Outdoor Visitor Safety Fund Grant Program: In April 2021, the Nevada County Board of Supervisors allocated 30% of its federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allotment, $5.8 Million, to promote Community & Economic Resiliency. In February 2022, the Board ratified budget and direction developed at the 2022 Board Workshop, allocating $450,000 to the Outdoor Visitor Safety Fund, with an additional $400,000 in Transient Occupancy Tax dollars to provide up to $850,000 in one-time grants to respond to the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic by funding projects to promote public health and public safety at highly impacted outdoor recreation destinations.

Staff released the Outdoor Visitor Safety Fund Request for Proposals (RFP) on March 10, 2022, ultimately brining six grants to the Board of Supervisor for approval on June 28, 2022. Funded projects:

Bear Yuba Land Trust: Adam Ryan Preserve Parking Area

Bicyclists of Nevada County: Harmony Ridge Trail System

Nevada Irrigation District: Scotts Flat Parking

South Yuba River Citizens League: Golden Quartz Picnic Area Vault Toilets   

South Yuba River Citizens League: Wild & Scenic Trail Marker and  Safety Signage Project

Truckee Trails Foundation: Eastern Nevada County Visitor Safety & Environmental Hazard Prevention Program

For the Pines to Mines trail, the 30-day public comment period was completed on February 25th by the Tahoe National Forest and the first quarterly report to the County by the Truckee Trails Foundation submitted March 31st. The Pines to Mines Environmental Assessment is currently on schedule to be completed in the spring of 2023.

• Support implementation Outdoor Visitor Safety Fund Request for Proposal
• For Pines to Mines, next steps include completion of a signed decision by the Tahoe National Forest Supervisor pertaining to the Environmental Assessment in the Spring/Summer of 2023. This will be followed by a focus on acquiring donation and grant funding to build the new 18-mile trail connection in the Sierra Nevada mountains.