About

The Eastern Sierra Council of Governments (ESCOG) has launched a regional collaborative planning process to strengthen coordination among partners working across key economic, environmental, and community priorities.

The goal of this effort is to develop an Eastern Sierra Collaborative Implementation Plan that aligns existing plans, initiatives, and organizations working throughout the region.

By building stronger collaboration across sectors and jurisdictions, this effort will help position the Eastern Sierra to pursue major state and federal funding opportunities and advance shared regional priorities.

Focus Areas

The planning process will focus on four interconnected areas of regional importance:

Sustainable Recreation
Supporting responsible recreation and tourism that protects the region’s landscapes and communities.

Wildfire Resiliency
Advancing forest health, wildfire preparedness, and restoration efforts.

Working Lands & Agriculture
Strengthening agriculture, ranching, and land stewardship across the region.

Economic Development
Supporting economic diversification and workforce opportunities.

Project Approach

Over an eight-month planning process, ESCOG and its partners will:

• Inventory existing plans, initiatives, and regional partnerships

• Conduct stakeholder interviews and research

• Identify opportunities for collaboration and alignment

• Convene regional partners for shared planning conversations

• Develop a collaborative implementation roadmap

This process will help identify where regional collaboration can create the greatest impact and how partners can work together to advance shared priorities.

Regional Collaboration

Many organizations, agencies, nonprofits, and tribal partners are already doing important work in the Eastern Sierra. This project aims to build on that existing work, not replace it.

The planning process will explore how a regional collaborative structure could help coordinate efforts, strengthen partnerships, and support implementation of shared goals.

Steering Committee

A regional Steering Committee will guide the planning process by providing input, reviewing findings, and helping shape the collaborative implementation plan.

The committee will include representatives from local governments, nonprofits, regional organizations, and other partners working across the four focus areas. 

Timeline

February – March 2026
Project launch and Steering Committee formation

March – May 2026
Research, stakeholder interviews, and regional inventory

June 2026
Regional planning session at the ESCOG Summit

July – September 2026
Development and finalization of the Collaborative Implementation Plan