Regional Climate Collaboratives Annual Report Year 2: Siskiyou Climate Collaborative
Overview
Award Amount: $1,500,000
Region: Siskiyou County
Communities Served: Happy Camp/Klamath River, Dunsmuir, McCloud, Yreka, Weed, Mt. Shasta, Etna, Fort Jones, Dorris/Tulelake, Grenada/Montague/Shasta Valley
Website: https://www.siskiyouclimate.org/
Partners
- Nathan Johnston, Facilitator
“In just our second year, the Siskiyou Climate Collaborative has accelerated project and funding readiness across the county—building a connected pipeline of projects that span workforce development, healthy soils, local food systems, forest projects and downtown solar. Together with our partners, we are turning ideas into aligned, investable projects that will strengthen the future of our rural region.”
About the Collaborative
The Siskiyou Climate Collaborative (SCC) convenes rural, Tribal, and community representatives from under-resourced communities in Siskiyou County to implement critical climate adaptation and resiliency projects. These projects are designed to respond to the effects of wildfires, drought, extreme heat, and other extreme climate events in the region. SCC is developing a Siskiyou County Climate Resiliency Plan that will bring critical funds to the region’s communities of focus. SCC prioritizes relationship-building, stakeholder engagement, and community investment throughout its work.
Activities Conducted in Year 2
In its second year, SCC began to act as a local technical assistance (TA) hub for cities in their region. For example, SCC provided TA to the cities of Yreka and Mount Shasta to assess their readiness for pursuing climate funding. This included analyzing needed emissions reductions, vehicle-miles-traveled reductions, and feasibility for renewable energy projects. SCC also provided TA for six local applications for the California Jobs First Catalyst Fund, funding for which SCC had already successfully applied. Providing this assistance helped Siskiyou gain a better understanding of each city’s needs in preparation for the resiliency plan.
SCC took another step toward developing its resiliency plan by distributing a climate survey for residents, local government officials, businesses, and local community-based organizations (CBOs). The survey found that 90% percent of respondents expressed concerns over how climate impacts their health, safety, and place of residence. Respondents described the county as experiencing “a hotter, drier, less reliable snowpack, smokier summers” and “warmer weather all year round with greater weather extremes throughout the year.” Furthermore, 94% of respondents are in support of sustainability and adaptation practices in Siskiyou County.
In June 2025, SCC was able to showcase its work as a collaborative and progress towards developing a resiliency plan at the University of California President’s Advisory Commission on Agriculture and Natural Resources meeting. During the convening, SCC highlighted its climate adaptation and economic development work to the Advisory Commission, county supervisors, and other community representatives.
The added capacity and funding offered by this grant has allowed the SCC to be responsive to the changing federal landscape by pursuing alternative sources of funding. For example, SCC applied for federal economic and disaster recovery grants such as the U.S Economic Development Administration’s Disaster Supplemental Grant Program. If awarded, this grant would fund the restoration of damaged buildings and promote the recovery of areas damaged by wildfires. SCC has also prioritized philanthropic investment. This year, SCC received over $500,000 from the James Irvine Foundation, US Bank, and Wells Fargo, among others. The relationships and processes built through the collaborative ensures that SCC will enter its last year of the grant term ready to pursue more investment for the region.
Outcomes
- Held over 40 external meetings with more than 1,200 community members and local leaders including the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors, representatives from the City of Dunsmuir, and Scott Valley Greenwaste.
- Received 124 responses to its climate survey from Siskiyou residents, local government staff, CBOs, and businesses.
- Applied for 28 federal, state, and philanthropic grants, including the California Jobs First – North State Catalyst Fund, BIA Tribal Climate Resilience Grant, T-Mobile Hometown Grant, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Community Change Grant.
- Received more than $8.5 million in grant awards focused on business innovation, project implementation, and workforce development.
- Launched its collaborative website, siskiyouclimate.org.
What’s Next
In its last year of work, SCC will continue to use the survey results and community engagement to finalize the Siskiyou County Climate Resiliency Plan. During this period, SCC will also continue to pursue funding to address the most pressing climate needs in Siskiyou County, act as a TA provider, host collaborative partner meetings, and promote the successes of its collaborative and the region through the new website and expanded social media presence.