PARTNERS, GRANTS & AGREEMENTS

Over the years, CHIPS has developed many partnerships in the Central Sierra Nevada and beyond, and through these, we assist federal, state, municipal, and private partners accomplish forest stewardship activities that meet our triple bottom line approach of fire-safe communities, healthy forests and sustainable local economies. Scroll down to learn more.

U.S. Forest Service

Together with the U.S. Forest Service, CHIPS provides wildfire prevention and fuels reduction across all 13 National Forests in California. CHIPS manages forests for sustainable multiple-uses to meet the diverse needs of people, ensure the health of our natural resources, manage wildfire and guard against invasive threats. We also have individual agreements with the Eldorado, Humboldt-Toiyabe, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, and Stanislaus National Forests.

Bureau of Land Management, Motherlode Field Office

Together with The Bureau of Land Management's mission, we sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. We work or have worked with the BLM in Calaveras, Amador and Butte Counties. Click here to go to the BLM Motherlode Field Office website.

Yosemite National Park

CHIPS has cooperative agreements and work under grants with Yosemite National Park, National Park Foundation, and Yosemite Conservancy to conduct ecosystem and cultural restoration and fuels reduction work, while bolstering tribal workforce development in the Yosemite region.

Partnerships

We partner with Cal Fire, the USFS, The National Parks System, Fire Safe Councils, Resource Conservation Districts, the Natural Resource Conservation Service, Yosemite-Sequoia Resource Conservation District and Development Council, local water agencies and PG&E, in addition to private landowners, to conduct fuels reduction work on lands predominantly in and adjacent to communities.

Sierra Institute: Workforce Development Training; High Roads Training Partnership

We have agreements with the Sierra Institute to work with tribal entities to establish forest stewardship crews and to deploy them under those agreements.

The High Roads Training Partnership will help to equip and train crews, and to procure contracts for work.

Grants

We have several grants from various funding agencies to accomplish fuels reduction and thinning for forest health, with a goal of utilizing local contractors and vendors to boost local forest economy, including Sierra Nevada Conservancy, CAL FIRE, California Wildlife Conservation Board, National Forest Foundation, National Parks Foundation, California Workforce Development Board, USFS Wood Innovations, Economic Development Administration, the Save the Redwoods League and the Sierra Nevada Alliance.


Click the link below to visit CHIPS' Request for Proposals (RFPs) page to see current and past grant-funded projects CHIPS is administering.

Amador-Calaveras Consensus Group

Along with the Amador-Calaveras Consensus Group (ACCG), a community-based group of diverse stakeholders, we work to create fire-safe communities, healthy forests and watersheds, and sustainable local economies.

Calaveras Healthy Impact product solutions

We are thrilled to announce a collaborative partnership between the Sierra Business Council and Calaveras Healthy Impact Product Solutions. This initiative is designed to provide critical funding and organizational support for the California Jobs First, Catalyst Program.

Made possible by a grant award from the State of California Employment Development Department, this agreement empowers Calaveras Healthy Impact Product Solutions to execute essential services for the project.

The partnership officially launched on April 1, 2025, and will run through September 30, 2026. This collaboration represents a significant, sustained investment in fostering meaningful economic and workforce development impact.

Announcing Our Partnership for Lake Tahoe Restoration

We are proud to announce a collaborative partnership between the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) and Calaveras Healthy Impact Product Solutions (CHIPS). This initiative is supported by the USDA Forest Service's Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit through funds authorized by the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act. Together, our organizations are dedicated to advancing vital watershed restoration and forest health improvement projects under the Environmental Improvement Program.

Through this agreement, CHIPS will lead on-the-ground forest fuels reduction and restoration activities, primarily focused within the South Lake Tahoe area. Their crews will execute essential land management tasks, including hazard tree mitigation, chainsaw thinning, hand piling, and chipping on forest system lands. Where appropriate, the work will also involve targeted ecosystem restoration efforts, such as enhancing meadow and aspen stands to support broader project objectives and workforce development.

This partnership officially commenced on March 1, 2026, with restoration operations scheduled to continue through August 29, 2030. We are excited to embark on this collaborative effort to preserve, restore, and enhance the unique natural and human environment of the Lake Tahoe Region.