SONORA, CA: On Saturday, November 4, 2023, Tuolumne County Alliance for Resources and Environment (TuCARE) will hold their Annual Natural Resources Summit in the Sierra Building at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds in Sonora. The Summit is open to the public and admission is free. Natural Resource agencies, organizations and businesses will provide information tables prior to and after the summit for attendees to peruse. Doors open at 8:00 a.m.

Speakers for the summit include: Keynote, State Senator Brian Dahle; Mike Albrecht, President of American Loggers Council; PG&E Representative Nathan Alonzo; Stanislaus National Forest Supervisor Jason Kuiken; Glenn Gottschall, President Tuolumne Firesafe Council; Jim McDougald, Staff Chief, CAL FIRE Community Wildfire Preparedness and Mitigation Program; Karen Caldwell, Coordinator, Tuolumne County Firewise Communities; and Dore Beitz, Tuolumne County Office of Emergency Services.

For over 20 years, TuCARE has held a Natural Resources Summit. Approximately 200 people attend the summit each year. Topics covered in past years include political and environmental hot topics such as global warming, environmental extremism, and the importance of logging to reduce fuel load on public lands. The focus of this summit will be to update the Motherlode communities about the efforts to bring affordable fire insurance coverage back to California, and the increased fire fuels reduction by agencies and community organizations which can reduce the threat of catastrophic fires.

The speaking portion of the summit kicks-off at 8:45 a.m. and runs till 12:00 p.m. From 8:00-8:45 a.m., and 12:00-12:30 p.m. attendees can visit information tables from local, state, and federal agencies/organizations that will provide information topics related to this year’s summit focus.

There is no cost for this event due to the generous donations by a variety of sponsors including Sierra Pacific Industries, PG&E, Clarke Broadcasting Corp., Sonora Area Foundation, and local community members. Doors open at 8:00 a.m.

Following the summit, a short tour will be held in Tuolumne County of three fuel reduction projects. A look at progress on the Phase 1 & 2 SERAL PROJECT administered by the Forest Service and Tuolumne County Government; a visit to Sierra Pacific Industries’ fuels reduction around the Standard area mill; and a private/non-profit project between Habitat for Humanity and Sonora Area Foundation’s “Community Wildfire Protection Fund.” The tour is invitation only, and seating is limited.

TuCARE is a community based non-profit 501(c)3 organization founded in 1988. Our membership is a cross-section of the community and includes businesspersons, educators, retirees, and those actively engaged in working daily with natural resources. TuCARE supports the multiple use of natural resources on public lands. Multiple-use policies allow for everyone to benefit. TuCARE seeks stability for resource industries to ensure the economic soundness and stability of local communities.

For more information contact:
Melinda Fleming, Executive Director, TuCARE
(209) 586-7816 or tucare@mlode.com