September News: New Staff Updates, What Cobb Locals Want, Summer Achievements, Program Updates
Calendar of 2026-2027 Upcoming Events
What Cobb Area Locals Want: Shaping Our Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Thanks to participation in the Blackberry Cobbler Festival, the Cobb Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) project garnered 52 new surveys completed by Cobb Area residents. For those who have been following along, the Cobb CWPP is a hyperlocal-level plan that will help secure funding to make our area safer from wildfire.
The survey is one key activity required for the plan. The next step is to analyze and prepare the results for reflection with the community. There is still time to share your observations and opinions—[INSERT LINK/INSTRUCTIONS: Click here to complete the online survey / Visit www.example.com to take the survey online].
Below is a list of the key concerns and ideas local residents have identified so far as important. A major focus of our upcoming work will be to evaluate and prioritize these items for implementation:
Get rid of invasive broom plants
Prescribed burns
Fuel breaks
Addressing absentee non-compliant owners
Curbing illegal dumping of brush
Maintaining forest as infrastructure (including cellular/radio towers, water sources, roads, and power generators alongside standard local facilities)
Enforcement of vacant lot care (e.g., Whispering Pines)
Fire safety ingress and egress for local roads
Better road connections
Constellation Gates (pending coordination with parcel landowners)
Re-establishing lost connections (e.g., Diamond Dust and Diener Roads)
Maintaining the Loch Lomond firebreak
Developing a micro-level community evacuation plan
The results of these written and online surveys will be used in tandem with on-site evaluations conducted by local Citizen Science volunteers to pinpoint key locations requiring mitigation treatments. Together, these efforts will shape our community’s asset protection strategy for wildfire safety.
Stay Involved: Join Us Monthly!
Community input is at the heart of this project. To see how these results are being turned into action and to stay updated on future public presentations, keep an eye out for updates and join us at the Cobb Area Council meetings held on the third Thursday of every month (except Thanksgiving). Your voice is essential to keeping our community safe!
Community Strong: Celebrating Festival Fun, Local Sponsors, and Summer Achievements
Cobb Area residents made this year’s Blackberry Cobbler Festival an incredible success! Beyond enjoying the festivities, delicious food, and connecting with neighbors, our community showed up in full force to support local wildfire resilience initiatives, sign up for key volunteer programs, and celebrate the momentum we’ve built together all summer.
Raffle Winners & Local Sponsors
As a Festival sponsor, we extend a heartfelt congratulations to all our SSCRA raffle winners and a sincere thank you to everyone who participated in the CWPP survey! We are deeply grateful to the generous local donors whose valuable contributions made the drawing possible:
Mountain High Coffee and Books – Gift Certificate
Star Gardens – Potted geranium and Redbud sapling
Jessyca Lytle – Gift Certificate
Wendy Collins – Decorative planter
Greene's Tree Service – Free consultation and light pruning work
A Summer of Dedicated Action & Volunteer Achievements
Behind the fun at the festival is a season of deep dedication and hard work across the Cobb Area. Our community members and partner organizations have been out in the field all summer driving critical safety programs forward:
Citizen Science & CWPP Progress
Our Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) initiative hit major milestones this summer thanks to our dedicated volunteer field team:
Field Vegetation Surveys On Track: On July 23rd and 29th, two comprehensive training sessions were completed to prepare volunteers to use Esri ArcGIS Survey123 on field tablets. Since then, 14 dedicated volunteers have been out in the field all summer conducting on-site evaluations across 40 priority survey points designated by our CWPP Mapping Group (Paul Duncan, Danny Prather, Gary Prather, Jessyca Lytle, and Eliot Hurwitz).
32 out of 40 Surveys Completed: The volunteer team has already completed 32 detailed evaluations! These surveys gather essential ground-truth data on fuel model types, terrain hazards, vegetation die-offs, structure impacts, and fuel break opportunities. All 40 survey points are anticipated to be completed by the end of the month.
Special Thanks to Our Citizen Science Volunteer Team:
[Space reserved to acknowledge and list our 14+ summer survey volunteers]
Community Input: Building on this momentum at the festival, our CWPP booth team—joined by Wildland Resources Management—logged 52 resident surveys identifying top local safety priorities.
To learn more about the survey progress or submit input on local mitigation priorities, visit [Link Placeholder].
Expanding Regional Partnerships & WERP
Our Watershed Education and Restoration Program (WERP) continues to grow through active regional collaboration and strong local participation:
TERA Fire & Forestry Career Fair: On August 12, we joined the Tribal EcoRestoration Alliance (TERA) and the Workforce Alliance of the North Bay at Robinson Rancheria for their Fire & Forestry Career Fair. We connected with roughly 40 individuals holding vital certifications—including S112 Wildland Chainsaw, OSHA 10, Cultural Monitoring, First Aid/CPR/AED, and Firefighter Type 2. TERA worked hand-in-hand with us to develop Cobb’s first WERP, and we are thrilled to share that several of these trained attendees will be joining SSCRA as volunteers for our local CWPP and WERP programs! Landowners along Kelsey Creek and its tributaries can learn more and sign up to host grant-funded community-centered workshops on our WERP page!
Festival WERP Sign-Ups: Building on that outreach, 5 additional residents took action by signing up for WERP during the festival to help protect their properties and watersheds.
Get Involved
Our community’s strength relies on active participation. Whether you spent your summer surveying points, participating in watershed restoration, or stopping by our booth at the festival, your support makes a lasting impact.
To stay connected, review survey progress, and hear about upcoming volunteer opportunities, join us at the Cobb Area Council meetings on the third Thursday of every month (except Thanksgiving). Together, we are making the Cobb Area safer and more resilient!
Honoring Our Co-founders, Eliot and Magdalena, & Their Board Transition
The Seigler Springs Community Redevelopment Association (SSCRA) is sharing an update regarding our organizational leadership.
Our cofounders, Eliot Hurwitz and Magdalena Valderrama, who have served on our Board of Directors while managing daily operations as Executive Director and Operations Director, are stepping down from their staff roles. Moving forward, they will focus their time exclusively on their ongoing positions on the Board.
Starting SSCRA required deep commitment and personal investment. In their staff roles, our cofounders built our core programs, established vital local partnerships, and led regional initiatives across the Cobb area.
As day-to-day operations transition to our incoming management team, Eliot and Magdalena will continue to provide strategic oversight, governance, and guidance from the Board.
Please join us in thanking them for their years of dedicated daily service to SSCRA.
SSCRA Staff Updates: Welcome Our New Team Members!
SSCRA directors and staff at Big Valley Rancheria for the signing of the Clear Lake Watershed and Chi (Ṣátti) Memorandum of Understanding Co-Management Agreement. We are proud to support this historic partnership uniting tribal nations, state agencies, and local governments to protect water quality and preserve the native chi (Clear Lake hitch) through shared tribal stewardship.
Left to right: Micah Starr, Jessyca Lytle, Magdalena Valderrama, Chris Nettles, Eliot Hurwitz, and Steve Reed. (Not pictured: Interim Executive Director Melanie Garrett and Administrator Shasta McBride).
Stepping Up to Lead: Jessyca Lytle Appointed Program Director
Many of you already know Jessyca Lytle through her dedicated work leading our "citizen science" volunteers and Ground Truth mapping team across the local landscape. We are thrilled to announce that Jessyca is expanding her impact by stepping into the role of Program Director!
In this new capacity, she will take on full management, coordination, and budget oversight for two major grant-funded initiatives administered by SSCRA:
Community Wildfire Defense Grants (CWDG/Cobb CWPP) Program: The Cobb Wildfire Protection Plan project is funded through the US Forest Service.
Cobb Watershed Education and Restoration Program (WERP): Funded through the California Natural Resources Agency.
In addition to maintaining field leadership with our citizen science volunteers, Jessyca will directly oversee grant and contract compliance, manage project schedules, coordinate with funding agencies and technical consultants, and ensure seamless delivery across both programs.
Her expanded leadership includes:
Dual Program Management: Overseeing planning, timelines, grant budgets, and stakeholder coordination across the CWDG and WERP programs.
Tribal & Cultural Stewardship: Maximizing Tribal contributions, protecting cultural resources, and explicitly integrating Tribal perspectives into local land restoration.
Community & Partner Engagement: Leading core working groups and community events—including our upcoming Forest & Fire Summits and WERP workshop series.
Please join us in congratulating Jessyca on her expanded role as we build a safer, more resilient Cobb Area!
Guided by Experience: Melanie Garrett Steps in as Interim Executive Director
We are delighted to announce that Melanie Garrett, a dedicated member of SSCRA’s Board of Directors, is stepping into the role of Interim Executive Director!
Melanie brings 30 years of "boots on the ground" experience driving rural business development, entrepreneurial startups, and community-focused economic recovery across Northern California. As the Managing Director of The Raven’s Mouth, her career has centered on empowering rural communities and finding sustainable solutions where individuals, local groups, and the natural environment all thrive together.
In her role as Interim Executive Director, Melanie will oversee organizational strategy and administration to keep our core programs moving forward smoothly:
Board Alignment & Priorities: Directing the implementation of Board-approved policies, key priorities, and community programs.
Operational Leadership: Managing day-to-day operations, organizational budgets, and administrative workflows.
Strategic Partnerships: Serving as a primary liaison between our Board, staff, community partners, and local stakeholders.
Please join us in welcoming Melanie into her expanded role as she guides SSCRA toward our shared goals for the Cobb Area!
Welcoming Our New Intern Micah Starr
We are excited to introduce Micah Starr, who is joining the SSCRA team as an intern to support our watershed restoration and community outreach efforts! Driven by a passion for fire recovery, environmental stewardship, and community building, Micah brings a deep interest in fostering strong, respectful relationships with local Tribal communities in Lake County.
In this role, Micah will work directly under the guidance of Program Director Jessyca Lytle, providing vital coordination and administrative support across both our Watershed Education and Restoration Program (WERP) and Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) initiatives.
Key areas of focus will include:
Summit & Event Assistance: Supporting Program Director Jessyca Lytle with logistics, planning tasks, and community outreach to help set up next year's Forest & Fire Summit and our upcoming WERP community workshop series.
Outreach & Field Support: Assisting with the creation and distribution of outreach materials, setting up workshop venues, logging volunteer participation, and helping engage local landowners.
Tribal Partnerships: Learning and applying best practices to support collaborative, respectful relationships with Native knowledge keepers and Tribal governments.
Communications Support: Helping compile and share research findings, event outcomes, and project updates back with the community.
Please join us in giving Micah a warm welcome to the team!
Firewise Community reminders: Upcoming Deadlines, Rates, and Regulatory Shifts
Firewise USA® Renewal Reminder!
Annual renewal applications are due by Friday, November 21, 2025. All new or pending Firewise sites must submit by December 31, 2025. Please coordinate with your resident leader(s) regarding your application submission. For full details on the renewal process, visit the NFPA / Firewise USA website.
Key Insurance & Fire Safety Updates to Keep in Mind
FAIR Plan Rate Adjustments (Effective Oct 2026): State regulators have approved an average 29.1% rate increase for California FAIR Plan dwelling policies starting October 15, 2026. Depending on individual property risk, renewal rate adjustments will range between -20% and +50%.
Mandatory Discount Programs: Under California’s Safer from Wildfires regulations and AB 1, insurers are required to provide policy discounts for homes in certified Firewise USA® communities and properties with verified home-hardening measures. Maintaining the Firewise certification in our communities is critical to helping residents qualify for these savings.
Strict "Zone Zero" Defensible Space Rules (2026–2027): Statewide guidance and enforcement continue to tighten around Zone 0 (0 to 5 feet from the home). Homeowners are strongly advised to remove mulch, dead leaves, and combustible storage directly surrounding structure walls, as insurance inspectors increasingly review Zone 0 compliance during renewals.
Unlocking State & Local Grants in 2027
Under SB 326, California is rolling out new Wildfire Risk Mitigation Frameworks in early 2027 to evaluate local hazard levels and allocate state public safety grants. As federal funding faces growing administrative bottlenecks and delays, securing these state grants will be critical for our neighborhood’s survival.
The best way we can stay competitive is by organizing locally. Our community is currently in the middle of two major initiatives: the Cobb Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) project and the Cobb Area Watershed Education and Restoration Program (WERP). Combining forest thinning and fuel breaks with creekside watershed restoration not only safeguards our water supply and prevents post-fire erosion, but it also places Cobb at the front of the line for state grant dollars.
Not in a Firewise Community Yet?
Even if your neighborhood isn't certified yet, you can still take advantage of individual home-hardening discounts and grant planning. Joining or forming a Firewise USA® site gives your immediate neighborhood a collective voice, direct access to wildfire safety resources, and lower insurance rates under California's Safer from Wildfires rules.
Cobb Area Communities: Local Firewise efforts and grant coordination are actively underway across our mountain neighborhoods, including Seigler Springs, Cobb View, Rainbow Estates / Meadow Mesa, and Anderson Springs.
Outside the Cobb Area? If you are located outside Cobb, contact your local Fire Safe Council (or visit firesafelake.org) to find active Firewise sites in your area or start one for your street.
Take Action Today
Look around your neighborhood and consider how your property fits into the bigger picture. Visit sscra.org to learn more about the CWPP and Watershed projects, sign up for citizen science or volunteer opportunities, and find out how you can work with local leaders to protect our mountain and our county.
New WERP Workshop dates
We are excited to get our WERP Workshops off the ground!
Our first workshop will be this coming November 14th from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.
We look forward to your sign-ups on our website! Click here to volunteer.
The following dates are the scheduled upcoming workshops:
Stay tuned for updates in our next newsletter.
Cobb Forest & Fire Summit Rescheduled to Spring 2027
We are excited to host in the 2nd Annual Cobb Forest & Fire Protection Summit in the Spring of 2027 at the Little Red Schoolhouse. Please stay tuned for updates this coming winter.
Comments