COMMUNITY WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN RECOGNIZED WITH REGIONAL SUSTAINABILITY AWARD

MONROVIA, CA—The San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) is pleased to announce that its Regional Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) has been honored with a 2026 Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Sustainability Award in the Adaptation and Resilience category.

“We are honored to receive this recognition. Without the hard work and dedication of SGVCOG staff, we would not be able to provide this vital tool for the San Gabriel Valley,” said SGVCOG Executive Director Marisa Creter. “The plan reviews the existing policies of our member agencies, conducts detailed hazard and risk analyses, establishes community maps that identify hazard severity zones, and models additional fire-related risks. Our hearts are with those still recovering from recent fires, and this award reinforces our mission to build a safer, more resilient home for everyone in the Valley.”

Following the 2020 Bobcat Fire, the SGVCOG identified a critical need for a Regional CWPP to guide wildfire prevention and adaptation efforts across the San Gabriel Valley. After securing a CAL FIRE grant in late 2022, the SGVCOG procured services from the emergency management consulting firm Jensen Hughes and began collaborating with local fire departments and emergency responders to develop a comprehensive framework for the region.

The CWPP is designed to identify and prioritize actions for wildfire mitigation, prevention, and adaptation to protect lives, property, and critical infrastructure. Through collaborative discussions with a wide range of stakeholders, the plan explores existing wildfire challenges, hazard and risk assessments, and local preparedness capabilities for all 31 member cities—many of which contain high-hazard areas. Throughout this process, the project team has conducted extensive public outreach and regularly convened a stakeholder working group. The SGVCOG formally adopted the CWPP at its recent Governing Board meeting on May 21.

The SGVCOG was recognized for this achievement during the SCAG Regional Conference and General Assembly held at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort and Spa earlier this month. The SGVCOG was previously awarded the SCAG Sustainability Award in 2025 for its FRESH SGV (Food Recovery for Equity, Sustainability and Health San Gabriel Valley) regional food recovery program. The annual conference serves as Southern California’s largest gathering of elected officials and industry leaders, addressing the region’s most significant challenges in resilience, housing affordability, and the emerging AI economy.

For more information on the Regional Community Wildfire Protection Plan, visit sgvcog.org/wildfire.