Forest Futures: Building Resilience from the Forest Floor Up, Part 1 – Turning Forest Risk Into Opportunity

Tags: Biomass Innovation, Building Resilience from the Forest Floor Up, Climate Change Solutions, Economic Opportunity, Forest Futures, Forest Restoration, Local Collaboration, Regenerative Economy, Renewable Energy, Sustainable Design, Wildfire Resilience, Wood Innovations

Tahoe Truckee’s greatest vulnerability—overcrowded, fire-prone forests—also holds the key to our future resilience. Through local innovation, collaboration, and sustainable design, we can transform forest byproducts into renewable energy, fire-resilient housing, and economic opportunity. This three-part blog series, drawn from our Forest Futures Salon Series, spotlights the people and projects building a regenerative Sierra economy.

Turning Forest Risk into Opportunity

Imagine a future where Tahoe Truckee transforms one of its greatest vulnerabilities—overcrowded, unhealthy forests—into a foundation for resilience and self-reliance. That vision took center stage during the Forest Futures Salon Series, “Stewarding Our Collective Home,” hosted by Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation’s (TTCF) Forest Futures program.

At the second event, “Wood Innovations: Building a Regenerative Sierra Economy through Forest Restoration,” Jared Deck, Environmental Engineering Manager for Placer County, explored how local forest byproducts could help address climate change and wildfire risk.

Deck painted a clear picture of the challenge: green waste from forest restoration is increasing each year, but local outlets to process it remain extremely limited. Without processing, forest thinning efforts slow down, and wildfire risks rise. As Deck pointed out, the Mosquito Fire alone produced almost as much carbon emissions in two weeks as all of Placer County does in an entire year.

To address this, Placer County is developing the Cabin Creek Biomass Facility at the Eastern Regional Landfill. The project will convert woody biomass into biochar, a soil additive that both improves soil fertility and locks carbon into the ground—providing benefits for local farms and the environment. In a second phase, the facility will also generate renewable electricity, including powering future electric buses for the Tahoe Area Regional Transit (TART) system.

Deck also emphasized the role of regional collaboration through the North Tahoe Biomass Task Force, supported by TTCF’s Forest Futures program. This group helps plan for biomass processing opportunities across the region, ensuring that we grow industrial capacity sustainably and create new economic opportunities without overshooting the availability of forest products.

The message was clear: if we invest in smart, climate-resilient infrastructure today, we can build a healthier, safer, and more self-reliant future for our community.

Next in the Forest Futures Series:
Join us May 22, 2025 – Working in the Woods: Jobs in Forests, Fires, and Wood Innovations

Restoring health to Sierra forests is a big job. This salon highlights what kinds of careers are available in a growing forest economy – from fire mitigation to forestry to making wood and biomass into innovative products.

Our speakers discuss not only emerging career pathways, but also what forest-based work could mean for a diversified and resilient local economy. For those looking to call the forest their office, those interested in supporting the workforce of tomorrow, or those who want to explore economic pathways towards a stronger Tahoe Truckee – join us in a conversation about win-win solutions for local jobs and our forests.  [Register here ➝]