The Wildlife Resources Committee, a subcommittee of the California Fish and Game Commission, is set to consider a proposal that would place coyotes under a bag limit…
In coalition with local government and public agency partners, RCRC opposes Assembly Bill 1383, authored by Assembly Member Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood). This measure would make several significant changes to the public employees’ retirement benefits, increasing pension liability for public agencies…
This week, the Senate announced a legislative package intended to increase affordability related to energy, housing, and workforce. Amendments to the energy bill, Senate Bill 254 (Becker, D-Menlo Park), make a number of changes to address permitting challenges and affordability, but also make several significant changes to the Energy Commission’s AB 205 opt-in permitting program…
In response to President Trump’s declaration of a National Energy Emergency, the U.S. Department of the Interior will implement emergency permitting procedures to accelerate the development of domestic energy resources and critical minerals. These measures are designed…
Last week, Representatives Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) and Seth Moulton (D-MA) led a letter with 26 other representatives opposing FEMA’s decision to terminate funding under the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program and urging…
On April 22, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced $340.6 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture disaster assistance to deliver relief to farmers, ranchers and rural communities impacted by natural disasters…
A monthly update regarding the important work of RCRC’s affiliate entities, providing innovative services for the benefit of rural communities.
GSCA has been actively working to build relationships and explore partnership opportunities with tribal communities neighboring its member counties in rural California. With support from the GSCA Board, these efforts have led to productive conversations and, in several cases, successful collaborations. GSCA has assisted partner tribes in securing no-match Tribal Technical Assistance grants of $250,000 each to support pre-deployment broadband planning activities.
To further support these efforts, GSCA developed a Tribal Engagement Outreach Flyer to aid in ongoing and future partnership discussions. See the flyer here.
The Modoc Supplemental Project Agreement (SPA), launched in 2021 as a collaborative effort with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), aims to enhance forest health, reduce wildfire risk, and promote economic growth in rural communities. This initiative supports Golden State Natural Resources’ goals to improve forest health and reduce overcrowding by assisting the Forest Service to rehabilitate approximately 31,996 acres of former conifer plantations across Lassen, Modoc, and Siskiyou counties.
The NEPA process for the Modoc SPA, which began in spring 2023, is now nearing completion. The team has finalized eight specialized environmental reports covering wildlife, botany, fisheries, management indicator species, hydrology/soils, silviculture, fuels, and cultural resources. These reports will be crucial in guiding forest management decisions and shaping the future of forest treatments aimed at improving ecological health across the region.
Learn more about GSNR here.
Announcements regarding hearings, grants, and public comment notices of rural county importance.
Sonoma County is nestled in Northern California’s Wine Country, just 30 miles north of San Francisco, bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west, Marin County and San Pablo Bay to the south, and Solano,...
Part 1 of 2: INTRODUCTION TO EWP PROGRAM AND SPONSOR RESPONSIBILTIIES OCTOBER 14, 2025 – 1:00-2:00 PM ET The NRCS Watershed Programs Branch invites potential and current project sponsors to join us for an introduction...
El Dorado County is seeking a Chief Administrative Officer. To learn more, and to apply, see the job posting here: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/edcgov/jobs/5028600/chief-administrative-officer
The County of Monterey invites your interest in the position of COUNTY BUDGET DIRECTOR To view the brochure for this position, please click on the following link: Click Here to View the Brochure for...
The Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) has begun formal rulemaking activities regarding the SB 54 Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act permanent regulations. The attached Notice of Proposed Action (Notice) was published...
Billions of dollars are up for grabs to public agencies and other entities, including tribes and businesses. Grant seekers can access a centralized portal of grant and loan opportunities here, or sign up to receive new grant opportunities...
Announcements regarding key staffing changes of importance to California’s rural counties.
Briannon Fraley, of Crescent City, has been appointed Tribal Advisor at the California Public Utility Commission. Fraley was the North America Indigenous Right Relations Director at The Nature Conservancy from 2022 to 2024. She was the Director of Government Relations of the City of Portland from 2021 to 2022. Fraley was the Self-Governance Director of the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation from 2012 to 2020. She earned a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Kinesiology from the California State University, Sonoma and a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Native American Studies from the California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and compensation is $145,944. Fraley is a Democrat.
Cindy Gustafson, of Tahoe City, has been appointed to the State Board of Fire Services. Gustafson has been the District Five County Supervisor for the County of Placer since 2019. She was the Chief Executive Officer of the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association from 2017 to 2018. Gustafson held multiple positions at the Tahoe City Public Utility District from 1991 to 2017, including Director of Resource Development and Community Relations, Assistant General Manager, and General Manager. She was a Commissioner at the California Fish and Game Commission from 2005 to 2009. Gustafson is a Member of Tahoe Fund. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Gustavus Adolphus College. This position does not require Senate Confirmation and there is no compensation. Gustafson is registered without party preference.
Brianna Nicole Mallari, of West Sacramento, has been appointed Special Assistant to the Secretary at the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency. Mallari has been an Office Technician at the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency since 2024. She was a Women’s Basketball Coach and Director of Scheduling at Del Oro High School from 2021 to 2025. Mallari was a Human Resources Administrator at Advanced Integrated Pest Management from 2022 to 2024. She was a Personal Assistant at Hilay.Co from 2020 to 2022. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $70,692. Mallari is a Democrat.
Joseph “Joe” Nation, of South Lake Tahoe, has been appointed to the Independent Emissions Market Advisory Committee. Nation has been a Professor of the Practice in the Public Policy and Human Biology Programs at Stanford University since 2007. He was the Principal at Joe Nation Consulting from 1992 to 2024. Nation was the Senior Advisor to the President at the RAND Corporation from 1991 to 2024. He was an Assemblymember for District 6 in the California State Assembly from 2000 to 2006. He was an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of San Francisco from 1992 to 2000. Nation is a member of the Economic Advisory Board, Bay Area Council, and Climate Cabinet Action. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Public Policy Analysis from Pardee RAND Graduate School, a Master of Science degree in Diplomacy and Security from Georgetown University, and Bachelor of the Arts degrees in Economics, German, and French from University of Colorado, Boulder. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and there is no compensation. Nation is a Democrat.
RCRC press releases and related news clips about RCRC and our member counties. Please note that a subscription may be required to read some external publications.
This research focuses on assessing wildfire risks in rural rangelands, providing valuable insights for rural counties in California that are susceptible to wildfires
Groundwater recharge is a key part of securing California’s water supply. But how do we ensure our efforts to store more water underground will work? Stanford’s Rosemary Knight shares new research that could help the state recharge its aquifers faster and more efficiently.
In far Northern California, beneath a towering mountain ridge still covered in April snow, one of the state’s last cowboys stood in the tall green grass of a pasture he tends describing what he sees as the one blight on this otherwise perfect landscape: wolves.
Information related to the current status of legislation impacting California’s rural counties. This report updates in real time.
For a full list of RCRC-tracked legislation, by issue area, use our Legislative Tracking Tool.
