Disruptions as
Needed.

New Action X X Property Protection
Emergency Services
Wildfire, Drought, Severe Weather: Extreme Heat, Severe Weather: High Winds and Tornadoes Actions Action 28. Promote and Implement
Compliant Street/Address Reflective
Signage for Public and Private Roads
and Structures
Previous
Action
X X Property Protection
Structural Projects
Emergency Services
Action 29. Ingress/Egress Road
Projects to Widen and Improve Roads
for Evacuation and Emergency
Services Access
Previous
Action
X X Property Protection
Structural Projects
Emergency Services
Action 30. Air Quality Impacts
During Wildfire Events
New Action X X Property Protection
Structural Projects
Emergency Services
Action 31. Plumas County
Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural
Resources Resilience
Previous
Action
X X Property Protection
Structural Projects
Action 32. Livestock and
Companion Animal Trailer
Previous
Action
X X Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 33. Continue to Evaluate and
Track Available Funding Sources for
Wildfire Mitigation Projects
Previous
Action
X X Property Protection
Structural Projects
Emergency Services

Plumas County 5-18
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Action Title
New Action/
Previous
Action
Address
Current
Development
Address
Future
Development
Continued
NFIP
Compliance Mitigation Type
Action 34. Develop a Program to
Promote and/or Incentivize Home
Hardening Retrofitting including:

Roofs, Vents, Siding, Windows, etc.

Previous
Action
X X Property Protection
Structural Projects
Emergency Services
Action 35. Plumas County General
Plan Public Health & Safety Element
update to address state law
requirements for land classified as State
Responsibility Areas (SRAs) and within
Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones
(VHFHSZs)
Previous
Action
X X Property Protection
Structural Projects
Emergency Services
City of Portola
Action 1. Public Education on
Hazards in the City of Portola
Previous
Action
X X X Public Education
Action 2. Essential Facilities
Retrofit and Redundant Power Sources
Previous
Action
X X X Property Protection
Structural Projects
Emergency Services
Action 3. Wildfire Risk and Impact
Reduction
Previous
Action
X X Prevention
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Public Information
Action 4. Gulling Street Bridge
Structural Rehabilitation
New Action X X X Structural Project
Emergency Services
Action 5. Fire Suppression
Enhancements
New Action X X Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Emergency Services
Chester Public Utility District
Action 1. Asbestos Water Line
Natural Disaster Hazard
New Action X X Property Protection
Structural Projects
Action 2. Backup Power New Action X X Property Protection Emergency Services
Action 3. Public Outreach Program New Action X X X Public Information Action 4. Tree and Brush Removal New Action X X Property Protection Natural Resource
Protection
Action 5. Wastewater
Infrastructure
New Action X X Property Protection
Structural Projects
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 6. Wireless Radio Meters New Action X X Emergency Services Property Protection
Feather River Resource Conservation District*
Action 1. Ecological Restoration New Action X X Natural Resource Protection

Plumas County 5-19
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Action Title
New Action/
Previous
Action
Address
Current
Development
Address
Future
Development
Continued
NFIP
Compliance Mitigation Type
Action 2. Plumas Public
Emergency Outreach Program
New Action X X X Public Information
Action 3. Fuels and Vegetation
Management
New Action X X Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 4. Plumas Backup
Generator and Air Purifier Loan
Program
New Action X X Property Protection
Emergency Services
Action 5. Tree Mortality Tracking
and Removal
New Action X X Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Gold Mountain Community Services District
Action 1. Drought Impact on CSD
Service
New Action X X Property Protection
Structural Project
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 2. Flood/Landslide/High
Wind Mitigation
New Action X X X Property Protection
Structural Project
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 3. Fire Prevention Hazard
and Impact on CSD Services
New Action X X Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 4. Gold Mountain
Community Service District Policy
Title; Water Service Policy, Policy
Number: 5100
New Action X X Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 5. Supplemental/Alternative
Water Sources
New Action X X Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Indian Valley Community Services District
Action 1. Public Outreach Project New Action X X X Public Information Action 2. Dam Failure Mitigation
and/or Replacement
New Action X X X Property Protection
Structural Projects
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 3. IVCSD Secondary Water
Source Project and Storage
New Action X X Property Protection
Structural Projects
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 4. Earthquake Mitigation New Action X X Property Protection Structural Projects
Action 5. Landslide, Mudslide, and
Debris Flow Mitigation
New Action X X X Property Protection
Structural Projects

Plumas County 5-20
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Action Title
New Action/
Previous
Action
Address
Current
Development
Address
Future
Development
Continued
NFIP
Compliance Mitigation Type
Action 6. Severe Weather
Mitigation
New Action X X X Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 7. Wildfire Mitigation New Action X X Prevention Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Plumas Corporation*
Action 1. Hazardous Fuels
Reduction – Implementation,
Monitoring, and Maintenance
New Action X X Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 2. Last Chance Creek
Watershed Floodplain Restoration
Project
New Action X X X Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 3. Mountain Meadows
Watershed Floodplain Restoration
Project
New Action X X X Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 4. Upper Feather River
Watershed Post-Fire Water Quality
Monitoring Project
New Action X X X Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 5. Red Clover Creek
Watershed Floodplain Restoration
Project
New Action X X X Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 6. Tributaries Forest
Recovery Project
New Action X X X Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 7. Capacity Building to
Transition to Sustainable Vegetation
Management for Local Governmental
Entities
New Action X X Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Plumas County Fire Safe Council*
Action 1. Update the Plumas
County Communities Wildfire
Protection Plan
New Action X X Prevention
Property Protection
Structural Projects
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 2. Firewise Program
Promotion and Public Education
Previous
Action
X X Prevention
Public Education
Action 3. WUI Map Project:

Implementation of Fire Hazard
Severity Zone, Insurance Rating, and
Other Classification Systems for
Wildfire Risk Management and
Identification of Wildland Urban
Interface Areas
New Action X X Prevention

Plumas County 5-21
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Action Title
New Action/
Previous
Action
Address
Current
Development
Address
Future
Development
Continued
NFIP
Compliance Mitigation Type
Action 4. Biomass Management
and Utilization Program
New Action X X Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 5. Community
Encompassing Firelines and Shaded
Fuel Breaks
New Action X X Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 6. Continue and Promote
Defensible Space (PRC 4291) Projects
including Assistance Efforts for Senior
and Disabled Residents.

New Action X X Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Public Information
Action 7. Improve Local Plumas
County Fire Department Capacity and
Response Capabilities
New Action X X Emergency Services
Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 8. Countywide Green Waste
Disposal and Utilization Program
New Action X X Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 9. Hazardous Fuels
Reduction – Implementation,
Monitoring, and Maintenance
New Action X X Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 10. Develop a Program to
Promote and/or Incentivize Home
Hardening Retrofitting including:

Roofs, Vents, Siding, Windows, etc.

New Action X X Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Public Information
Action 11. Tree Mortality Action
Plan – Monitoring, Prevention, and
Mitigation
New Action X X Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 12. Prescribed Burning
Project and Plumas Under burn
Cooperative Programs
New Action X X Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 13. Geographic Information
System (GIS) Integration of Wildfire
Planning, Suppression, and Map
Resources
New Action X X Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 14. Capacity Building to
Transition to Sustainable Vegetation
Management for Local Governmental
Entities
New Action X X Property Protection
Natural Resource
Protection
Plumas Eureka Community Services District
Action 1. Establishment of
Evacuation Routes and Resident
Notification System
New Action X X Emergency Services
Action 2. Flood Risk Reduction for
Wastewater Treatment Plant 6
(WWTP6)
New Action X X X Property Protection
Structural Projects
Natural Resource
Protection

Plumas County 5-22
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Action Title
New Action/
Previous
Action
Address
Current
Development
Address
Future
Development
Continued
NFIP
Compliance Mitigation Type
Action 3. Recycled Water Use New Action X X Property Protection Natural Resource
Protection
Action 4. Water Storage Tank
Retrofit or Replacement
New Action X X Property Protection
Structural Projects
Natural Resource
Protection
South Feather Water and Power Agency
Action 1. Little Grass Valley Dam
Spillway Northern Slope Stabilization
and Rockfall Protection Project
New Action X X X Property Protection
Structural Projects
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 2. South Feather Power
Project New License Management Plan
Updates
New Action X X X Property Protection
Structural Projects
Natural Resource
Protection
Action 3. South Feather Power
Project (SFPP) Regulatory Dam Safety
Rehabilitation Project Engineering
Analysis and Design
New Action X X X Property Protection
Structural Projects
Natural Resource
Protection
*Since these Districts have the same boundaries as the County, these actions augment the County’s actions.

Plumas County Mitigation Actions
Multi-Hazard Actions
Action 1. Enhance Public Education and Awareness of Natural Hazards and Public Understanding of Disaster Preparedness
Hazards Addressed: Multi-hazard (Ag Hazard: Severe Weather/ Pests/Weeds, Climate Change, Dam Failure, Drought & Water Shortage (w/tree mortality), Earthquake, Flood: 1%/0.2% annual chance (w/levee failure), Flood: Localized Stormwater, Hazardous Materials Transportation, Landslide, Mudslide, and Debris Flow, Severe Weather: Extreme Cold, Freeze, and Snow (w/avalanche), Severe Weather: Extreme Heat, Severe Weather: Heavy Rains and Storms, Severe Weather: High Winds and Tornadoes, Wildfire (w/smoke and air quality))
Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Issue/Background: Plumas County plays a key role in public outreach/education efforts to communicate the potential risk and vulnerability of their community to the effects of natural hazards. A comprehensive multi-hazard public education program will better inform the community of natural hazards of concern and actions the public can take to be better prepared for the next natural disaster event.

Project Description: A comprehensive multi-hazard outreach program will ascertain both broad and targeted educational needs throughout the community. The County will work with other agencies as

Plumas County 5-23
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
appropriate to develop timely and consistent annual outreach messages in order to communicate the risk and vulnerability of natural hazards of concern to the community. This includes measures the public can take to be better prepared and to reduce the damages and other impacts from a hazard event. The public outreach effort will leverage and build upon existing mechanisms, will include elements to meet the objectives of Goal 3 of this LHMP Update, and will consider:
➢ Using a variety of information outlets, including websites, local radio stations, news media, schools, and local, public sponsored events;
➢ Creating and distributing (where applicable) brochures, leaflets, water bill inserts, websites, and public service announcements;
➢ Displaying public outreach information in County office buildings, libraries, and other public places and events;
➢ Developing public-private partnerships and incentives to support public education activities.

Other Alternatives: Continue public information activities currently in place.

Existing Planning Mechanism(s) through which Action Will Be Implemented: Existing County outreach programs will be reviewed for effectiveness and leveraged and expanded upon to reach the broader region.

Responsible Office/Partners: Plumas County OES, incorporated communities, and other jurisdictions Benefits (Losses Avoided): Increase residents’ knowledge of potential hazards and activities required to mitigate hazards and be better prepared. Protect lives and reduce damages, relatively low cost to implement.

Potential Funding: Local budgets (general fund, special revenue funds, CIP funding), grant funds from Cal OES (mitigation grants), FEMA (HMGP, PDM, FMA), CA DWR, or other entities.

Timeline: Ongoing/Annual public education and awareness campaign over the next 5 years.

Project Priority (High, Medium, Low): High
Action 2. Integrate Local Hazard Mitigation Plan into Safety Element of General Plan Hazards Addressed: Multi-hazard (Ag Hazard: Severe Weather/ Pests/Weeds, Climate Change, Dam Failure, Drought & Water Shortage (w/tree mortality), Earthquake, Flood: 1%/0.2% annual chance (w/levee failure), Flood: Localized Stormwater, Hazardous Materials Transportation, Landslide, Mudslide, and Debris Flow, Severe Weather: Extreme Cold, Freeze, and Snow (w/avalanche), Severe Weather: Extreme Heat, Severe Weather: Heavy Rains and Storms, Severe Weather: High Winds and Tornadoes, Wildfire (w/smoke and air quality))
Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Issue/Background: Local jurisdictional reimbursement for mitigation projects and cost recovery after a disaster is guided by Government Code Section 8685.9 (Assembly Bill (AB) 2140).

Plumas County 5-24
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Project Description: Specifically, this section requires that each applicable jurisdiction adopt a local hazard mitigation plan (LHMP) in accordance with the federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 as part of the Safety Element of its General Plan. Adoption of the LHMP into the Safety Element of the General Plan may be by reference or incorporation.

Other Alternatives: No action
Existing Planning Mechanisms through which Action will be Implemented: Safety Element of General Plan
Responsible Office/Partners: Plumas County Planning Department Benefits (avoided Losses): Incorporation of an adopted LHMP into the Safety Element of the General Plan will help jurisdictions maximize the cost recovery potential following a disaster.

Potential Funding: Local budgets (general fund)
Timeline: Within 1 year; upon approval by FEMA of the 2026 LHMP Project Priority (High, Medium, Low): High
Action 3. Resilient Community Systems Initiative
Hazards Addressed: Drought and Water Shortage, Earthquake, Flood: 1% and 0.2% Annual Chance, Severe Weather: Extreme Cold, Freeze, and Snow, Wildfire Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Issue/Background (Problem Statement): Plumas County faces growing threats from natural hazards— including wildfires, severe storms, flooding, drought, and public health emergencies—that jeopardize the safety and functionality of its critical infrastructure, special districts, and community-serving foundations.

These entities provide essential services such as water, sanitation, fire protection, education, and social support, yet many lack the resources, planning capacity, and physical resilience needed to withstand and recover from disasters. Without a coordinated mitigation strategy that includes these sectors, the county risks prolonged service disruptions, increased recovery costs, and greater harm to vulnerable populations.

Integrating foundations, infrastructure operators, and special districts into the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan is vital to building a more resilient, prepared, and connected community.

Project Description: The RCSI is a countywide effort to enhance the disaster resilience of foundations, critical infrastructure, and special districts (e.g., water, fire, school, and utility districts). The initiative will support hazard mitigation planning, facility upgrades, and inter-agency coordination to reduce vulnerability to wildfire, flooding, severe storms, drought, and public health emergencies.

Other Alternatives:
➢ Goal 1: Protect life, property, and critical facilities from natural hazards. ➢ Goal 2: Increase community resilience through education, outreach, and partnerships.

Plumas County 5-25
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
➢ Goal 3: Strengthen coordination among jurisdictions and service providers. ➢ Goal 4: Promote hazard mitigation planning and implementation across all sectors.

Existing Planning Mechanism(s) through which Action Will Be Implemented: This mitigation action will be implemented through existing planning mechanisms including individual hazard mitigation plans developed by special districts, strategic plans and operational protocols maintained by foundations, and findings from countywide community needs assessments. These mechanisms provide a coordinated framework for integrating mitigation actions into infrastructure upgrades, service continuity planning, and community-based resilience efforts.

Mitigation Actions:

1. Facility Resilience Audits
➢ Conduct hazard vulnerability assessments for buildings and infrastructure operated by foundations and special districts.
➢ Identify and prioritize retrofit needs (e.g., seismic upgrades, floodproofing, defensible space, backup power).

2. Continuity and Emergency Operations Planning
➢ Support development or updates of Continuity of Operations Plans (COOPs) and Emergency Operations Plans (EOPs) for special districts and nonprofits. ➢ Facilitate joint training and tabletop exercises with county OES and emergency responders.

3. Infrastructure Hardening Projects - Implement physical mitigation projects such as:
➢ Backup generators for water and wastewater facilities ➢ Resilience Hubs for communities
➢ Fire-resistant upgrades for community centers and schools ➢ Stormwater management improvements for flood-prone areas

4. Community Resilience Microgrants
➢ Provide funding to foundations and special districts for small-scale mitigation projects (e.g., emergency supply caches, air filtration systems, fire-safe landscaping).

5. Resilience Coordination Network
➢ Establish a countywide network of foundations, special districts, and emergency managers to share resources, coordinate during disasters, and advocate for mitigation funding.

6. Public Education and Outreach
➢ Partner with foundations and districts to deliver hazard awareness and preparedness education to residents, especially vulnerable populations.

Responsible Office/Partners: Plumas County Office of Emergency Services (OES)/Plumas County Public Health/Special Districts/Local foundations and Nonprofits/ Tribal organizations/Utility providers, Plumas County Disaster Recovery Coordinator
Benefits (Losses Avoided):
➢ Reduced service disruption during disasters
➢ Enhanced safety and resilience of critical infrastructure

Plumas County 5-26
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
➢ Stronger coordination between public, nonprofit, and special district sectors ➢ Increased eligibility for FEMA and state mitigation funding ➢ Improved community preparedness and recovery capacity Potential Funding: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC), Cal OES, USDA Rural Development, Private philanthropic contributions, State Water Resources Control Board (for water-related projects) Timeline: 2026–2030 (5-year implementation window)
Project Priority (H, M, L): High
Action 4. Designation of Minor County Roads and Forest Service Roads to be used as Alternate Routes around Road Closures during Wildfire and other Hazard Events. Plumas and Lassen National Forests have Funding for new Road Connections to Form Alternate Routes.

Hazards Addressed: Landslide, Mudslide, and Debris Flow, and Wildfire Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Issue/Background (Problem Statement): During and after wildfires in Plumas County alternate routes are required around State Route closures during and after wildfires. Provides additional routes around wildfire road closures. Past forest fire State Route closures have necessitated long alternate routes outside the County through Susanville, down State Route 395 and through the Sierra Valley to get from Lake Almanor to Quincy.

Project Description: Intent is to connect minor Plumas County Roads to Forest Service Roads to function as alternate routes in the event of a forest fire road closure.

Other Alternatives: Maintenance or improvements to Forest Service Roads Existing Planning Mechanism(s) through which Action Will Be Implemented: Discussions with Plumas and Lassen National Forest.

Responsible Office/Partners: Plumas County Public Works in coordination with County OES and the Plumas and Lassen National Forest
Benefits (Losses Avoided): Benefit is potentially saving lives with additional evacuation routes. Also benefit of shorter alternate route around forest fire closed roads.

Potential Funding: Plumas and Lassen National Forest have stated that funding is possible through the USFS.

Timeline: 2026 and ongoing during the length of this plan.

Project Priority (H, M, L): High

Plumas County 5-27
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Action 5. Continue Bridge Replacement Program using Federal Funding Source for Evacuation and Emergency Services Access.

Hazards Addressed: Floods: Localized Stormwater, Wildfire Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Issue/Background (Problem Statement): Plumas County owns and maintains 90 bridges with many very old and single lane bridges.

Project Description: Intent is to replace Plumas County bridges that qualify for federal funding. Bridges are required to be replaced with minimum two lane bridge.

Other Alternatives: Maintain existing bridges to ensure continued operation Existing Planning Mechanism(s) through which Action Will Be Implemented: Bridges that qualify are replaced within the County with Federal funds. Bridges are listed in the Plumas County Capital Improvement Program.

Responsible Office/Partners: Plumas County Public Works, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Benefits (Losses Avoided): Increased width for wildfire equipment and evacuation. Bridge replacement funding requires that the bridge be raised above the 100 year flood water elevation.

Potential Funding: Federal Funding through FHWA
Timeline: As soon as possible, within 1-5 years, dependent on Plumas County cash flow and funding.

Project Priority (H, M, L): High
Action 6. Continue to Reach out to the Community Countywide to Sign Up for Emergency Alerts through the Genasys Program
Hazards Addressed: Multi-Hazard (Avalanche, Climate Change, Dam Failure, Drought & Water shortage, Earthquake, Floods: 1%/0.2% annual chance, Floods: Localized Stormwater, Landslide, Mudslide, and Debris Flow, Levee Failure, Pandemic, Severe Weather: Extreme Heat, Severe Weather:

Heavy Rains and Storms, Sever Weather: High Winds and Tornadoes, Severe Weather: Winter Storms and Freeze, Tree Mortality, and Wildfire).

Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Issue/Background (Problem Statement): Plumas County currently uses the Genasys Platform for reverse 911 notifications. When the data from the previous platform was transferred to Genasys, the addresses did not transfer over. We need the community to login to the system to add their addresses. If an address is not tied to a phone number, they may not get the notification.

Plumas County 5-28
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Project Description: Increase public education for sign up and editing emergency notification addresses and phone numbers. Publications, advertising, media outreach and in person meetings.

Other Alternatives: No action
Existing Planning Mechanism(s) through which Action Will Be Implemented: Plumas County CWPP, Plumas County EOP
Responsible Office/Partners: Plumas County OES, Sheriff’s Department, Fire Departments, Fire Safe Communities
Benefits (Losses Avoided): Public education; faster notification of emergency; community enhances knowledge of being prepared
Potential Funding (Local Budgets, Grant Funds, etc.): EMPG, State 911 Timeline: Ongoing and annual within the next 5 years
Project Priority (High, Medium, Low): Medium
Action 7. Plumas County General Plan Public Health & Safety Element update to incorporate Senate Bill (SB) 379 requirements
Hazards Addressed: Wildfire, Flood, Severe Weather, and Drought and Water Shortage Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Issue/Background: The Plumas County General Plan Public Health & Safety Element update is necessary to address SB 379 state law requirements that will lead to improved countywide climate resilience.

Project Description: The County of Plumas General Plan Public Health & Safety Element update focuses on addressing climate resiliency for the unincorporated areas of the County to inform the General Plan and incorporate Senate Bill (SB) 379 requirements. A vulnerability assessment will be prepared, and adaptation strategies will be developed. Adaptation goals, policies, and implementation measures will inform an update of the General Plan and reflect recommendations developed through the collaborative process. In particular, because of its environment Plumas County is particularly susceptible to the impacts of changes in climate including:
➢ Increased incidence of wildfires
➢ Impacts of localized and regional flooding
➢ Threats due to severe weather
➢ Water shortages and drought conditions
The project will address the identified problems and/or deficiencies by first cataloging them in a vulnerability assessment. This critical task will include identifying and evaluating vulnerabilities that exist for Plumas County and its planning areas. An investigation of exposure to climate change, as well as potential impacts and the current capacity for the community to adapt to potential impacts, will be studied.

Plumas County 5-29
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
The vulnerability assessment will provide the baseline for current climate change risks that the community faces. Once the vulnerabilities are identified, adaptation strategies will be prepared. The strategies will be carefully evaluated and prioritized based on factors including impact, cost, benefits, and feasibility. An implementation plan will be prepared that includes appropriate updates to the General Plan pursuant to Senate Bill 379 while also providing a platform for local businesses and environmental groups to use recommendations to reduce climate change risks and improve adaptability.

Other Alternatives: No action
Existing Planning Mechanism(s) through which Action Will Be Implemented: Plumas County General Plan Public Health & Safety Element
Responsible Office/Partners: Plumas County Planning Department Benefits (Losses Avoided): People and property
Potential Funding: Grant to be identified and may include: California General plan grants, climate and resilience grants, California Climate Bond, University of California climate resiliency and social equity grants
Timeline: 2026/2027
Project Priority (High, Medium, Low): Medium
Action 8. Secure Interoperability Public Safety Communications and Infrastructure Hazards Addressed: Multi-Hazard (Avalanche, Climate Change, Dam Failure, Drought & Water shortage, Earthquake, Floods: 1%/0.2% annual chance, Floods: Localized Stormwater, Landslide, Mudslide, and Debris Flow, Levee Failure, Pandemic, Severe Weather: Extreme Heat, Severe Weather:

Heavy Rains and Storms, Sever Weather: High Winds and Tornadoes, Severe Weather: Winter Storms and Freeze, Tree Mortality, and Wildfire).

Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Issue/Background (Problem Statement): This action addresses the hazard of communication failures and interoperability gaps between public safety agencies during emergencies and disasters. Agencies impacted include, but are not limited to, ambulance providers, fire departments, sheriff’s offices, California Highway Patrol (CHP), Caltrans, Public Works, tribal governments, and Statewide Interoperability partners.

Communication disruptions may occur due to incompatible systems, limited coverage, infrastructure failure, or loss of power during hazard events.

Effective and interoperable public safety communications are critical for coordinated emergency response, life safety operations, and disaster recovery. Many agencies currently operate on multiple independent radio systems, repeaters, and networks, some of which are aging, lack redundancy, or have limited coverage.

Repeater sites may be vulnerable to power outages, physical damage, or access limitations during disasters.

Additionally, gaps in coverage and incompatibility among systems can hinder real-time communication

Plumas County 5-30
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
and situational awareness during multi-agency incidents. As disasters increase in frequency and severity, reliable and interoperable communications infrastructure is essential to ensure timely response and coordination across jurisdictions and disciplines.

Project Description: This mitigation action proposes to secure, enhance, and expand interoperable public safety communications infrastructure to support coordinated multi-agency response. The project includes the assessment, upgrade, and expansion of multiple repeater sites, identification and development of additional sites where coverage gaps exist, and improvements to site resilience. Project components may include:
➢ Installation and/or upgrade of radio repeaters and associated equipment ➢ Development of new communication sites to improve coverage and redundancy ➢ Provision of primary and backup power systems, including generators and battery storage ➢ Securing site access, leases, and rental agreements to ensure long-term operability ➢ Replacement of outdated or incompatible equipment
➢ Integration across numerous local, regional, tribal, and statewide networks to improve interoperability The project is intended to ensure communications remain operational before, during, and after hazard events.

Other Alternatives: Alternative approaches include maintaining existing systems without upgrades, relying on temporary or mobile communication assets during incidents, or addressing communication needs on an agency-by-agency basis. These alternatives are less effective because they do not provide long-term resilience, redundancy, or consistent interoperability and may result in continued communication failures during major incidents.

Existing Planning Mechanism(s) through which Action Will Be Implemented: This action supports and aligns existing planning efforts, including:
➢ Local and regional Hazard Mitigation Plans
➢ Emergency Operations Plans (EOPs)
➢ California Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee (CalSIEC) guidelines ➢ Regional Communications Interoperability Plans
➢ Tribal emergency management and communications planning efforts Responsible Office/Partners:
➢ Plumas County Office of Emergency Services
➢ Plumas County Sheriff’s Office
➢ California Highway Patrol
➢ EMS, Hospitals, Tribal
➢ Caltrans, Public Works
Benefits (Losses Avoided):
➢ Improved interoperability and coordination among public safety agencies ➢ Increased reliability and redundancy of communications during disasters ➢ Reduced response times and improved situational awareness

Plumas County 5-31
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
➢ Enhanced resilience of critical communications infrastructure ➢ Increased safety for emergency responders and the public ➢ Long-term cost savings by reducing system failures and emergency workarounds Potential Funding (Local Budgets, Grant Funds, etc.): Potential funding for this hazard mitigation action may include a combination of federal, state, regional, and local funding sources. Eligible and applicable programs may include, but are not limited to:
➢ FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Programs, including the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC), and Pre-Disaster Mitigation funding
➢ U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grant programs supporting emergency communications and interoperability
➢ State of California public safety and emergency communications grants, including funding administered through the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) ➢ California Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee (CalSIEC) or related interoperability initiatives
➢ Transportation-related funding sources for coordination with Caltrans and transportation infrastructure ➢ Tribal homeland security and emergency management grant programs, where applicable ➢ Local government general funds, capital improvement funds, or cost-sharing agreements ➢ Public-private partnerships and interagency cost-sharing for shared sites, equipment, and infrastructure Funding sources may be leveraged individually or in combination to support planning, design, construction, equipment acquisition, site development, power and backup systems, and long-term maintenance of interoperable communications infrastructure.

Timeline: Within 1-5 years and ongoing
Project Priority (High, Medium, Low): High
Action 9. Prepare Emergency Food Access Plan as a Complement to the Plumas County EOP Annex B: Mass Care & Shelter
Hazards Addressed: Multi-Hazard (Avalanche, Climate Change, Dam Failure, Drought & Water shortage, Earthquake, Floods: 1%/0.2% annual chance, Floods: Localized Stormwater, Landslide, Mudslide, and Debris Flow, Levee Failure, Pandemic, Severe Weather: Extreme Heat, Severe Weather:

Heavy Rains and Storms, Sever Weather: High Winds and Tornadoes, Severe Weather: Winter Storms and Freeze, Tree Mortality, and Wildfire).

Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Issue/Background: During times where hazards occur, access to food may be limited. The Camp Fire in Paradise (nearby Butte County), which took 85 lives, left survivors with little to no access to emergency food supplies due to the absence of an Emergency Food Access plan.

Project Description: The Food Council has identified the need for such a plan as well as support and assistance in formulating such a plan. This project will seek to have food access in the event of a natural hazard. The Lost Sierra Food Project is partnering with The Dawn Institute to better understand food

Plumas County 5-32
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
production in a four-county region and to strengthen local markets, agriculture infrastructure, and food security.

Other Alternatives: No action.

Existing Planning Mechanism(s) through which Action Will Be Implemented: Partnership identified within the EOP
Responsible Office/Partners: Plumas County OES
Cost Estimate: Putting the Plan together will have costs mostly in staff time and local budgets.

Benefits (Losses Avoided): This will reduce risk to citizens who may be evacuated during times of hazard events.

Potential Funding: Existing County budgets (general fund). California EMPG Timeline: Within 5 years.

Project Priority (High, Medium, Low): Medium

Plumas County 5-33
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Agricultural Hazard Actions
Action 10. Wildlife Conflict Mitigation Tools and Equipment Hazards Addressed: Agricultural Hazards: Human Wildlife conflicts Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Issue/Background (Problem Statement): Due to current policies and regulations, the predator population in Plumas County has increased dramatically in the last decade. This is resulting in many hazardous interactions with wildlife and economic loss.

Project Description: Provide residents with wildlife conflict mitigation equipment and nonlethal tools such as electric fencing, fladry, fox lights, drones, range riders, etc.

Other Alternatives: None
Existing Planning Mechanism(s) through which Action Will Be Implemented: Sierra County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, Plumas County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Responsible Office/Partners: Plumas-Sierra Department of Agriculture/ Weights and Measures, UC ANR Cooperative Extension, Resource Conservation Districts, and Agricultural Associations.

Benefits (Losses Avoided): Increased safety for wildlife, a lowering of agricultural predator losses in Plumas County, increase in public safety, and lower economic losses.

Potential Funding (Local Budgets, Grant Funds, etc.): Grant funding will be sought through nongovernment organizations, National Resource Conservation Districts, and government entities.

Timeline: Ongoing and annually within the next one to five years Project Priority (High, Medium, Low): High
Action 11. Invasive Weed Control and Eradication
Hazards Addressed: Agricultural Hazards: Noxious/ invasive weeds, fire mitigation Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Issue/Background (Problem Statement): Due to the movement of livestock, people, vehicles and trains, Plumas County has a high potential for infestations of noxious/invasive weeds. The damage caused by wildfires and road contraction provides fertile, disturbed soil that is readily invaded by these pests. These pests crowd out native vegetation, damage crop land, and provide less forage for wildlife and livestock.

Some invasive weeds such as Cheat Grass and Scotch Broom are known to raise the fire danger in areas where it occurs.

Plumas County 5-34
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Project Description: To secure funding for biological, mechanical, and chemical removal of invasive/ noxious weeds.

Other Alternatives: None
Existing Planning Mechanism(s) through which Action Will Be Implemented: Plumas County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, Plumas-Sierra Weed Management Area Group Responsible Office/Partners: Plumas County Ag Commissioner (as part of the Plumas-Sierra Department of Agriculture/ Weights and Measures), UC ANR Cooperative Extension Livestock and Natural Resource Advisor, Resource Conservation Districts, and United States Forest Service.

Benefits (Losses Avoided): Improvement in native plant populations, increase in forage and crop production, and lowering of wildfire risk.

Potential Funding (Local Budgets, Grant Funds, etc.): Grant funding will be sought through nongovernment organizations, National Resource Conservation Districts, and government entities like the USDA.

Timeline: Ongoing and annually within the next 1-5 years Project Priority (High, Medium, Low): High
Action 12. Wildlife Conflict Mitigation Tools
Hazards Addressed: Agricultural Hazards: Human Wildlife conflicts Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Issue/Background (Problem Statement): Due to current policies and regulations, the predator population in Plumas County has increased dramatically in the last decade. This is resulting in many hazardous interactions with wildlife and economic loss.

Project Description: Provide residents with wildlife conflict mitigation techniques and nonlethal tools such as electric fencing, fladry, fox lights, range riders, etc.

Other Alternatives: None
Existing Planning Mechanism(s) through which Action Will Be Implemented: Sierra County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, Plumas County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Responsible Office/Partners: Plumas County Ag Commissioner (as part of the Plumas-Sierra Department of Agriculture/ Weights and Measures), UC ANR Cooperative Extension Livestock and Natural Resource Advisor, Resource Conservation Districts, and Agricultural Associations.

Benefits (Losses Avoided): Increased safety for wildlife, a lowering of agricultural predator losses in Plumas County, increase in public safety, and lower economic losses.

Plumas County 5-35
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Potential Funding (Local Budgets, Grant Funds, etc.): Grant funding will be sought through nongovernment organizations, National Resource Conservation districts, and government entities like the USDA.

Timeline: Ongoing and annually within the next one to five years Project Priority (High, Medium, Low): High

Plumas County 5-36
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Climate Change Actions
Action 13. Develop a Climate Action Plan
Hazards Addressed: Climate Change
Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Issue/Background: Governor Schwarzenegger issued Executive Order S-3-05 in June 2005, setting GHG emission targets for the State to meet, starting with a reduction to 2000 GHG emission levels by 2010, 10% below 1990 levels by 2020 and concluding with a reduction to 80% below 1990 numbers by 2050. In 2006, Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB 32, which established the first set of limits on GHG emissions for the state of California and put into place the regulatory framework needed to reach those targets. AB 32 set the 10% below 1990 GHG emissions level as a target to be achieved by 2020. In order to meet this goal, the California Air Resources Board has developed GHG emissions reporting procedures. In 2008, Governor Schwarzenegger signed SB 375, which sets out planning concepts intended to reduce vehicle travel by promoting more compact development; ideas which are incorporated in this General Plan. A goal of SB 375 is to help curb GHG emissions. Taken together, both S-3-05 and AB 32 set the emission targets that Plumas County will eventually be required to attain. While explicit thresholds and requirements have yet to be developed, various state agencies have begun to examine proposed land use plans and specific projects for their potential GHG impacts. Three important steps in helping to reduce potential climate change impacts are the creation of an inventory of existing GHGs and a plan to reduce these emissions.

Project Description: Prepare a Climate Action Plan that identifies strategies for increasing energy efficiency, carbon sequestration, GHG emissions reductions, and land use and transportation strategies that are consistent with appropriate climate change regulations (i.e., State of California’s Global Warming Solution Act). Step 1 – GHG inventory. Step 2 – GHG Reduction Plan. Step 3 – Develop a Strategy for Carbon Sequestration.

Other Alternatives: No action
Existing Planning Mechanism(s) through which Action Will Be Implemented: Plumas County General Plan Conservation and Open Space (COS) Element, 7.10.2 Climate Action Plan Responsible Office/Partners: Plumas County Planning Department Benefits (Losses Avoided): Reduced risk to people and property from climate change.

Potential Funding: County staff time, California Climate Bond monies, University of California climate resiliency and social equity grants
Timeline: 2028-2029
Project Priority (H, M, L): Medium

Plumas County 5-37
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Dam Failure Actions
Action 14. Evaluate Options for Obtaining 100-year Level of Certification for the Diversion Dam (East and West Chester Levees)
Hazards Addressed: Flood
Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Issue/Background: FEMA flood maps show the 100-year floodplain within the East and West Chester Levees.

Project Description: Research options for certifying levees to FEMA standards.

Other Alternatives: No action
Existing Planning Mechanism(s) through which Action Will Be Implemented: No existing planning mechanism currently exists.

Responsible Office/Partners: Plumas County Planning Department and Public Works Department Benefits (Losses Avoided): People and property protection Potential Funding: County staff time, FEMA HMGP, BRIC grants for implementation Timeline: 2028
Project Priority (H, M, L): Medium

Plumas County 5-38
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Drought and Water Shortage Actions
Action 15. County Wide Drought Resilience Plan
Hazards Addressed: Drought
Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Issue/Background: Plumas County is in need of a County Wide Drought Resilience Plan. Drought plays a major role in the County.

Project Description: Develop County Wide Drought Resilience Plan.

Other Alternatives: No action.

Existing Planning Mechanism(s) through which Action Will Be Implemented: This action creates a planning mechanism.

Responsible Office/Partners: Plumas County Flood Control, OES and Environmental Health Benefits (Losses Avoided): Drought resilience plan will be in place for potential short- or long-term drought. This plan will be implemented by the County Drought Task Force as needed.

Potential Funding: $125,000 from DWR for Direct Technical Assistance to comply with SB 552 Timeline: Currently being drafted for approval; Implement in the next 1-3 years Project Priority (H, M, L): High

Plumas County 5-39
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Earthquake Actions
Action 16. Hospital Seismic Compliance (SB-1953)
Hazards Addressed: Earthquake
Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Issue/Background (Problem Statement): California instituted a series of seismic compliance standards in 1994 following the catastrophic Northridge Earthquake. The state instituted a series of milestones over the years, ultimately leading up to the most stringent 2030 compliance standards.

Project Description: Retrofit existing hospital structure to improve its ability to withstand a major earthquake event. Standard requires all hospitals to maintain operations (uninterrupted) during a localized

8.0 earthquake by 2030. Work includes bracing of structure, equipment, and installation of independent utility systems (water/sewage/electricity).

Other Alternatives: N/A
Existing Planning Mechanism(s) through which Action Will Be Implemented: PDH is currently working with HCAI and its architects/engineers towards seismic compliance and is on track to adhere to the mandated milestones/timelines.

Responsible Office/Partners: Plumas County Building Department, HCAI Benefits (Losses Avoided): Prevention of loss of acute care hospital services in a seismic event.

Potential Funding (Local Budgets, Grant Funds, etc.): Received a grant from HCAI’s Small and Rural Hospital Relief program for approximately $2.8M to meet structural seismic compliance.

Timeline: Ongoing-January 1, 2030
Project Priority (High, Medium, Low): High

Plumas County 5-40
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Floods: 1%/0.2% Annual Chance, Floods: Localized Flooding, Landslide, Mudslide and Debris Flow, Severe Weather Heavy Rains and Storms Actions Action 17. Evaluate and implement Wolf Creek Channel Stabilization Projects through Greenville and Indian Valley Areas
Hazards Addressed: Severe Weather: Heavy Rains and Storms, Landslide, Mudslide, and Debris Flow Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Issue/Background (Problem Statement): Problems with channel bank stabilization over the years.

Project Description: Intent is to provide erosion protection by means of rip rap or other mitigation methods to prevent stream bank erosion and protect surrounding development.

Other Alternatives: None
Existing Planning Mechanism(s) through which Action Will Be Implemented: Plumas Corp has studies along with Plumas National Forest
Responsible Office/Partners: Plumas County Public Works Benefits (Losses Avoided): Protection of Wolf Creek Channel protects the surrounding areas from flooding during high water flows.

Potential Funding: State (CA DWR and State Water Board) and federal grants (like FEMA HMA funding) Timeline: Within 1-5 years; As soon as possible depending on funding availability Project Priority (H, M, L): High
Action 18. Identify and Implement Bank Stabilization Projects.

Hazards Addressed: Landslide, Mudslide, and Debris Flow, Severe Weather: Heavy Rains and Storms Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Issue/Background (Problem Statement): Plumas County has bank stabilization problems near multiple bridges as follows: Chandler Road Bridge, North Valley Bridge, Mill Creek Erosion, Wapaunsie Creek Erosion, and Stampfli Lane Bridge Erosion. Gravel buildup on Smith Creek Erosion needs to be removed to prevent the creek from overflowing Johnsville-Graeagle bridge.

Project Description: Intent is to provide erosion protection by means of rip rap upstream and downstream of bridges to reduce turbidity of the stream from erosion and remove gravel buildup on Smith Creek.

Other Alternatives: None

Plumas County 5-41
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Existing Planning Mechanism(s) through which Action Will Be Implemented: Upper Feather River IRWM and included in the Capital Improvement Program
Responsible Office/Partners: Plumas County Public Works Benefits (Losses Avoided): Prevent damage to bridge abutments during high water events.

Potential Funding: IRWM Grant Funding
Timeline: 1-5 years; As soon as funding becomes available Project Priority (H, M, L): High
Action 19. Develop a Countywide Drainage Master Plan
Hazards Addressed: Floods: Localized Stormwater, Severe Weather: Heavy Rains and Storms Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Issue/Background (Problem Statement): The drainages across Plumas County have been added and modified over the past 150 to 200 years without any overall plan for moving high flows through multiple developed towns.

Project Description: Intent is to complete a comprehensive drainage master plan for Plumas County. To better plan for future, record storm water events, as well as the accommodations of new, proposed site development, in the County requires a Drainage Hydraulic Study for drainage basins that exist. Drainage Master Plan should focus on higher population density towns within the County where drainage is more complex, particularly in Quincy/East Quincy, Chester, and Greenville.

Other Alternatives: None
Existing Planning Mechanism(s) through which Action Will Be Implemented: The Drainage Master Plan is listed in the Plumas County Capital Improvement Program.

Responsible Office/Partners: County Public Works Department Benefits (Losses Avoided): Increase efficiency of the Countywide drainage to prevent or minimize flooding during a record storm water event.

Potential Funding: HMA Grant Funding, Local Budgets (general fund, special revenue funds, CIP funding)
Timeline: 2026-2031
Project Priority (H, M, L): High

Plumas County 5-42
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Action 20. FEMA Mapping Update
Hazards Addressed: Floods: 1%/0.2% annual chance, Severe Weather: Heavy Rains and Storms Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Issue/Background (Problem Statement): FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) maps have not been updated since March 2, 2005
Project Description: There are three primary methods by which a community's flood hazard maps are updated. The first is through a FEMA-initiated study/mapping project and subsequent revision of the effective National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) flood maps. The second method is through a community-initiated revision under Part 65 of the NFIP regulations. The third is through a study/mapping project undertaken by a participant in the FEMA Cooperating Technical Partners (CTP) Program.

Other Alternatives: Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) is option for specific parcel revisions Existing Planning Mechanism(s) through which Action Will Be Implemented: None Responsible Office/Partners: Plumas County Public Works / Engineering Benefits (Losses Avoided): FEMA mapping update would primarily revise maps for any changes that have occurred in the past 15 years, increasing accuracy for development.

Potential Funding: Federal Grants such as HMGP or BRIC; Local Budgets (general fund, special revenue funds, CIP funding)
Timeline: 2026-2031
Project Priority (H, M, L): High
Action 21. Evaluate Options to Repair and Maintain Levee Crown for Emergency Access Vehicles (Gates, Crown Repair, Vegetation Maintenance, etc.)
Hazards Addressed: Floods: 1%/0.2% annual chance, Levee Failure Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Issue/Background (Problem Statement): Plumas County has many levees that protect residences from flood waters and are owned by individual levee owners, CSD’s and Central Valley Flood Control in the case of the Chester Diversion Dam. Plumas County Flood Control is tasked with maintenance responsibility for the Chester Diversion Dam and Levee system only. Other levees within the County are privately owned and maintained.

Project Description: Intent is to evaluate options to repair and maintain levees including emergency access vehicles, gates, crown repair and vegetation maintenance. Many levees are privately owned and maintained.

Plumas County 5-43
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Other Alternatives: None
Existing Planning Mechanism(s) through which Action Will Be Implemented: None Responsible Office/Partners: Plumas County Flood Control and Water Conservation District Benefits (Losses Avoided): Maintain levees to provide access for emergency vehicle and remove vegetation to allow levee inspection and repair during high water flows.

Potential Funding: DWR Flood Maintenance Assistance Program Timeline: As soon as possible once funding becomes available, 1-5 years covered by this plan Project Priority (H, M, L): High
Action 22. County Wide Stormwater Drainage and Grading Ordinance.

Hazards Addressed: Floods: Localized Stormwater
Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Issue/Background (Problem Statement): Plumas County is in need of a County Wide Stormwater Drainage and Grading Ordinance.

Project Description: Develop County Wide Stormwater Drainage and Grading Ordinance to standardize development related to stormwater and grading issues.

Other Alternatives: None
Existing Planning Mechanism(s) through which Action Will Be Implemented: None Responsible Office/Partners: Plumas County Public Works, Building and Planning Benefits (Losses Avoided): With standardized procedure for stormwater drainage and grading, Countywide drainage will be improved.

Potential Funding: Current funding in place; Local Budgets (general fund, special revenue funds, CIP funding)
Timeline: Within 1 year
Project Priority (H, M, L): High
Action 23. Ongoing Implementation of Stream Clearing and Culvert Maintenance Programs Hazards Addressed: Floods: Localized Stormwater
Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Plumas County 5-44
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Issue/Background (Problem Statement): Plumas County has many stream channels that require vegetation management and clearing. Public Works maintains storm drainage facilities and water crossing at County Roads extending out to the County right-of-way. Caltrans maintains State Highways in a similar manner. In most cases, responsibility of channel vegetation management beyond the roadway right-of-way falls on adjacent to stream property owners.

Project Description: Plumas County Public Works performs regular routine maintenance of storm drainage facilities and water crossings at approximately 168 locations through the County. Privately owned stream channels require property owner’s permission to conduct vegetation management in addition to a funding source.

Other Alternatives: None
Existing Planning Mechanism(s) through which Action Will Be Implemented: Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreement for County-Wide Routine Maintenance Program for Plumas County was completed in 2022. This document streamlines the process of obtaining permits for routine maintenance of storm drainage facilities and water crossings.

Responsible Office/Partners: County Public Works Engineering Department Benefits (Losses Avoided): Regular vegetation management and stream clearing will reduce the risk of flooding by improving the efficiency of the streams to drain heavy flows.

Potential Funding: State (CA DWR and State Water Board) and Federal grants (FEMA HMA funding); Local Budgets (County General Fund, special revenue funds, CIP funding) Timeline: 1-5 years; As soon as possible, depending on funding availability Project Priority (H, M, L): High
Action 24. Review and Update, as Needed, Title 8 (Building Regulations), Chapter 17 (Flood) of the Plumas County Code re: Floodplain Ordinance and Applicable Title 9 (Planning and Zoning) Sections
Hazards Addressed: Flood
Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Issue/Background: The original comprehensive flood plain ordinance was adopted in 1998 and was based on the Model Flood Plain ordinance produced by the Department of Water Resources (DWR). At the last audit conducted by DWR and FEMA in 2011 it was recommended that the ordinance be updated to the latest state/federal Model Flood Plain ordinance.

Project Description: Update Flood Plain Ordinance to the latest December 2006 DWR CA Model Flood Plain Ordinance. Coordinate with Public Works. Conduct Planning Commission workshops. Refer to General Plan policies and implementation measures:

Plumas County 5-45
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
➢ PHS 6.4.1 Coordination with Federal Emergency Management Agency, United States Army Corps of Engineers and Department of Water Resources Division of Flood Management ➢ PHS 6.4.2 Development in Floodways and Dam Inundation Areas ➢ PHS 6.4.4 Floodplain Development Restrictions
➢ PHS 6.4.7 Limit Surface Runoff
➢ PHS Implementation Measures 1, 10, 20
➢ COS 7.2.4 Stream Corridor Development
➢ W 9.7.2 Downstream Peak Flows
Other Alternatives: No action.

Existing Planning Mechanism(s) through which Action Will Be Implemented: Plumas County Code, Title 8 (Building Regulations), Chapter 17 (Flood) and Plumas County General Plan Responsible Office/Partners: Plumas County Planning Department and Public Works Department Benefits (Losses Avoided): People and property protection Potential Funding: County Staff time
Timeline: 2026/2027
Project Priority (H, M, L): Medium

Plumas County 5-46
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Hazardous Materials Transport Actions
Action 25. Hazardous Material Transport Mitigation
Hazards Addressed: Hazardous Material Transport
Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9
Issue/Background (Problem Statement): This action addresses the hazard posed by hazardous materials incidents, including releases resulting from transportation accidents, fixed facilities, or illegal dumping. A primary concern is the lack of adequately trained personnel and specialized equipment to safely and effectively respond to hazardous materials incidents. Of particular risk is the railroad corridor that transports hazardous materials throughout Plumas County, creating potential exposure to responders, the public, and the environment.

Hazardous materials are routinely transported through Plumas County by rail and roadway, increasing the risk of accidental releases due to derailments, vehicle collisions, or infrastructure failure. Currently, the County lacks a dedicated, fully trained hazardous materials response team, and available response capabilities are limited. Without sufficient training and equipment, initial responders may be exposed to dangerous substances, response actions may be delayed, and incidents may escalate, resulting in greater impacts to public health, critical infrastructure, and natural resources. Strengthening local hazardous materials response capabilities is essential to reducing risk and improving preparedness.

Project Description: This mitigation action proposes the development and sustainment of a Plumas County Hazardous Materials Response Team, supported by comprehensive training and acquisition of specialized equipment. The project includes:
➢ Providing hazardous materials training for fire, law enforcement, emergency medical services, and other designated responders
➢ Establishing a countywide hazardous materials response team capable of supporting multi-agency incidents
➢ Purchasing and maintaining hazardous materials response equipment, including personal protective equipment (PPE), detection and monitoring devices, containment and decontamination supplies, and response vehicles or trailers
➢ Conducting multi-agency exercises and drills to improve coordination and operational readiness ➢ Developing or updating response protocols and standard operating procedures This action will enhance the County’s ability to safely and effectively respond to hazardous materials incidents along rail lines, roadways, and at fixed facilities Other Alternatives: Alternative approaches include relying solely on mutual aid from neighboring jurisdictions or state and federal response teams, or maintaining current minimal training and equipment levels. These alternatives may result in delayed response times, limited on-scene capability, and increased risk to responders and the public, particularly in remote areas of the county.

Existing Planning Mechanism(s) through which Action Will Be Implemented: This action supports and aligns with existing planning mechanisms, including:

Plumas County 5-47
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
➢ Plumas County Emergency Operations Plan (EOP)
➢ Plumas County Hazardous Material Plan
➢ Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
➢ California Accidental Release Prevention (CalARP) Program ➢ State and regional mutual aid agreements
➢ Railroad emergency response and hazardous materials reporting requirements ➢ Fire and law enforcement training standards and emergency response guidelines Responsible Office/Partners: Plumas County Office of Emergency Services, Plumas County Environmental Health, local responders
Benefits (Losses Avoided):
➢ Increased availability of trained hazardous materials responders within Plumas County ➢ Faster and safer response to hazardous materials incidents ➢ Reduced risk to emergency responders, the public, and the environment ➢ Improved coordination among local, regional, and state response agencies ➢ Enhanced preparedness for rail-related hazardous materials incidents ➢ Long-term cost savings through reduced incident escalation and environmental damage Potential Funding (Local Budgets, Grant Funds, etc.): Potential funding for this hazard mitigation action may include a combination of federal, state, regional, and local funding sources. Applicable programs may include, but are not limited to:
➢ FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Programs, including the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) ➢ U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grants supporting hazardous materials preparedness and response
➢ FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) for training and specialized hazardous materials equipment
➢ California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) grants for emergency preparedness, response training, and hazardous materials programs
➢ California Accidental Release Prevention (CalARP) Program and related state safety initiatives ➢ Railroad or transportation-related funding and cost-sharing programs, where applicable ➢ Local government general funds, special districts, or capital improvement funds ➢ Mutual aid cost-sharing agreements and regional partnerships Funding sources may be leveraged individually or in combination to support hazardous materials training, equipment acquisition, team development, exercises, and long-term sustainment of response capabilities.

Timeline: 2026-2031
Project Priority (High, Medium, Low): High

Plumas County 5-48
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Landslide, Mudslide, and Debris Flow Actions
Action 26. Identify and Implement Projects to Address Areas of Landslides Affecting Roadway and Railroad
Hazards Addressed: Floods: Localized Stormwater, Landslide, Mudslide, and Debris Flow, Severe Weather: Heavy Rains and Storms
Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Issue/Background (Problem Statement): During heavy rains, County Roadways have historically experienced landslides covering the roadways and slip outs, where the roadway is eroded and undermined on the downslope side. The typical problem for slope stability tends to be lack of extent of right-of-way.

The problem of slip outs tends to be waterways shifting during heavy flows and eroding banks below the roadway.

Project Description: Potential areas of landslides can be identified from past problems, but other factors like changing stream location and forest fires affect slope stability. These areas will be identified and prioritized based on potential for damage. Locations that pose a high risk for slides can potentially be stabilized prior to landslides occurring.

Other Alternatives: For reoccurring slides, retaining walls provide another option Existing Planning Mechanism(s) through which Action Will Be Implemented: None Responsible Office/Partners: Public Works Engineering Department Benefits (Losses Avoided): Increase efficiency of the Countywide drainage to prevent or minimize flooding during a record storm water event.

Potential Funding: HMA Grant Funding; Local Budgets (general fund, special revenue funds, CIP funding)
Timeline: 2026-2031
Project Priority (H, M, L): High

Plumas County 5-49
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Severe Weather: Extreme Temperature (Extreme Heat and Extreme Cold, Freeze, and Snow (w/avalanche)) Actions
Action 27. Back Up Power Redundancy Project – Resilient and Continued Outpatient Medical Services at Lake Almanor Clinic, and Continued Operation of a Cooling/Warming Station for the General Public during Electrical Power Disruptions as Needed.

Hazards Addressed: Earthquake, Flood: 1% and 0.2% Annual Chance, Severe Weather: Extreme Cold, Freeze, and Snow, Severe Weather: Extreme Heat, Wildfire Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Issue/Background (Problem Statement): Electrical Power Outage resulting in a loss of operation of the Lake Almanor Clinic Services and Building at 199 Reynolds Road, Chester CA 96020. Electrical outages may be caused by caused by electrical generation and distribution equipment failure, natural disasters such as a blizzard, floods, earthquake, wildfire, Public Safety Power Shut offs, etc., or civil unrest. . The current 200 KW emergency generator and associated equipment providing standby emergency power to the Lake Almanor Clinic building are now 19 years old, installed in November of 2006, and have a few thousand hours of use. Although the equipment is still operating as it should, and regular maintenance and testing is being completed the age of the equipment is becoming concerning, and the risk of failure of the equipment during a power outage is rising. It is the intention of Seneca Healthcare District to minimize the risk of losing the ability to operate the Lake Almanor Clinic in the event of an electrical power failure.

Project Description: Remove and replace the 200KW standby emergency generator with weather enclosure and attached diesel fuel belly tank and remove and replace the Automatic Transfer Switches that allow the transfer from Normal electric power to emergency generator power.

Other Alternatives: Leave current equipment in place and wait till failure occurs.

Existing Planning Mechanism(s) through which Action Will Be Implemented: Seneca Healthcare District Strategic Planning Committee, Emergency Management Planning, Seneca Healthcare Board of Directors and Administration.

Responsible Office/Partners: Brady Haynes, COO Seneca Healthcare District and Jerri Nielsen, President of Seneca Board of Directors; in coordination with PCOES.

Benefits (Losses Avoided): Benefits – Continued uninterrupted ou5tpatient healthcare for the community, operation of a cooling or warming shelter as needed, and provides the hospital a secondary site to conduct patient care in the event of a Disaster, Pandemic, or Mass Casualty Incident. The ability to access medical care is priceless and the financial losses to Seneca Healthcare District have a large impact on an already struggling rural healthcare facility.

Potential Funding: Seneca Healthcare, future Capital Equipment Budgets, Philanthropy. FEMA HMGP, No grants have been investigated for this expense at this time.

Timeline: 2 – 3 years in the future. 2027-2029

Plumas County 5-50
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Project Priority (High, Medium, Low): Project Priority is Medium to Low at this time as current construction of the Lake Almanor Community Hospital is in progress and takes priority.

Plumas County 5-51
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Wildfire, Drought, Severe Weather: Extreme Heat, Severe Weather: High Winds and Tornadoes Actions
Action 28. Promote and Implement Compliant Street/Address Reflective Signage for Public and Private Roads and Structures
Hazards Addressed: Wildfire
Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Issue/Background (Problem Statement): Compliant Street/Address reflective signage for public and private roads and structures is critical during wildfires for first responders, evacuation routes, and alternate evacuation routes. Public Resources Code (PRC) 4290 regulations require, “Standards for signs identifying streets, roads, and buildings.”
Project Description: Plumas County Public Works has in house reflective sign making capability for street and address signage. Street signs for Plumas County Roads are updated on an as needed basis. Street signs for private roads and address signs can be purchased from Public Works at cost. Street signs can also be produced for Forest Service Roads for evacuation routes, but a funding source would need to be established.

Other Alternatives: Private companies can also produce reflective street and address signs.

Existing Planning Mechanism(s) through which Action Will Be Implemented: None Responsible Office/Partners: Public Works Engineering Department Benefits (Losses Avoided): Proper reflective signage and street signs help first responders efficiently respond.

Potential Funding: HMGP grants, HMA funding
Timeline: 2026 and ongoing throughout the duration of this plan.

Project Priority (H, M, L): Medium
Action 29. Ingress/Egress Road Projects to Widen and Improve Roads for Evacuation and Emergency Services Access
Hazards Addressed: Wildfires, Severe Weather: High Winds and Tornadoes Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Issue/Background (Problem Statement): There are many County, Private and Forest Service Roads within Plums County that do not have a secondary evacuation route and are not wide enough for two-way traffic. This combination creates a hazard for emergency services access during wildfire evacuation and other evacuations, while residents are evacuating. This situation is compounded when a one-lane bridge must be crossed on the one lane road. This is also a problem on private and Forest Service Roads.

Plumas County 5-52
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Project Description: Intent is to survey County Roads in Plumas County that have inadequate width for two-way traffic and only one evacuation route. Widen roads to two-way roads when funding source is determined. It would be beneficial for Private Roads and Forest Service Roads with insufficient width for two-way traffic to be surveyed by other agencies.

Other Alternatives: Develop second evacuation route
Existing Planning Mechanism(s) through which Action Will Be Implemented: None Responsible Office/Partners: Public Works Department, GIS Department.

Benefits (Losses Avoided): Efficient evacuation of residents while allowing emergency services access.

Potential Funding: CalFire Grants
Timeline: 1-5 years; As soon as possible, depending on funding Project Priority (H, M, L): High
Action 30. Air Quality Impacts During Wildfire Events
Hazards Addressed: Air Quality - Smoke impacts from wildfires Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Issue/Background (Problem Statement): The growing impact from wildfires in California is undeniable.

Historic forest management practices along with climate change have led to mega-fires and year-round fire seasons impacting communities statewide. Wildfire smoke impacts populations living hundreds of miles away and often lasts for days and weeks at a time. Poor air quality poses a health risk to all individuals.

Children, adolescents, pregnant women, the elderly, the immunocompromised and those with pre-existing chronic diseases and lung conditions are especially vulnerable to the health impacts of poor air quality events. Wildfire smoke creates and often exacerbates poor air quality situations. One of the most dangerous components that exist in wildfire smoke is particulate matter (PM). PM particles are so fine that they are inhaled deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream. Plumas County has been impacted by surrounding wildfires and even out of state ones in the last five years. The smoke lingers low to the ground for multiple days making it extremely unhealthy to conduct business, school and sport activities. Many of the homes, buildings, office spaces, schools, and shopping centers have very old HVAC systems leaving them vulnerable to smoke infiltrating indoors.

Project Description: Provide the community with clean air spaces during wildfire smoke. Mitigations will include:
➢ Increased public outreach on smoke impacts and how people can protect themselves during smoke events, including the issuing of health advisories, factsheets on staying indoors and keeping doors and windows closed, limiting the amount of time spent outdoors depending on the air quality and what time of day is best to go outside. Additional information is shared via our website and Facebook pages on the air quality and measures to protect against smoke impacts.

Plumas County 5-53
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
➢ What the air quality is in the area based on currently deployed monitoring equipment. Additional indoor monitors can be deployed in areas that act as clean air shelters. ➢ Air Purifiers: Vary in sizes that can easily be customized to the need of the person. For homes, small offices, and portable classrooms, these units are very quiet and highly efficient at circulating clean air. ➢ Filters: Filters can be expensive to swap out during wildfire smoke events because of how frequently it has to be done. This is problematic because consumers will tend to go with the cheapest available option, which in most cases doesn’t really do much for their air. If assistance to purchase filters is available this would be extremely helpful and beneficial. ➢ Scrubbers: Although very loud, commercial scrubbers get the job done in a larger/high-capacity room.

Provide schools and large-scale businesses/offices with an inventory of scrubbers that could be deployed when needed.
➢ There are many “Clean Air Centers” in Plumas County that have air purifiers and replacement filters ready for when there is a smoke event. The location of clean air shelters within Plumas County for the public to retreat to in order to not be in poor air quality conditions. Locations in Plumas County include, the libraries, Plumas Fairgrounds, and several churches. Depending on where the fire is and what communities are being impacted, these clean air shelter locations will be activated. ➢ Indoor Air Monitors: PurpleAir now offers indoor monitors that are easy to read just by looking at the color on the bottom rim. These use the Air Quality Index color guide. Indoor monitors will be provided when a clean air shelter is activated.
➢ Air Purifiers: Vary in sizes that can easily be customized to the need of the person. For homes, small offices
➢ Air quality information is continuously available on our website at myairdistrict.com ➢ Additional outdoor monitors will be deployed depending on conditions.

Other Alternatives: Brochures, handbooks, guides, and handouts.

Existing Planning Mechanism(s) through which Action Will Be Implemented: Clean air shelters are established throughout Plumas county and are activated when air quality levels reach Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.
➢ Health Advisories are issued with information on how to protect oneself from the impacts of wildfire smoke. Health Advisories are issued when air quality levels reach Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. ➢ Public outreach during smoke events on air quality conditions and how the community can protect themselves.
➢ A mitigation effort to prevent wildfires is our Green Waste program through the Targeted Airshed Grant program in Portola through the Green Waste Vouchers and Neighborhood Bin Program. These programs provide residents the ability to dispose their green waste at our local transfer station or in bins given to residents based on approval of an application. Free green waste disposal occurs during the months of June and October.

Responsible Office/Partners: Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District along with the Office of Emergency Services and the Public Health Department
Benefits (Losses Avoided): Protect human health from adverse air quality.

Potential Funding (Local Budgets, Grant Funds, etc.): CARB's Community Air Protection Program (CAPP), Local Air District initiatives, others to be identified.

Timeline: Within 1 to 3 years

Plumas County 5-54
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Project Priority (High, Medium, Low): High priority during wildfire season (typically June through October)
Action 31. Plumas County Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resources Resilience Hazards Addressed: Climate Change, Drought, Tree Mortality Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Issue/Background: Well documented climate change trends and projections indicate that Plumas County communities and landscapes will continue to be impacted by climate driven disturbances such as drought, tree mortality and wildfire. Because Plumas county communities and economies are inherently linked to agriculture, forest health, and natural resources there is a need for awareness, capacity building, and technical assistance to promote and implement best management practices to be more resistant and resilient to these disturbances.

Plumas County experienced extreme drought conditions during the 2012-2016 statewide drought. This resulted in:
➢ Diminished water supply for domestic, agriculture, and forestry use: Agricultural wells were running dry; reduced water supply for surface water irrigation of pasture and hay, lack of sufficient water in the creeks limited water drafting sites for road maintenance and inhibited/delayed forest management activities
➢ Lack of rangeland forage for both wildlife and livestock production: this results in reductions of agricultural and livestock yields thereby affecting the local agricultural economy. ➢ Tree mortality events which threatened and damaged homes and road and power infrastructure resulting in large mitigation costs.
➢ Increased dependence on groundwater. Over pumping of groundwater resulted in cones of depression in the water table in Sierra Valley. This necessitated the deepening of ground water wells and the abandonment of certain wells due to sand intrusion.
➢ Negative effects on soil health and increased challenges with the management and control of invasive species.

While Plumas County experienced “extreme” drought conditions in the last drought, other parts of the State experienced “exceptional” drought conditions, indicating that the northern Sierra could be vulnerable to even more catastrophic drought events. Education and technical assistance regarding best management practices, water conservation measures, and countywide mitigation strategies are needed to prepare for and mitigate impacts of future drought events.

Project Description: This project includes concerted and coordinated efforts to provide outreach, education, and technical assistance to Plumas County landowners and land managers to promote drought prevention and mitigation strategies. As evidenced above, climate change and drought driven disturbances are broad in nature and reach and include but are not limited to reduction in water storage, flow, and utilization, agricultural yields, forest health and tree mortality. Projects that fit within these programs include:
➢ Continued work with UC Davis to look at crop varieties to reduce dependence on water;

Plumas County 5-55
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
➢ Identification and implementation of projects to enhance soil health; ➢ Continue education and training of land managers;
➢ Develop Countywide drought mitigation strategies;
➢ Continue and expand tree morality detection, monitoring, prevention and mitigation strategies; ➢ Implement programs to increase sprinkler efficiency; and ➢ Manage, control, and eradicate invasive plant species and pests.

Other Alternatives: None
Existing Planning Mechanism(s) through which Action Will Be Implemented: Plumas-Sierra Agricultural Department and UC Cooperative Extension are skilled staff currently serving agricultural and livestock producers, and forest landowners and managers. The Plumas Fire Safe Council helps to host/Coordinate the County tree mortality group.

Responsible Office/Partners: Critical primary partners and stakeholders include:
➢ Plumas-Sierra County Department of Agriculture
➢ UC Cooperative Extension
➢ Plumas County Fire Safe Council
➢ Resource Conservation Districts
➢ Plumas County Public Works
➢ Feather River Watershed Group
➢ Feather River Integrated Regional Watershed Management (IRWM) plan Benefits (Losses Avoided): Benefits of these programs include greater economic and community resilience of the county, improved forest health, reduced wildfire risk, and improved sustainability of agriculture and livestock production. Avoided Losses could easily be within the range of millions of dollars considering the dependence of Plumas County communities on natural resources and the contributions of the watershed to the state water project supply.

Potential Funding: A portion of the costs are currently funded by existing programs, however, this limits the capacity for prevention and mitigation measures. As a result, programs are more reactive to droughtdriven issues and events rather than pro-active in terms of prevention and mitigation. Additional funds would be needed to increase existing program capacity to serve the county communities. Potential funding may be available through the Sierra Nevada Conservancy Watershed Improvement Program, Title II and III RAC grants, CDFA grants for Soil Health, SB1 grants through the IRWM process, and CALFIRE Forest Health grants.

Timeline: Ongoing and annually within the next one to five years Project Priority (H, M, L): High
Action 32. Livestock and Companion Animal Trailer
Hazards Addressed: Wildfire, Flood, Evacuation
Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Plumas County 5-56
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Issue/Background: Plumas County does not currently own a trailer suitable for the transport of livestock and/or companion animal crates. Plumas County currently owns a horse trailer that can be used for the transport of horses and/or the emergency equipment required to care for them.

Many people will refuse to evacuate if they cannot move their companion animals and/or livestock during a disaster. Others will try to walk their animals out or just turn them loose, which creates a major hazard for evacuees and first responders alike. In this area we also have the problem of people either not having transportation for their animals or insufficient transportation for their animals. Large producers with 50 or more animals are covered under the Ag Pass Program in Plumas County.

Project Description: To purchase a multi-species appropriate bumper pull livestock trailer.

Other Alternatives: A second combination horse trailer.

Existing Planning Mechanism(s) through which Action Will Be Implemented: Plumas County Emergency Operations Plan, Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, Responsible Office/Partners: Plumas-Sierra Department of Agriculture, UC Cooperative Extension, and Plumas County Animal Services, Plumas County OES
Benefits (Losses Avoided): Efficient evacuation of people and their companion animals, horses and livestock results in lives saved.

Potential Funding: FEMA (HMA or other) grants, Red Rover grant, Humane Society of the United States, International Fund for Animal Welfare grant, local donations and sponsorships.

Timeline: As soon as funding is available as this is urgent. Desire within a year, but will pursue it during the 1-5 year lifecycle of this LHMP.

Project Priority (H, M, L): High
Action 33. Continue to Evaluate and Track Available Funding Sources for Wildfire Mitigation Projects Hazards Addressed: Wildfire, Tree Mortality
Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Issue/Background: Plumas County land base is primarily under federal ownership, which means that in addition to significant forested area there is limited tax-based income. As a result, Plumas County benefits from grant funds for local initiatives. Grant opportunities come from local, state, federal, and private sources. A publicly available clearinghouse for grant information would benefit local entities seeking funding for wildfire mitigation activities.

Project Description: The Plumas County Fire Safe Council will continue to compile forest health, hazardous fuel reduction, defensible space/home hardening, outreach, and fire department related grant opportunities monthly. The Fire Safe Council will continue to distribute the information via email list and will add the information to plumasfiresafe.org as well as promote the fact that this information is available.

Plumas County 5-57
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Other Alternatives: There are currently many venues for interested parties to access regional information about grant opportunities. Regular email updates are available from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, Sierra Business Council, CAL FIRE, California Office of Planning and Research, California Fire Safe Council, and the NFPA, among many others. The alternative is for interested parties to sign up directly for these listservs and to independently evaluate each funding opportunity for relevance.

Existing Planning Mechanism(s) through which Action Will Be Implemented: N/A Responsible Office/Partners: Plumas County Fire Safe Council in coordination with partners such as County OES
Benefits (Losses Avoided): Plumas County entities will be more likely to take advantage of local, state, federal, and private opportunities for grant funding.

Potential Funding: Existing budgets (County General Fund, Plumas FSC Operating Budget Timeline: 1-5 years and annually over the life cycle of this LHMP.

Project Priority (H, M, L): High
Action 34. Develop a Program to Promote and/or Incentivize Home Hardening Retrofitting including:

Roofs, Vents, Siding, Windows, etc.

Hazards Addressed: Wildfire
Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Issue/Background: Plumas County has a longstanding history over the last three decades of community awareness of the wildfire threat and working to increase fuel reduction efforts around communities. While fuel reduction efforts mitigate fuels accumulations and fire behavior in the wildland urban interface and intermix (WUI), residential homes and adjacent structures may still be vulnerable to fire ignition and loss.

Home ignition in the WUI may still be possible to do ember ignition or ignition from lower severity ground fire if fire resistant design and materials are not in place. This gap in a community wildfire protection strategy may not effectively reduce the risk of home loss unless we address both sides of the equation: fuel reduction and home vulnerability.

Findings from case studies such as the 2010 Fourmile Canyon fire and the 2012 Waldo Creek Fire suggest that homes may burn and be loss even where fuel reduction has mitigated fire behavior near homes, and the primary factor in home loss is structure design, materials, and maintenance – particularly when firefighting resources are not available or insufficient to provide individual home level structure protection and triage.

Many of the homes in Plumas County are in the Wildland urban intermix which poses challenges for wildfire suppression in terms of community fire protection and structure triage. In addition, many of these homes and subdivisions were built prior 2008 when current fire standards were enacted. As a consequence, a large majority of homes in Plumas County may not meet current fire code and may be in need of structure retrofits to improve resistance to fire.

Plumas County 5-58
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Common home vulnerabilities in Plumas County communities include wood siding, attached wooden decks/structures, non-tempered glass windows, eave and soffit design/screening, lack of sufficient water resources, and outbuilding siting/maintenance/design. As a result, the Plumas County communities may continue to be vulnerable to large scale home and economic loss despite widespread defensible space efforts.

Project Description: The overall goal of this project is to outreach, educate, provide technical assistance, and ultimately support financial assistance through grants to help Plumas County residents with home hardening retrofits. FEMA has funded a variety of hazard mitigation activities including structure vulnerability retrofits for different natural hazards including wildfire as evidenced by the Big Bear Lake Shake Shingle Roof Replacement in 2010.

The Plumas County Fire Safe Council is well known throughout the county for its public outreach, support of NFPA Firewise USA Sites, and direct fuel reduction assistance programs to landowners – many of which focus on defensible space. This proposal intends to build on existing organizational strengths to add additional capacity to develop technical assistance for home ignition zone assessments and developing home hardening/retrofitting programs as envisioned in State assembly bill AB38. This project would include collaboration between, Plumas County Fire Safe Council, local fire departments, the planning department, and support from UC Cooperative Extension.

This Project proposes two phases of implementation.

The first phase is providing outreach, education, and technical assistance for home ignition zone assessment of homes, commercial structures, and community infrastructure. This includes developing outreach materials about wildfire and the built environment, providing workshops and educational offerings to educate residents about home hardening and preparedness, and developing programs to provide site specific home consultations on the home ignition zone to help residents identify, assess, and prioritize home hardening retrofits to make their home more resistant to wildfire. This outreach effort would be well paired with defensible space programs already being delivered to Plumas county residents The second phase is to provide home retrofitting assistance program to improve structural resistance to wildfire, or to improve community infrastructure for wildfire preparedness as described in Calif. Assembly Bill AB38. This would include developing and implementing cost-share, grant funded, or incentive based projects and programs to help residents with projects that improve home resistance to fire and enhance community wildfire preparedness and protection. Home retrofit projects may include replacement of out of code structure vents, installing fire resistant roofing, siding or windows, and/or installing snow protectors on propane regulators. Community wildfire preparedness and protection project may include installation of secondary water supplies, developing community water supplies, developing community safety zones or temporary areas of last resort refuge, or improving fire safety of power, communications, and road infrastructure. These implementation efforts would likely need to implemented in a phased manner.

Other Alternatives: Currently, there are no other alternative programs such that the de facto alternative is not providing residents home hardening support.

Plumas County 5-59
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Existing Planning Mechanism(s) through which Action Will Be Implemented: State Assembly Bill AB38 provides state level direction and guidance to develop programs to mitigate fire hazard and support communities by delivering programs that improve wildfire preparedness. Home hardening & retrofitting is included in these activities.

Responsible Office/Partners: County Agencies (OES, Building & Planning Departments); Plumas County Fire Safe Council, UC Cooperative Extension, CAL FIRE, Office of State Fire Marshall Benefits (Losses Avoided): Reduction of the loss of homes in a wildfire event would be the largest benefit (loss avoided).

Potential Funding: AB38 opens potential avenues for funding which still remain to be seen and may be uncertain during current state and federal economy challenges. Grant opportunities may include: CAL FIRE's Wildfire Prevention Grants Program, local/regional homeowners grants, and California Fire Foundation/PG&E grants
Ideally Phase 1 could include: $150- $200K to develop the staffing, materials and outreach programs for a two to three year period. This would fund staffing for a Home ignition zone assessment consultation, preferably a candidate with professional forestry or wildland fire fighting skillset who can also assess defensible space as well as the home ignition zone.

Phase 2: First phase of implementation could be $500K-$1million as an annual program. This is within the same context and scale as the Big Bear Lake Shake Roof replacement program which was limited in scope and scale to a smaller community. A county wide program offered for 5 years could reach into a $5 million or greater program.

Timeline: This project should be ongoing considering the need; however for purposes of LHMP planning, a 5 year timeline would be utilized. Considering this, a two to three year timeline would be necessary for phase 1 outreach and development. Implementation of the initial stages of phase 2 (Home retrofitting) could occur in a phased approach anywhere in years 2 to 5 of the five year planning horizon.

Project Priority (H, M, L): High
Action 35. Plumas County General Plan Public Health & Safety Element update to address state law requirements for land classified as State Responsibility Areas (SRAs) and within Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZs)
Hazards Addressed: Wildfire
Goals Addressed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Issue/Background: The Plumas County General Plan Public Health & Safety Element update is necessary to address newly adopted state law requirements for land classified as State Responsibility Areas (SRAs) and within Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZs).

Plumas County 5-60
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Project Description: The Plumas County General Plan Public Health & Safety Element Update includes amending the goals and policies of the Element to fully respond to and address state law requirements for land classified as SRAs and within VHFHSZs to reduce the risk and potential of wildfire in the unincorporated areas of the County and particularly in the WUI. For example, the Public Health & Safety Element is required by state law to include, and will be reviewed and updated, as necessary, to contain the following:
➢ Fire hazard severity zone maps
➢ Historical data on wildfires
➢ Information about wildfire hazard areas
➢ General location and distribution of existing and planned uses of land in VHFHSZs and SRAs ➢ Local, state, and federal agencies with responsibility for fire protection, including special districts and local OES
Though the update process, implementation measures may also be developed, including but not limited to, avoiding or minimizing the wildfire hazards associated with new uses of land; locating, when feasible, new essential public facilities outside of high fire risk areas; working cooperatively with public agencies with responsibility for fire protection; and designing adequate infrastructure if new development is located in the SRA or VHFHSZ, including access for emergency response vehicles, visible street signage, and water supplies for fire structural suppression.

Other Alternatives: No action.

Existing Planning Mechanism(s) through which Action Will Be Implemented: Plumas County General Plan Public Health & Safety Element
Responsible Office/Partners: Plumas County Planning Department Benefits (Losses Avoided): The County’s 2035 General Plan recognizes that growth has occurred in high fire hazard areas and the combination of population growth and climate change in these fire-prone areas is putting more people and homes at a greater risk from catastrophic wildfire. Public Health & Safety Element policies in Plumas County mitigate some of the risks by directing new development to be located within existing fire districts or adjacent to areas where fire protection can efficiently be extended. There is a continuing need to develop policies that both address fire safe patterns for new development and address solutions for improving fire safety for existing communities and rural places.

Potential Funding: Federal (HMA or other) and state grants (may include California general plan grants, CAL FIRE, and other), local budgets (County General Fund, CIP) Timeline: 1-3 years.

Project Priority (H, M, L): Medium

Plumas County 6-1
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Chapter 6 Plan Adoption
44 CFR §201.6(c)(5): [The local hazard mitigation plan shall include] documentation that the plan has been formally approved by the governing body of the jurisdiction requesting approval of the plan (e.g., City Council, county commissioner, Tribal Council).

The purpose of formally adopting this 2026 Plumas County LHMP Update is to secure buy-in from each participating jurisdiction, raise awareness of the Plan, and formalize the Plan’s approval and implementation. The adoption of this LHMP Update completes Planning Step 9 of the 10-step planning process: Adopt the Plan, in accordance with the requirements of DMA 2000. For unincorporated Plumas County and the City of Portola, this adoption resolution also addresses AB 2140 requiring adoption by reference or incorporation into the Safety Element of the General Plan. Two resolutions were created – one for the County and City and one for the special districts.

The governing board for each jurisdiction has adopted this 2026 Plumas County LHMP Update by passing a resolution. Copies of the generic resolutions are included in Appendix D: Adoption Resolution.

Plumas County 7-1
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Chapter 7 Plan Implementation and Maintenance
44 CFR §201.6(c)(4): [The plan maintenance process shall include a] section describing the method and schedule of monitoring, evaluating, and updating the mitigation plan within a five-year cycle.

Implementation and maintenance of this 2026 Plumas County LHMP Update is critical to the success of hazard mitigation in the Plumas County Planning Area. Plan implementation and maintenance is Planning Step 10 of the 10-step planning process. Accordingly, this chapter provides an overview of the overall strategy for Plan implementation and maintenance and outlines the method and schedule for monitoring, updating, and evaluating the Plan. The chapter also discusses incorporating the Plan into existing planning mechanisms and how to address continued public involvement in local hazard mitigation planning.

Chapter 3, Planning Process, includes information on the implementation and maintenance process since the adoption of the Plumas County 2020 and City of Portola 2019 LHMPs. This chapter includes information on the implementation and maintenance process for this Plan, the 2026 Plumas County LHMP Update.

7.1 Implementation
Once adopted, this 2026 Plumas County LHMP Update faces the truest test of its worth: implementation.

While the Plan contains many worthwhile actions, the County and all participating jurisdictions will need to decide which action(s) to undertake first. Two factors should be considered when making that decision:
the priority assigned to the mitigation actions in the Plan and funding availability. Low or no-cost actions most easily demonstrate progress toward successful Plan implementation.

An important implementation mechanism that is highly effective and low-cost is incorporation of the hazard mitigation plan recommendations and their underlying principles into other plans and mechanisms such as local general plans, stormwater and flood plans, Emergency Operations Plans (EOPs), evacuation plans, and other hazard and emergency management planning efforts by the participating jurisdictions. These jurisdictions already implement policies and programs to reduce loss to life and property from hazards.

This 2026 LHMP Update builds upon the momentum developed through prior, related planning and mitigation programs and recommends implementing actions, where possible, through these other programs.

Mitigation is most successful when it is incorporated into the day-to-day functions and priorities of government and development. Implementation can be accomplished by adhering to the schedules identified for each action through sustained collaborative efforts, highlighting the mutual benefits of proposed mitigation actions, and the Plumas County jurisdictions, its stakeholders, and the public. This is achieved through the routine actions of monitoring agendas, attending meetings, and promoting mitigation initiatives to enhance the safety and sustainability of the community. Additional mitigation strategies may include consistent and ongoing enforcement of existing policies and the vigilant review of programs for coordination and multi-objective opportunities to enhance mitigation.

Plumas County 7-2
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Simultaneously, it is important to continuously monitor potential funding opportunities to finance mitigation actions. This may include identifying funding sources to meet local matching funds requirements under FEMA pre- and post-disaster mitigation grant programs, and other sources. When funding becomes available, the participating jurisdictions will be better positioned to capitalize on the opportunity.

Responsibility for Implementation of Goals and Activities The elected officials, executive leadership teams, responsible staff and departments, and emergency management offices of the participating jurisdictions are charged with implementation of various activities in the 2026 LHMP Update. During annual reviews as described later in this section, each participating jurisdiction should conduct an assessment of progress toward meeting the goals and activities of the LHMP Update. At that time, recommendations may be made to modify timeframes for the completion of identified mitigation actions, identify funding sources, and work with responsible entities to implement the actions.

On an annual basis, the priority of various mitigation actions may be adjusted. Some activities that are found not to be feasible may be removed from the Plan entirely, while other mitigation actions unforeseen during the Plan development process may be added.

7.1.1. Role of the LHMP Update Planning Committee in Implementation and Maintenance
With adoption of this Plan, each participating jurisdiction will be responsible for LHMP implementation and maintenance. The HMPC identified in Chapter 3 (or a similar committee) will reconvene annually to ensure mitigation strategies are being implemented, and the County and City continue to maintain compliance with the NFIP. The Plumas County, Office of Emergency Services (County OES), will continue in its role as project lead for LHMP implementation and maintenance. As such, County OES, as LHMP project lead, and all participating jurisdictions will continue their relationship, and will plan to convene the same or similar HMPC when preparing the subsequent LHMP Update. The County OES project lead, with support from participating jurisdictions and the LHMP Update HMPC will:
➢ Act as a forum for hazard mitigation issues;
➢ Disseminate hazard mitigation ideas and activities to all participants; ➢ Pursue the implementation of high-priority, low/no-cost recommended actions; ➢ Ensure hazard mitigation remains a consideration for community decision makers; ➢ Maintain a vigilant monitoring of multi-objective cost-share opportunities to help the community implement the Plan’s recommended actions for which no current funding exists; ➢ Monitor and assist in the implementation and update of this Plan; ➢ Report on Plan progress and recommended changes to the governing boards for all participating jurisdictions; and
➢ Inform and solicit input from the public.

The primary duty of the County and all participating jurisdictions and the HMPC is to see the LHMP Update successfully carried out and to report to their governing boards and the public on the status of LHMP implementation and mitigation opportunities. Other duties include reviewing and promoting mitigation

Plumas County 7-3
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
proposals, considering stakeholder concerns about hazard mitigation, passing concerns on to appropriate entities, and posting relevant information about the LHMP on the websites of participating jurisdictions.

7.2 Maintenance
Plan maintenance implies an ongoing effort to monitor and evaluate LHMP implementation and to update the Plan as progress, roadblocks, or changing circumstances are encountered.

7.2.1. Maintenance Schedule
Plumas County OES, as project lead, in conjunction with the LHMP leads for all participating jurisdictions, is responsible for initiating Plan reviews. In order to monitor progress and update the mitigation strategies identified in the mitigation action plan, County OES, LHMP leads from other participating jurisdictions, and the HMPC will revisit this Plan annually each year and following a hazard event to review and document progress on Plan implementation. Plumas County OES will also submit a five-year written update to the State and FEMA Region IX, unless disaster or other circumstances (e.g., changing regulations) require a change to this schedule. With this 2026 LHMP Update anticipated to be fully approved and adopted in early 2026, the next required written update of the Plan must be completed by early 2031.

Plumas County OES will initiate the Plan Update – which may include applying for grant funding to hire professional services to assist in preparing the 2031 LHMP Update. The 2031 LHMP Update development process should be initiated in 2028 to ensure the 2031 LHMP Update can be funded and completed by this 2026 Plumas County LHMP’s expiration date.

7.2.2. Maintenance Evaluation Process
Evaluation of progress can be achieved by monitoring changes in vulnerabilities identified in the Plan.

Changes in vulnerability can be identified by noting:
➢ Decreased vulnerability as a result of implementing recommended actions; ➢ Increased vulnerability as a result of failed or ineffective mitigation actions; ➢ Increased vulnerability as a result of new development (and/or annexation); and/or ➢ Increased vulnerability resulting from unforeseen or new circumstances.

Updates to this Plan will:
➢ Consider changes in vulnerability due to action implementation; ➢ Document success stories where mitigation efforts have proven effective; ➢ Document areas where mitigation actions were not effective; ➢ Document any new hazards that may arise or were previously overlooked; ➢ Incorporate new data or studies on hazards and risks; ➢ Incorporate new capabilities or changes in capabilities; ➢ Incorporate growth and development-related changes to infrastructure inventories; and ➢ Incorporate new action recommendations or changes in action prioritization.

Changes will be made to this Plan to accommodate for actions that have failed or are not considered feasible after a review of their consistency with established criteria, time frame, community priorities, and/or

Plumas County 7-4
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
funding resources. All mitigation actions will be reviewed during the monitoring and update of this Plan to determine feasibility of future implementation. Updating of this LHMP will be by written changes and submissions, as the participating jurisdictions and HMPC deem appropriate and necessary, and as approved by the governing boards of each participating jurisdiction. In keeping with the five-year update process, the HMPC will convene public meetings to solicit public input on this LHMP Update and its routine maintenance, and the final product will be again adopted by the governing boards of each participating jurisdiction.

Annual Plan Review Process
For the LHMP Update review process, the County OES lead and the LHMP leads for each of the participating jurisdictions, will be responsible for facilitating, coordinating, and scheduling reviews and maintenance of the LHMP. The LHMP is intended to be a living document. The review of the 2026 LHMP Update will normally occur on an annual basis each year and will be conducted by the HMPC as follows:
➢ County OES will place an advertisement in the local newspaper and will utilize other public outreach mechanisms, such as e-newsletters, social media blasts, and others, advising the public of the date, time, and place for each annual review of the LHMP Update and will be responsible for leading the meeting to review the Plan.
➢ Notices will be mailed to the members of the HMPC: federal, state, and local agencies; non-profit groups; local planning agencies; representatives of business interests; neighboring communities; and others advising them of the date, time, and place for the review. ➢ County/City/District/Tribal officials will be noticed by email and telephone or personal visit and urged to participate.
➢ Members of any participating jurisdiction’s planning commissions and other appointed commissions and groups will also be noticed by email and either by telephone or personal visit. ➢ Prior to the review, department heads and others tasked with implementation of the various activities will be queried concerning progress on each activity in their area of responsibility and asked to present a report at the review meeting.
➢ The local news media will be contacted, and a copy of the current LHMP will be available for public comment at Plumas County OES as project lead.
➢ After the review meeting, minutes of the meeting and an annual report will be prepared by the participating jurisdictions and the HMPC and will be placed on the County LHMP webpage. ➢ A copy of the 2026 LHMP Update will be continually posted on the LHMP website for the County and participating jurisdictions.

Criteria for Annual Reviews
The criteria recommended in 44 CFR 201 and 206 will be utilized in reviewing and updating the 2026 LHMP Update. More specifically, the reviews should include the following information:
➢ Community growth or change in the past year.
➢ The number of substantially damaged or substantially improved structures by flood zone, wildfire zone, or other hazard zones.

Plumas County 7-5
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
➢ The renovations to public infrastructure including water, sewer, drainage, roads, bridges, gas lines, and buildings.
➢ Natural hazard occurrences that required activation of the Emergency Operations Center(s) (EOC) and whether or not the event resulted in a federal disaster declaration. ➢ Natural hazard occurrences that were not of a magnitude to warrant activation of the EOC or a federal disaster declaration but were severe enough to cause damage in the community or closure of businesses, schools, or public services.
➢ The dates of hazard events and descriptions.
➢ Documented damages due to the events.
➢ Closures of places of employment or schools and the number of days closed. ➢ Road or bridge closures due to the hazard and the length of time closed. ➢ Assessment of the number of private and public buildings damaged and whether the damage was minor, substantial, major, or if buildings were destroyed. The assessment will include residences, mobile homes, commercial structures, industrial structures, and public buildings, such as schools and public safety buildings.
➢ Review of the status of implementation of projects (mitigation strategies) including projects completed will be noted. Projects behind schedule will include a reason for delay of implementation. ➢ Review of any changes in federal, state, and local policies to determine the impact of these policies on the community and how and if the policy changes can or should be incorporated into the next LHMP Update.

7.2.3. Incorporation into Existing Planning Mechanisms
Another important implementation mechanism that is highly effective and low-cost is incorporation of the 2026 LHMP Update recommendations and their underlying principles into other jurisdictional plans and mechanisms. Where possible, Plan participants will use existing plans and/or programs to implement hazard mitigation actions. As previously stated in Section 7.1 of this Plan, mitigation is most successful when it is incorporated into the day-to-day functions and priorities of government and development. The point is re-emphasized here. As described in this LHMP’s capability assessment, the participating jurisdiction’s already implement policies and programs to reduce losses to life and property from hazards.

This Plan builds upon the momentum developed through previous and related planning efforts and mitigation programs and recommends implementing actions, where possible, through these other program mechanisms. These existing mechanisms include:
➢ General and master plans
➢ Emergency Operations Plans and other emergency management efforts ➢ Jurisdictional ordinances
➢ Flood/stormwater management/master plans
➢ Climate Plans
➢ Capital Improvement Plans and budgets
➢ Other plans and policies outlined in the capability assessment ➢ Other plans, regulations, and practices with a mitigation focus Participating jurisdictions and HMPC members involved in these other planning and program mechanisms will be responsible for integrating the findings and recommendations of this LHMP with these other plans,

Plumas County 7-6
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
programs, etc., as appropriate. As described in Section 7.1 Implementation, incorporation into existing planning mechanisms will be done through the routine actions of:
➢ monitoring other planning/program agendas;
➢ attending other planning/program meetings;
➢ participating in other planning processes; and
➢ monitoring community budget meetings for other community program opportunities.

The successful implementation of this mitigation strategy will require constant and vigilant review of existing plans and programs for coordination and multi-objective opportunities that promote a safe, sustainable community.

Examples of incorporation of the 2026 LHMP Update into existing planning mechanisms include:

1. As recommended by Assembly Bill 2140, the County and City should adopt (by reference or incorporation) this LHMP into the Safety Element of their General Plans. Evidence of such adoption (by formal, certified resolution and text within the body of the Safety Element) shall be provided to CAL OES and FEMA.

2. Integration of flood actions identified in this mitigation strategy with implementation priorities in existing flood and stormwater plans. Key people responsible for development and implementation of these plans participated on the HMPC.

3. Integration of wildfire actions identified in this mitigation strategy with the actions and implementation priorities established in existing and new Community Wildfire Protection Plans and other fire plans.

Key projects were identified and integrated specifically into this LHMP, while others currently of lessor priority should be referenced in their source document. Actual implementation of these projects will likely occur through the CWPP’s and other Fire Plans’ processes through the efforts of each responsible jurisdiction and department.

4. Integration of many of the infrastructure, roads, facility, and infrastructure improvement projects with the jurisdictional Capital Improvement Programs.

5. Use of risk assessment information to inform future updates of the hazard analysis in the Emergency Operations Plans and related emergency management efforts for all participating jurisdictions.

Each jurisdiction will consider incorporation of the LHMP into planning mechanisms listed on Table 7-1.

Table 7-1 LHMP Incorporation into other Planning Mechanisms Jurisdiction Safety
Element/
Master
Plans/
Strategic
Plans
EOP /
Emergency
Plans/
Emergency
Action
Plans
CWPP
/ Fire
Plans
CIP Flood /
Stormwater/
Watershed
Plans
Drought
& Water
Resource
Plans
Other Plans Related to
Hazard Mitigation -
Drought/ Water
Management/
Climate Plans/ Other
Plumas County X X X X X X X
City of Portola X X X X X X
Chester PUD X X X X

Plumas County 7-7
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Jurisdiction Safety
Element/
Master
Plans/
Strategic
Plans
EOP /
Emergency
Plans/
Emergency
Action
Plans
CWPP
/ Fire
Plans
CIP Flood /
Stormwater/
Watershed
Plans
Drought
& Water
Resource
Plans
Other Plans Related to
Hazard Mitigation -
Drought/ Water
Management/
Climate Plans/ Other
Feather River
RCD

X X X X
Gold Mountain
CSD

X X X X
Indian Valley CSD X X X X X
Plumas Corp X X X X X
Plumas Fire Safe
Council
X X X
Plumas Eureka
CSD

X X X X
South Feather
Water & Power

X X X X
In addition, the mitigation actions included within each jurisdictions’ mitigation strategy contain a category identifying “Existing Planning Mechanism(s) through which Action will be Implemented” that contains how each mitigation action is related to other planning mechanisms and jurisdictional programs. Those can be found in Chapter 5 of the Base Plan for the County and within each jurisdictions’ annex to this Base Plan.

Efforts should continuously be made to monitor the progress of mitigation actions implemented through these other planning mechanisms and, where appropriate, their priority actions should be incorporated into updates of this LHMP.

7.2.4. Continued Public Involvement
Continued public involvement is a crucial element of successful Plan implementation. The update process provides an opportunity to solicit participation from new and existing stakeholders and to publicize success stories from the 2026 LHMP implementation and seek additional public comment. The Plan maintenance and update process will include continued public and stakeholder involvement and input through attendance at designated committee meetings, web postings, press releases to local media, and through public hearings.

Public Involvement Process for Annual Reviews
The public will be noticed by placing an advertisement in the newspaper and will utilize other public outreach mechanisms, such as e-newsletters, social media blasts, and others specifying the date and time for the review and inviting public participation. The HMPC, local, state, and regional agencies will be notified and invited to attend and participate.

Plumas County 7-8
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Public Involvement for Five-year Update
When the participating jurisdictions and HMPC reconvenes for the next LHMP Update, they will coordinate with all stakeholders participating in the planning process—including those that joined the committee since the planning process began—to update and revise the Plan. In reconvening, the HMPC will identify a public outreach subcommittee, which will be responsible for coordinating the activities necessary to involve the greater public. The subcommittee will develop a plan for public involvement and will be responsible for disseminating information through a variety of media channels detailing the LHMP update process. As part of this effort, public meetings will be held, and public comments will be solicited on the LHMP Update draft. In addition, continued public involvement and outreach efforts will place an emphasis on identifying and inviting representatives from underserved and vulnerable populations to be part of the next, 2031 Plumas County LHMP Update. As a starting point the underserved and vulnerable population groups identified for this 2026 LHMP Update will be contacted to invite them to the 2031 LHMP Update process with additional groups identified and added to meet the ongoing goal of mitigation planning for the whole community.

Plumas County 1
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Prelude to Jurisdictional Annexes
For this 2026 Plumas County LHMP Update, the Jurisdictional Annexes, working in conjunction with the Base Plan, detail the hazard mitigation planning elements specific to participating jurisdictions, beyond the unincorporated County which is covered in the Base Plan. Each Annex is not intended to be a standalone document, but appends to, supplements, and incorporates by reference the information contained in the Base Plan, as the umbrella document for this planning effort. As such, all Chapters 1-7 of the Base Plan and associated appendices, including the planning process and other procedural requirements and planning elements apply to and were met by each participating jurisdiction.

These Jurisdictional Annexes provide additional information specific to each participating jurisdiction, with a focus on providing additional details on the risk assessment and mitigation strategy beyond that provided in the Base Plan.

Plumas County City of Portola Annex A-1
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Annex A City of Portola
A.1 Introduction
This Annex details the hazard mitigation planning elements specific to the City of Portola, who completed a standalone LHMP in 2019 before joining Plumas County in this 2026 LHMP Update. This Annex is not intended to be a standalone document but appends to and supplements the information contained in the Base Plan document. As such, all sections of the Base Plan, including the planning process and other procedural requirements apply to and were met by the City. This Annex provides additional information specific to the City of Portola, with a focus on providing additional details on the planning process, risk assessment, and mitigation strategy for this jurisdiction.

A.2 Planning Process
As described above, the City of Portola followed the planning process detailed in Chapter 3 of the Base Plan. In addition to providing representation on the Plumas County Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee (HMPC), the City formulated their own internal planning team to support the broader planning process requirements. Internal planning participants, their positions, and how they participated in the planning process are shown in Table A-1. Additional details on Plan participation and City representatives are included in Appendix A.

Table A-1 City of Portola – Planning Team
Name Position/Title How Participated
Ryan Bonk City Manager Attended meetings, coordinated efforts and reviews with internal staff, provided City data, information and feedback
Todd Roberts Director of Public
Works
Provided internal review throughout the process and feedback on mitigation plan overall
Karen Downs Contracts Planner Provided internal review throughout the process and feedback on mitigation plan overall.

Coordination with other community planning efforts is paramount to the successful implementation of this LHMP Update. This section provides information on how the City integrated the previously approved 2019 LHMP into existing planning mechanisms and programs. Specifically, the City incorporated into or implemented the 2019 LHMP through other plans and programs shown in Table A-2.

Plumas County City of Portola Annex A-2
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Table A-2 2019 LHMP Incorporation
Planning Mechanism 2019 LHMP Was
Incorporated/Implemented In.

Details: How was it incorporated?
General Plan Safety Element Information and hazard data from the 2019 LHMP was utilized in updating the General Plan Safety Element. In addition, information from the recently-updated document was cross-referenced for inclusion as part of the overall hazard profiles. Additionally, any vulnerabilities identified were included as part of the vulnerability and risk assessment for wildfire, landslide, and flood.

Portola General Plan Data and information from the 2019 LHMP were integrated into updated elements of the General Plan. General Plan elements were also reviewed and included as part of the vulnerability assessment for the updated LHMP
Plumas County Emergency Operations Plan The 2019 LHMP was utilized to inform updates to the Plumas County EOP. Similarly, the EOP was reviewed to gather hazard information as it related to the assessed natural hazards for the LHMP Update.

Portola Emergency Operations Plan The 2019 LHMP was utilized to inform updates to the City EOP.

Plan is on file at City Hall along with the Plumas County EOP.

A.3 Community Profile
The community profile for the City of Portola is detailed in the following sections. Figure A-1 displays a City map and the location of City of Portola within Plumas County.

Plumas County City of Portola Annex A-3
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Figure A-1 City of Portola
A.3.1. Geography and Climate
The City of Portola is located along the Middle Fork of the Feather River in the southeast portion of Plumas County, California. Nearby towns include Beckwourth to the east and Grazeable to the west. Reno, Nevada is approximately 50 miles to the southeast and Sacramento, California is approximately 150 miles to the southwest. The City of Portola is the only incorporated city in Plumas County.

Being on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada, Portola has a continental Mediterranean climate with dry summers characterized by extreme diurnal temperature swings, and cold (though not severe) and snowy winters. Frosts occur on 218 mornings per year. Extreme cold is rare and temperatures below 0°F are observed on only 2.6 mornings per winter in an average year. During the summer, daytime temperatures of 100 °F are reached on average only once every two years.

Elevations in the City are shown on Figure A-2.

Plumas County City of Portola Annex A-4
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
Figure A-2 City of Portola – Elevations
A.3.2. History
Portola, the only incorporated city in Plumas County, California, was established in the early 20th century as a key railroad hub along the Middle Fork of the Feather River in the Sierra Nevada. Named after Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portolá—despite him never exploring the area—Portola’s origins are tied to the Western Pacific Railroad, now part of the Union Pacific, which shaped its identity as a "railroad town." The surrounding Sierra Valley, the largest valley in North America above 5,000 feet, was home to Maidu and Washoe Native American tribes before European settlement, with evidence of their presence in seed grinding holes and artifacts along the Feather River. In the 1850s, James P. Beckwourth, a mountain man of mixed African American and Native American descent, established a trading post in nearby Sierra Valley, facilitating travel during the California Gold Rush. Logging also played a significant role in Portola’s founding, with companies like the Roberts Lumber Company and Reno Mill and Lumber harvesting pine and fir from the region’s forests starting in 1905.

The City’s development was driven by its strategic location along the Feather River drainage, fostering a small-town, bucolic character that persists today. Portola’s economy and culture remained closely tied to the railroad, with the Western Pacific Railroad Museum becoming a major attraction, offering a "Run A Locomotive" program that draws visitors. The annual Railroad Days event celebrates this heritage with live

Plumas County City of Portola Annex A-5
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
January 2026
music, a farmer’s market, and a 5K run. Despite its small population—2,100 as of the 2020 census—Portola has maintained its historical charm, with original buildings and sidewalks still present in the downtown area. However, economic and geographic constraints, along with the declining prominence of the railroad industry, have limited its growth compared to other California cities. Local newspapers and longtime residents preserve the town’s history, which is further documented by the Portola Area Historical Society.

Portola’s natural surroundings, including Lake Davis and the nearby Plumas-Eureka State Park, have made it a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, offering fishing, camping, and hiking opportunities. The City gained national attention in 1996–1997 and again in 2007 due to conflicts with the California Department of Fish and Game over the eradication of invasive northern pike in Lake Davis, highlighting tensions between environmental management and community interests. With a continental Mediterranean climate featuring dry summers and snowy winters, Portola’s location on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada adds to its appeal as a scenic, tranquil destination.

A.3.3. Economy and Tax Base
The economy of the City of Portola is historically based on logging; both as a logging camp and mill site.

As the logging industry grew, railroads sprang up to help more efficiently transport the lumber in and out of the area. When the Western Pacific Railway through the Feather River Canyon was completed in 1910, the City of Portola provided the ideal location for a depot which has sustained the City to present day. Currently the City of Portola remains a railroad hub which helps support year round outdoor recreation, tourism, and a Railroad museum.

US Census 2023 estimates show economic characteristics for the City of Portola. These are shown in Table A-3 and Table A-4. Mean household income in the City was $47,497. Median household income in the City was $42,385.

Table A-3 City of Portola – Civilian Employed Population 16 years and Over Industry Estimated
Employment
Percent
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining 27 3.4% Construction 94 11.8%
Manufacturing 25 3.1%
Wholesale trade 0 0.0%
Retail trade 88 11.1%
Transportation and warehousing, and utilities 53 6.7%
Information 0 0.0%
Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and leasing 45 5.7% Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services
19 2.4%
Educational services, and health care and social assistance 274 34.4% Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services 119 14.9% Other services, except public administration 7 0.9%